African Clawed Frogs

[PolypterusGuy225]

Anyone with experience with an African Clawed Frog please clear a few things up for me.

I am looking at setting up a small-ish tank for a frog. I have a 10 gallon with an aqua clear 20 and small sponge filter not being used right now. I've read in a few places that the frogs are extremely sensitive to filter sounds, one compared it to a jackhammer next to your house all day.

I was wondering what filters you've used and if you noticed any stress in the frogs. Any tips or ideas that worked out well for you are also appreciated!

 

[tlindsey]

Anyone with experience with an African Clawed Frog please clear a few things up for me.

I am looking at setting up a small-ish tank for a frog. I have a 10 gallon with an aqua clear 20 and small sponge filter not being used right now. I've read in a few places that the frogs are extremely sensitive to filter sounds, one compared it to a jackhammer next to your house all day.

I was wondering what filters you've used and if you noticed any stress in the frogs. Any tips or ideas that worked out well for you are also appreciated!

I had a couple of them in the 80's and the filter was a small HOB Aquaclear if I remember right. They actually spawned but I was extremely green but apparently I was doing something right lol. The filter was quite to the point that I heard the male mating call. I asked my Wife do you here that? I couldn't believe it until I seen the male kicking his little back legs on the substrate and emitting the sound. If your hob is quite you should be fine I also suggest putting a sponge prefilter over the filters intake. They African Dwarf Clawed frog doesn't do well with strong current.

 

[spotfin]

I have several in a 125 with a canister filter. You can keep one in a 10 gal, males stay smaller than females so try to get a male if you can. Although after awhile you will want more?. The Aquaclear should be ok. Make sure the impeller is in good shape as a worn one will cause more sound/vibration.
Room temp is fine as they don't do well long term in warm conditions. My tank is in our unheated basement so I do use a heater to keep the tank 68-70 degrees.
A few other things:
Use sand or hard bottom as gravel can be injested and cause issues
Varied diet, I feed frozen krill, nightcrawlers, cut shrimp, squid, tilapia, etc.
Keep the tank WELL covered

 

[MrsE88]

I’m going to follow along. My nephew wants one really bad, but I know nothing about them to give my sister advice.

 

[tlindsey]

I’m going to follow along. My nephew wants one really bad, but I know nothing about them to give my sister advice.

The vibration of the filter is new to me but other than not over feeding keeping the water in pristine conditions and not putting the little frogs in with aggressive tankmates it won't be that difficult to keep them. Also they should not be kept in a aquarium that is too deep and aren't the fastest to get to food.

 

[spotfin]

The vibration of the filter is new to me but other than not over feeding keeping the water in pristine conditions and not putting the little frogs in with aggressive tankmates it won't be that difficult to keep them. Also they should not be kept in a aquarium that is too deep and aren't the fastest to get to food.

I don't keep mine with any other tankmates. Most any will get eaten or at least taste-tested, especially with adult frogs. Mine get fed 2-3 times as adults. More frequent when younger.

 

[jjohnwm]

If they are albinos, then I assume you are talking about Xenopus, rather than the dwarf Hymenochirus. Xenopus are fat little bioload pigs. Even an adult male, at 3+ inches, would be a strain on a 10-gallon tank. A 4+ inch female would be even worse. I kept them for many years, and never noticed any adverse reaction to filtration noises (air-driven sponges), but they are sensitive to water quality and require plenty of water changes. For a 10-gallon tank I think you should so with the dwarf frogs instead.

They are also unbelievable escape artists.

 

[Magnus_Bane]

I personally had one when I was a teen. Absolutely love my frog (Frank). If I had to pick a favorite thing about them it would be the derpy way they shovel food into their face.

What I learn from taking care of Frank was that he didn't like strong currents, didn't like small tanks, and didn't like plecos (tried to eat one once). Personally if I were to get one again I would house it in no smaller then a 30g tank with a couple 30g sponge filters. Decor really isn't necessary as they don't tend to hide in the tank for almost any reason. Also no need to have any land like areas in the tank as they are a fully aquatic specie of front and breathe thru their skin even under water. Only major thing to whatch out for is if you decide to add tank mates in as they don't have the best eye sight and will try to eat most anything that swims infront of their face even if it's too big to eat.

 

[celebrist]

My son's lived to be 14. They are neat critters

 

[jjohnwm]

I gave 4 adults to a friend when I moved out of Ontario 9 years ago. They were 15-16 years old at the time; 2 of those 4 are still alive and doing well. I've read that they can reach 30 years!