Species: African Bullfrog (pyxicephalus asperses)
Care Level: Beginner
Place of Origin: Africa
General information:
The African Bullfrog is the second largest frog, second to the Goliath Frog (Conraua goliath). They are a large short stocky frog, with males being larger then females. They range is size from 5” to 8”, with a maximum weight of 2 plus pounds. African bullfrogs are also a long lived amphibian with a maximum lifespan of 20 years. Large African Bullfrogs can inflict a painful bite. Adults have powerful jaws and two incisors in the upper jaw. When handling this species, it is best to pick them up from behind. For there size African bullfrogs are surprisingly agile, so providing a secure enclosure is a must for this species.
Housing/ lighting:
African bullfrogs start of small, but grow quick. Baby frogs are best housed in small containers such as plastic keepers or Rubbermaid containers. Large adults can either be housed in 10 gallon tanks or 20 gallon tanks. When ever possible a large enclosure is always better. We recommend using moss, coconut fiber, or soil (natural). We personally use moss, because of its ability to hold moisture. African bullfrogs require no special lighting, and are best housed at 75 to 85 degrees Fahrenheit.
Feeding:
African Bullfrogs are the definition of opportunistic feeders, they will literally eat anything that they can swallow. As with most species of exotics, diversity of diet is essential to optimal health. Appropriate food items for African Bullfrogs are crickets, mealworms, waxworms, rodents, small birds, fish, and other amphibians. Many people feed there African Bullfrogs a rodent diet exclusively. But a rodent diet can lead to obesity and fatty liver disease. Rodents make a great supplementation to a insect based diet, but should never be the staple. Fresh water should always be provided. Small frogs should be fed 3-4 times per week. Adults can be fed 1-2 times a week depending on the prey item/ size of meal. Make sure to use water that is either bottled spring, or dechlorinated. City water generally has chlorine, chloramine, and other heavy metals which can be harmful to your frogs. These metals can easily been neutralized with an aquarium dechlorinator.
Conclusion:
African Bullfrogs make a great begginer pet frog. They are long lived, docile, and are a long lived amphibian.
If you have any questions or comment
contact us or email us:
staff@gaiaexotics.com 