African Dwarf Frogs - We don't eat fish food!
Welcome to the wonderful world of African Dwarf frogs! African Dwarf frogs are completely aquatic, and they can live in a heated fish tank!
Although African Dwarf frogs appreciate some frozen and thawed, or live bloodworms every now and then, you don't have to worry about feeding them live foods all the time!
If your squeamish like me this is a very good thing! African Dwarf frogs can make your dreams of having a frog come true, with out making the nightmare of crickets running rampant all over the house come true at the same time.
Unfortunately, even though African Dwarf frogs are aquatic, they should not eat fish food!
The frogs in the bag are starving!
I rescued them from a pet store that was only feeding them fish flakes, and they weren't getting enough to eat, or enough nutrition.
Unfortunately, one of the frogs, Tabitha, died two days after I brought her home. The rest of them are doing fine, and are healthy, happy, and no where near as skinnny.
I feed my frogs HBH frog and tadpole bites which are softer than normal fish pellets, to minimize the risk of impaction. Although I'm not sure that the brand of food makes a difference, it is important to feed your frogs frog and tadpole bites, and not fish food.
Flake fish food doesn't provide enough nutrition, and harder pellets can cause impactions, which can lead to death
African Dwarf frogs have poor eyesight, so they have to hunt for the food - it is important to make sure that they are getting enough food, and that if there are other fish, or frogs, in the tank, they aren't getting the food before the African Dwarf frogs are getting their food.
After all, no one wants their pets to starve!
African Dwarf Frog Table of Contents
- African Dwarf Frogs and Fish Food
- African Dwarf Frog Care
- Chytridiomycosis in African Dwarf Frogs
- African Dwarf Frog Breeding and Tadpole Care
- Sickness in African Dwarf Frogs
- The African Dwarf Frog Cave - who'd have thought the frogs would love the cave?
- African Dwarf Frogs
- Northern Lights Aquatics Forum
- African Dwarf Frog Pictures
- Frog Books
- Get out of my cave!
- African Dwarf Frog Links and Resources
- African Dwarf Frogs (and Tadpoles) on Youtube.
- It's not easy being green
- Tell Me about your frogs!
African Dwarf Frogs and Fish Food
or why you'll feed your frogs appropriate foods if you're a responsible pet owner
I've included her quotes below at the end of the message.
I have never seen my African Dwarf Frogs eat fish flakes when they were provided with a quality frog food.
The frogs in the bag above had lived on a diet of flake fish food, and that's why they were starving.
They weren't getting enough nutrition.
Sure frogs might eat fish food if that's all there is to eat.
People have been known to eat all sorts of things that aren't good for them, and that they wouldn't normally eat when they had no other choice, but that doesn't mean that they will thrive if they only eat that.
If there are other foods in the tank the ADF's may be getting enough to survive.
Even if you are feeding fish pellets, the pellets aren't as soft as frog bites, and they may cause impactions.
They also aren't as nutritionally balanced as food that is specifically formulated for frogs.
If you're feeding only feeding your frogs fish flakes after reading this page and seeing pictures of what happens when that's all you feed ADF's, and you're unwilling to change to something more appropriate for them, then I really feel sorry for your frogs and I think you should reconsider pet ownership because you're obviously not concerned with your frogs health and happiness.
For more information on feeding African Dwarf Frogs please visit What, how much and how often should I feed my frog?
Although I had nothing to do with writing the articles I am a member of their forum, and I found the advice invaluable when I was searching for information on how to care for my African Dwarf Frogs.
LillyofFire says:
"who ever told you adf's dont eat fish food lied to you, I know for a fact that they do eat it.
Posted November 12, 2008
LillyofFire says:
yes but the fact about that my ADF dose eat fish food so who ever told you they dont lied about it.
Posted November 12, 2008
African Dwarf Frog Care
That means if you have 2 ADF's they should have a 2 gallon tank, 10 ADF's should have a 10 gallon tank, and so on.
ADF's should have a temperature of 75-80F.
Slightly higher or lower temperatures ok if your frogs doesn't mind them, but keep an eye on them - if the temp is too high or too low the first warning you might find is a dead frog.
Although I was told that African Dwarf Frogs would do fine in an unheated tank when I first got them, all of the frogs I kept in unheated tanks died after a few months.
After I started keepin my frogs warmer, they lived a lot longer.
I've said it before, but ADF's should not eat freeze dried or dry pellets. Their tummies should bulge slightly after they eat, if they are eating enough.
Water should be changed once a week, using water the same temperature as the old water.
A water conditioner should be used each time water is changed .
I like Prime.
Chytridiomycosis in African Dwarf Frogs
Due to the presence of this disease all new African Dwarf frogs should be quarantined for at least two months before introducing them to an aquarium with African Dwarf Frogs.
Here is another article about Chytridiomycosis
African Dwarf Frog Breeding and Tadpole Care
This is the best article on ADF breeding and tadpole care that I've found.
If you've had experience with breeding and raising tadpoles share what you've learned with us.
Sickness in African Dwarf Frogs
Here are a few resources that might help you determine what's wrong with your frog.
Fat Frogs
Non-acute bloat in ADF's
I hope this helps.
If you have any further questions about your ADF's just ask.
The African Dwarf Frog Cave - who'd have thought the frogs would love the cave?
African Dwarf Frogs
Do you have African Dwarf Frogs?
Fetching blurbs now... please stand byYes
Amanda Lee says:
my goldfish died and were getting 2! yes!
age:9
Posted July 08, 2009
master kk says:
I love mine, I got them from... Hallmark cards!!!! They are in this microscopic tank, witch is about 4 by 4 inches!! I no its bad, so I am trying to setup a big 5 gallon tank noowww.
Posted June 16, 2009
cala says:
I love them to death
Posted June 13, 2009
sara says:
they are sooooo cute. i dont really know if one of them is about to have eggs or if its just fat! LOL!
Posted June 11, 2009
Ilovemyadfroggie says:
My froggie Pete is his normal color during the day but when i get home from work at night he is always pale. As soon as he starts swimming around his color comes back. I don't know why this is happening and it's upsetting me. Any advide?
Posted April 29, 2009
No
H.C.I. says:
ADF LOVE 2 hide, so put in PLENTY of things for them to hide behind! (But if you can't find them/it DON'T PANIC!
Posted June 26, 2009
CoolFoto says:
No, but I have this frog lens in my Tropical Fish Group. As of today it is the highest ranking lens. Congratulations! 5* favored and lensroll. ;0
Posted November 25, 2008
Sarah says:
Bridgette, I don't think an African Dwarf frog can get sick from shedding his skin, but if there is something else making him sick the shedding might make it worse.
How is your water quality?
Is you tank heated?
Good luck with your other frogs, and I'm sorry for your loss.
Posted November 03, 2008
MJ says:
i used 2 have 1 but it either died or my moms old friends fish ate them but next week im getting 2!!!!!!!!!i love those lil guys
Posted July 11, 2008
saeah says:
I'm planning to get one frog
Posted June 08, 2008
Northern Lights Aquatics Forum
If you've got more questions about African Dwarf Frogs, or pet fish, join us at the Northern Lights Aquatics Fish Keepers Forums!Everyone is welcome, and the other members and I will be happy to answer your questions, and to let you brag about your fish - or your frogs.
African Dwarf Frog Pictures
Frog Books
Frogs and Toads: Your Happy Healthy Pet
Amazon Price: $11.04 (as of 07/10/2009) 
300 Frogs: A Visual Reference to Frogs and Toads from Around the World
Amazon Price: $19.77 (as of 07/10/2009)
Frogs, Toads, and Treefrogs (Complete Pet Owner's Manual)
Amazon Price: $8.99 (as of 07/10/2009)
Get out of my cave!
African Dwarf Frog Links and Resources
Northern Lights Aquatics Fish Keepers Forum
Come on over and tell us about your frogs!
We lov more...1 point
African Dwarf Frogs (and Tadpoles) on Youtube.
It's not easy being green
Tell Me about your frogs!
Sarah wrote...
in reply to Melissa Hi Melissa, how big is the tank, do you have a heater in it?
Are you changing the water every 3 days if it's less than 2 gallons, and once a week if it's more until the fungus is cleared?
How are the fish and frogs doing with the Fungus Clear?
Did your male and female betta get along? It isn't usually recommended for them to stay together because they fight, although I've had luck with a very passive male betta and a female betta in a 75.
Some bettas will also attack frogs, so if this is what happening the bites could be causing an infection that is killing them.
What does the fungus look like?
Posted June 22, 2009
joshbotspot wrote
in reply to Melissa How many died????? Was it just one or two or more
Posted June 21, 2009
Melissa wrote
I am so frustrated with a fungus that already one frog died from along with female bettas. And now I have another one that got it from the others I guess. So I took out all the gravel and decorations and it's nothing but a bare tank now with 4 frogs and one male betta. I treated the tank with Jungle Labs, Fungus Clear. I am really really really hoping this works. Any other ideas or suggestions would be great! Thanks.
Posted June 13, 2009
AP28 wrote
I have kept African Dwarf frogs many times over the years, and they have always thrived in a plain round fish bowl, the ones that are larger in diameter with a larger base then the usual tall fish bowl, tho this time I could not find any. I've never used a heater or filter, just changed the water as needed. They have always bred, tho I was never able to keep the tadpoles alive after a few days, tho I was unable to find food they would eat.
I have always fed mine freeze dried tubifex worms, which they love, or an occasional feeding of frozen brine shrimp, but too much clouds the water, & they do fine on just tubifex. Mine would always find the pieces I broke off on the top of the water. They would zoom right for them.
The frogs I have currently don't seem to find them on the surface, so I am breaking it up until it sinks. Though one of the frogs has found it on the surface, only because he seems unable to swim to the bottom! He tries, but floats back up! Help!
Posted June 09, 2009
aj2008 wrote...
It's great to see that you know what you are doing and look after your frogs so well!
Posted June 08, 2009
by Sarah
I'm Sarah O, and I love to watch my African Dwarf Frogs play.
They are so cute, and can be so funny.
Whether they are hanging out in the java moss,...
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