Since my Cynops Orientalis recently died, and I was pretty shaken up about it, two of my friends went out and bought me a pair of African Dwarf frogs. I'm not particularly big on Africanized river frogs, particularly since, as I understand it, they are carriers of chytrid. But since I have them now, I am dedicated to the idea of taking care of them properly. Any advice on them would be useful as well as if anyone knows their full scientific name. Thank you very much, looking forward to responses.
Caudata.org: Newts and Salamanders Portal
Register a free account today to become a member! Once signed in, you'll be able to participate on this site by adding your own topics and posts, as well as connect with other members through your own private inbox!
Did you know that registered users see fewer ads? Register today!
-
Did you know that registered users see fewer ads? Register today!
African Dwarf Frogs
- Thread starter alove
- Start date
asfouts
New member
Hello,
I recently bought a Hymenochirus curtipes because im going off to college and now am limited to purely fully aquatic things. Pretty neat little frog. He has tried to escape multiple times... But he can't get out. Other then a weird heater spike (temps reached 85 F, quickly adjusted back down to 78) not anything scary. I have two baby badis badis in there with him (.25 inch) and they dine on crushed food flakes and daphnia. Im going to the store to pick up blood worms as my daphnia culture is starting to dwindle, so im laying off them for a little while. My frog likes hiding in bogwood or a anubis plant (or at least thats what petsmart said it was). Hmmmm what else, no substrate also got a snail polishing off uneaten food. A 10 g is plenty big enough for them. The frogs seem to rely on movement to catch prey (my filter media moves the flakes past his nose.) I dont know if its bad, but my frogs nose is worn from the glass... They also eat blackworms when they are bigger. Mine is still a baby about .5 inch.
I hope my personal account helped, and that scientific name I got from my barrons book may be out of date.
I recently bought a Hymenochirus curtipes because im going off to college and now am limited to purely fully aquatic things. Pretty neat little frog. He has tried to escape multiple times... But he can't get out. Other then a weird heater spike (temps reached 85 F, quickly adjusted back down to 78) not anything scary. I have two baby badis badis in there with him (.25 inch) and they dine on crushed food flakes and daphnia. Im going to the store to pick up blood worms as my daphnia culture is starting to dwindle, so im laying off them for a little while. My frog likes hiding in bogwood or a anubis plant (or at least thats what petsmart said it was). Hmmmm what else, no substrate also got a snail polishing off uneaten food. A 10 g is plenty big enough for them. The frogs seem to rely on movement to catch prey (my filter media moves the flakes past his nose.) I dont know if its bad, but my frogs nose is worn from the glass... They also eat blackworms when they are bigger. Mine is still a baby about .5 inch.
I hope my personal account helped, and that scientific name I got from my barrons book may be out of date.
Thank you for the reply. The scientific name has helped, but I have a new problem now. The two I have seem to be insanely messy, so I installed a water filter, but even though the filter is made for a much bigger tank than I'm using it still can't keep up with them. The water is already beginning to get cloudy again. Any advice?
FrogEyes
Active member
They're likely Hymenochirus boettgeri, although H.curtipes is also a reasonable possibility. This group hasn't undergone any review or revision in decades.
They're not messy animals and there shouldn't be any cloudiness. You may be offereing inappropriate fod, too much food, or may simply be suffering the problems which arise from a newly set up aquarium. Even without filtration and with low light levels, several can do well in clear water in a tank as small as two gallons.
Aqualog "My Dwarf Clawed Frog" is the best one-stop source I have come across on pipid frogs. It even includes keys to all known African species in the family [for when it was published - many new Xenopus have been described since], plus descriptions of all the Pipa.
They're not messy animals and there shouldn't be any cloudiness. You may be offereing inappropriate fod, too much food, or may simply be suffering the problems which arise from a newly set up aquarium. Even without filtration and with low light levels, several can do well in clear water in a tank as small as two gallons.
Aqualog "My Dwarf Clawed Frog" is the best one-stop source I have come across on pipid frogs. It even includes keys to all known African species in the family [for when it was published - many new Xenopus have been described since], plus descriptions of all the Pipa.
It is a recently set up tank so I guess it may be a side effect of that. I am currently feeding them blood worms, about 1/3 of a pellet each feeding, and one feeding every other day. Is this appropriate food or too much food? Thank you for the further clarification on the names. I don't know if this will help explain the cloudiness, but it has a dirty yellowish hue to it.
FrogEyes
Active member
The food sounds suitable. Do regular partial water changes. A new tank will experience a spike in toxicity at about the 3 week mark, before stabilizing. Before that, and sometimes with any water change, water may at times be cloudy.
I meant to ask, what do you mean by "Africanized"? These frogs are endemic to Africa, not introduced or in any way made to be African-like.
I meant to ask, what do you mean by "Africanized"? These frogs are endemic to Africa, not introduced or in any way made to be African-like.
daedae
New member
I think its just a semantic error. I think he just meant any of the ACF or ADF.
A new tank is not cycled and the cloudiness is a symptom of it.
Google "Fish-in cycling" and the "Nitrogen cycle for aquariums"
yes, it says "fish" in but the way to cycle a filter regardless of what aquatic inhabitant you have is the same.
Blooms from algae will occur in the first few weeks of the filter being set up in a tank. (The haze should be whitish-greenish in color)
Google "Fish-in cycling" and the "Nitrogen cycle for aquariums"
yes, it says "fish" in but the way to cycle a filter regardless of what aquatic inhabitant you have is the same.
Blooms from algae will occur in the first few weeks of the filter being set up in a tank. (The haze should be whitish-greenish in color)
Sorry about the wrong nomenclature. I learned most of it during highschool, and Southern Indiana rural highschools did not prepare me for proper scientific terminology. Beyond that, my college education focused more on anthropology and philosophy.
I think that you guys are right, that it's just a side effect of it being a new tank. Thanks for all the help and responses. If there's any other advice for this species please keep it coming.
I think that you guys are right, that it's just a side effect of it being a new tank. Thanks for all the help and responses. If there's any other advice for this species please keep it coming.