Adf Care?

[TheDarkGoby]

Hey guys!

I am jumping out of my seat! Tony is about to go from a divided 10g tank (with another fish that really needs more than a divided 10g tank) to his very own 5 gallon tank!! In math, there is no difference, but other than the fact that he will have alot more surface area, plants per inch3, and alot more horizontal swimming room, he wont have to put up with any more fish!

Now that he will be in his own tank, I want to think of some non-fish animals to put in there with him. I really want to do African Darf Frogs, but I have never kept them before, and I want to learn everything about them I need to know before I get some. Rest assured, I wont get any until I know exactly how to take care of them.

So anyway, I have heard that ADF are nearly blind. I have heard several different ways to feed them, and several different food choices. I would really like to hear what different people are feeding, and how they are feeding their ADFs.

I want to provide a little bit of ground cover so the ADF can escape. Maybe something like a small cave, or a number of fake plants. I need to know, is it common for bettas to injure ADFs on purpose? My betta likes to hunt Ghost Shrimp, but I was hoping that he would not mind the frogs. Is there a proper way to test? I have a backup tank ready that I can use if they don't get along. I guess I could set aside an hour to watch their interactions if anyone thought that would be nesacary. I do not want to be irresponsibe with the frog or betta, though. If I could get some opinions on that, that would be great.

I am also wondering if ADFs should live in groups, and how many ADFs to keep in 1 habitat (say, a 5g tank with a betta in it). I think I have heard that they are somewhat social and will do better in a small group of maybe 2 or 3?

All and all, what do you guys think? I really want to get an ADF, but I don't want anything to get hurt. I am trying to take a responsibe approach to this, to reduce any hurt or deaths as possible.

-TheDarkGoby

 

[interpet123]

i have kept a 1 male betta and 2 ADF's in the same tank before and they got on like nothing i've seen before. But just to be safe, like you said, i would watch their behaviour for a bit, just to check that everything starts off smoothly.

Hope i helped. Alex

 

[TheDarkGoby]

Yes, very helpful! Another encouraging story of betta and ADF living happily together! I appreciate the post.

 

[Jamepsss]

So anyway, I have heard that ADF are nearly blind. I have heard several different ways to feed them, and several different food choices. I would really like to hear what different people are feeding, and how they are feeding their ADFs.

I have extra long tweezers and feed them bloodworms maybe twice a week. They really do have poor eyesight and you need to be very precise when feeding them. On other days they'll maybe get a few sinking catfish pellets if they're quick enough.

 

[Essjay]

I have a 25 litre tank and 2 adfs. My betta flares at them but doesn't attack, the frogs just ignore him. They do sometimes mistake him for food and nip his fins but his only happens when they can smell that I've just put food in the tank. On one occassion, the betta turned round and bit the frog's rear end. That's the only time I've ever seen him bite a frog, and I spend a lot of time watching them.

Feeding them was a problem when I first got this betta. His predecessor didn't like the frog pellets (zoo med ones) but this one does. You'd be surprised at how small a gap a betta can squeeze through when there's food on the other side. I've now cracked it. I got a terracotta plantpot and carefully cut three frog sized holes in the rim with a tile saw, sanded them smooth and put the pot upside down on a piece of perspex (to stop the pot sinking into the sand and blocking the holes). I use an old medication pipette to drop the frog pellets through the hole in the bottom of the plant pot, which is now on top as it's upside down. I've discovered it's much easier if I soak the pellets for a couple of minutes first.

I also have other larger caves (half coconut shell and ceramic tube) that both the frogs and the betta use. And two of the smallest size terracotta plantpot saucers with holes cut in the rim. My betta can get into these, but doesn't bother if there's no food inside so the frogs have somewhere for themselves.

 

[Jenste]

On the flip side, I am against such arrangements. Most bettas in stores are still juvenile - their full personality, and territorial aggression, have not fully developed.

You could have one such betta living fine with ADF for months, even over a year, and then wake up to find a maimed or dead frog. Often the first things that go are they eyes and front hands of the frog.

Frogs are defenseless against the attacks of a betta and IMO it is not worth the risk to the frogs.
The frogs may "nip" at the tail - - they see in shadows and a tiny shadow such a thin tail looks like a small fish to them.

also, another point that REALLY concerns me - - you have already said that your betta likes eating ghost shrimp - - he is obviously already predatory. Small frogs will probably interest him too much and in the wrong way.

Another point was already brought up - feeding. The frogs will need to be hand fed either by fingers, tweezers, or turkey basters.


I truly believe that the species are best kept separate.

 

[TheDarkGoby]

Sorry Jenste, I just now saw your post. I have an African Dwarf Frog in with my betta since yesterday. Tony seemed interested for a minute, but then Tony has seemed to have lost all curiosity in the ADF.

I purchased the ADF as (XL). Hopefully Tony will not see any point in attacking it. I let the ADF inhabit the tank about 30 minutes before I added Tony to the new tank.

Another thing about Tony is, is that I have had him for 9 months, and he was sold to me somewhere between 6-16 months at the LFS, so I doubt he will get any more aggressive.

I may be able to get some pictures up later.