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
- You have to clean the tank!
- 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
You have to clean the tank!
It doesn't matter what anyone else told you.
That means you have to clean their tanks, on a regular basis, depending on their tank size.
For tanks smaller than 5 gallons, water should be partially changed at least once a week. If you're using something 1 gallon or smaller, which you really shouldn't be doing since frogs need space, you need to change the water every 3-4 days.
If the water looks dirty, change it!
It doesn't matter what anyone else says.
Water must be changed on a regular basis.
Sure, if you have a 20 gallon or larger tank, that isn't overstocked you might be able to get away with changing the water once a month, but it's not likely with a smaller tank.
You wouldn't like to live in a place that hadn't been cleaned in 2 months, so don't expect your frog to live like that.
Water should be treated with a water conditioner (I use Prime) to get any chlorine and other chemicals that should hurt the frogs out before it's added to the tank.
Some people are being told that they are buying an ecosystem with a snail that will clean the waste.
The snails may eat leftover food, but they still make waste, and lets face it, you couldn't survive by eating your own waste, so why should you expect your pets too.
If you have pets, you have to clean up after them - that's just a fact of life.
Be a responsible pet owner, and take care of your frogs (and snail, as the case may be) and they'll have long happy lives.
If you don't, then they'll die.
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
parissa says:
do adf's cause disease? are they good pets for children ?
Posted December 01, 2009
Chi says:
I had two ADFs and I love them both dearly. Unfortunately, one of them passed away from red-leg which was caused by stress... The other, however, is still healthy and happy, although lonely at the moment. I am going to get a replacement soon to cheer her up again. They are great pets!
Posted November 23, 2009
chris says:
i have just got two dwarf frogs and they are in a community tank along with bala sharks ghost angel fish guppies and platys they are fine i find they also like the blocks of tuba flex i place it on a hook near there hiding place and they are getting plenty of food they have also just started to mate
Posted November 06, 2009
jessica says:
yes and he is so cute. My last one died 2 months ago and i don't know why but i did put it with a snail and i think the snail ate his food so he died. and i got another one.
Posted November 01, 2009
Emily says:
Do ADF's hibernate?
Posted October 28, 2009
No
Noodle says:
No, but I am getting 1 in a few weeks after my tank has gone through the proper cycle, thanks for the info!
Posted October 24, 2009
cyberpunkdreams says:
Great stuff. I'd never heard of African dwarf frog before!
Posted September 12, 2009
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
Northern Lights Aquatics Forum
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
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!<br / more...2 points
It's not easy being green
Tell Me about your frogs!
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Reply
- 123 123 Nov 9, 2009 @ 6:45 pm
- I just got mine last night how do i know if a boy of girl?????
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- Sarah Sarah Oct 26, 2009 @ 11:18 am | in reply to noel
- Hi Noel, you should feed your frogs once or twice a day - whenever it's convenient for you.
Pick a time that you're likely to remember, if you're scared you might forget.
I always feed my fish before I jump in the shower in the morning, and after I feed my dogs at night.
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Reply
- kiwisoutback kiwisoutback Oct 26, 2009 @ 10:18 am
- Very cool, nice work! I've never seen these before.
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Reply
- noel noel Oct 25, 2009 @ 8:41 am
- what times shud i feed him and wat would i name him[in reply to Sarah]
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- Becky Yukawa Becky Yukawa Oct 7, 2009 @ 2:54 pm
- hi frog lovers, ijust my two little guys acouple of days ago ! I have always loved frogs but have never had any like these loveable blokes! I named them francis and luke.all my friends just love them !with them Iam never bored or lonely !
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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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