African Dwarf Frog Care Guide

African dwarf frogs are adorable little amphibians that live fully underwater, making them popular with fish keepers and frog lovers alike. These are tiny frogs with real personalities that show as they explore their tanks and peer through the glass to watch for their next exciting mealtime. With care requirements similar to many nano fish and shrimp, dwarf frogs can make an easy transition into the amphibian hobby, or into the fish hobby for those who prefer amphibs.

Fast Facts

Scientific name: Hymenochirus boettgeri
Native range: Equatorial West Africa
Natural habitat: Tropical swamps and ponds
Adult size: 1-2 inches (5 cm) long
Tank size: 10 gallons
Lifespan: 5-10 years (Though they have been reported to live up to 20!)
Difficulty of care: Intermediate

Fun Facts

African dwarf frogs are fully aquatic and need to breathe air only occasionally. They are able to absorb oxygen from the water through their skin.
Along with other members of the family Pipidae, these frogs are unique because they do not have a tongue. Also, members of this family are the only frogs with claw-like points on their toes.

African Dwarf Frogs in the Wild

These dwarf frogs are native to equatorial west Africa, specifically countries like Nigeria, Cameroon, Gabon, and Republic of the Congo. There they live within tropical forests and inhabit freshwater ponds, swamps, or slow-moving streams with dense vegetation and leaf litter. In the wild, their populations are threatened by pollution and habitat destruction. Luckily they are quite popular in the pet trade and are commonly bred in captivity.

They are in the family Pipidae, known as the tongueless frogs. Dwarf frogs in the genus Hymenochirus have at least three species, all native to a similar region in Africa. While it is almost impossible to visually tell the species apart, we know that Hymenochirus boettgeri is the most common species in captivity, but the care requirements for all species are the same.

African Dwarf Frogs vs. African Clawed Frogs

African dwarf frogs are not to be confused with African clawed frogs (Xenopus laevis), which are in the same scientific family Pipidae. Though they look similar to African dwarf frogs and are also fully aquatic, African clawed frogs grow to be much larger. To better tell clawed frogs and dwarf frogs apart, here are some key traits to look for:

Clawed frogs have “buggier” eyes that are placed more on the top of the head than those of the African dwarf, which are on the side of the head.
Clawed frogs are typically more heavy-bodied than dwarf frogs, especially as adults.
Other than size, the best way to tell these frogs apart is to look at the front feet. African dwarf frogs have webbing between the front toes, while African clawed frogs do not.

In captivity, clawed frogs are hardier and are more voracious eaters. This makes clawed frogs generally easier to care for than dwarf frogs, though they need more space and can be messy. As a smaller and more peaceful species, African dwarf frogs are the better choice for small aquariums and for community tanks with fish or shrimp.

African Dwarf Frog Captive Care

These frogs are really a joy to keep. They have entertaining eating habits and they seem to like interacting with other aquarium inhabitants. They are most active at night, but are quite visible in the daytime as well, floating among plants and resting on the bottom of the tank. When conditions are properly met and maintained, they can live for many years and make a rewarding addition to an aquarium.

Tank Size

A 10-gallon aquarium is suitable for 3-4 frogs, along with a few small fish if you wish to add them. The frogs should also have at least 10 inches of water depth for adequate swimming space. As a general rule, make sure you have at least 1 gallon of tank capacity per frog, in addition to the space requirements of any fish in the tank. Following this guideline will prevent overcrowding and lessen maintenance problems.

Filtration

Filtration is important for dealing with waste that the frogs create, but some filters are too powerful and may harm these delicate amphibians. They are not especially strong swimmers. Here are some suggestions for safe filters to go in a 10-gallon tank:

Aqueon…

Water Quality

In addition to filtration and regular maintenance of the filter, you should do 50% water changes once a week or as needed to keep the water pristine. Tap water is okay if you treat it properly with fish-safe conditioner.

One caveat is if you have “hard” water in your area. Too many dissolved minerals can be bad for the frogs, so you may have to use purified water instead. Try to maintain a pH of 7-8, or as close to neutral as possible.

Lighting

These frogs do not require any special lighting, but you’ll be able to view them much better under an aquarium light. If you use a lamp, be sure to implement a natural day/night cycle of 10-12 hours on and the rest off. You should also add shady hiding places in the tank such as caves, driftwood, and artificial or live plants.

Recommended lighting equipment:

Temperature

A temperature between 68-78 degrees Fahrenheit is good for African dwarf frogs. A light over the aquarium can help maintain this temperature, but you may need to use an aquarium heater if your house dips below this range. Remember that these are tropical animals, so the warm temperature range is essential for proper metabolism and natural activity levels.

Plants and Accessories

Another thing that African dwarf frogs really need is an abundance of hiding places. Providing them with secluded spots near the bottom and throughout all levels of the tank will make them feel at home and secure.

Giving hiding places doesn’t mean you’ll never see your frogs, however. The opposite is in fact true. If they know they have cozy and safe places to retreat, the frogs will be more confident exploring all around the tank, and you’ll see them being much more active.

Substrate

Regular pea gravel works great as a substrate. Be sure to use a size that is too large to be ingested by the frogs. Along with pea gravel, just about any substrate sold commercially for aquariums is suitable, but you may find it easiest to use something in which the particles are not too large or oddly shaped for live food to easily hide in between.

Dwarf frogs are not picky in regard to what’s on the bottom of the tank. Just make sure it is aquarium safe and that it isn’t so fine in texture that the frogs might easily ingest it with their food. Aquarium pea gravel works great, but you could also use coarse sand, larger stones, or aqua soil.

Diet

Another caveat of caring for African dwarf frogs is that they must have sinking food. In the wild they eat bugs and decaying protein off the bottom of ponds and swamps, so they need food that mimics this in captivity. Newbie keepers will often try to give them fish food, but they rarely eat this and it does not contain the nutrition they need.

They can eat food meant for fish, but it must be high-protein and able to sink. They can have a combination of shrimp pellets, chopped earthworms, live or frozen/thawed bloodworms (red mosquito larvae), and brine shrimp. Not every individual will eat all these foods, so try different things and see what your frogs like. A varied diet is also important, not consisting of only one type of food.

You should feed your frogs every one to two days, and sinking pellets can form the mainstay of their diet. Take caution with fatty foods like worms. Your frogs will love them, but they should get these just once or twice per week to avoid unhealthy fat buildup.

Don’t expect your frogs to consume all the given food in one feeding. Instead they will continue to pick at discarded bits over the next day or two. Other bottom-feeding tank inhabitants like shrimp can help with the scraps, but there will likely always be a little food leftover that must be cleaned with tank maintenance.

Compatibility

African dwarf frogs are small and delicate, they should not be kept with any other animals that are big or aggressive and may cause the frogs harm or stress. Guppies and small goldfish make good tank mates. Corydoras, snails, and other small to medium-sized, gentle bottom feeders can also be kept with African dwarfs, but they will compete with the frogs for food, so make sure enough is provided for all inhabitants.