African Clawed Frog Questions

[bpxc]

okay so i ordered a grow-a-frog, well it was a gift, but after i looked it up i found out that it was an african clawed frog. I thought that i could put the frog in my fish tank with my other fish, but that doesn't seems to be the case. so I wanted to know if i could put him in a gold fish bowl or do i need to get a new fish tank? do i need to have a filter or can i just change the water? Also i was told that beach sand would work for the bottom of the goldfish bowl that i plan on useing, but i thought that the salt in the sand would disolve into the water and harm my new frog, but i wasn't sure.

thanks in advance for any help

 

[Corleone]

I'd post down in the invertebrates, amphibians, and reptiles section for more details, but what I can tell you:

Next to nothing can be kept safely in a bowl. Even white cloud minnows will foul their water and require major daily water changes or a filter, and they're tiny. A clawed frog is about 4-6 inches long at full growth, so would probably call for a 5 or 10 gallon tank. I don't know how amphibians are measured for stocking calculations, though. It would need a filter, and would have to be cycled beforehand (see the cycle related threads at the top of New to the Hobby - what the pet stores will tell you is cycling is the farthest thing from, sadly).

For the beach sand, it depends. Most sand is silicate, which is safe, but there is some coral sand which isn't. I think the vinegar test works on sand like it does for rocks - just pour vinegar on a sample and see if it fizzes. Fizz is bad.

 

[keithp]

Here's from my experience, take it as you like.

I wanted to know if i could put him in a gold fish bowl or do i need to get a new fish tank?

I wouldnt put him in a bowl, he's likely to escape, they can climb the sides of any tank, so any ACF tank MUST be covered or you'll end up with a dead, dried out frog on your floor. Also, ACF get huge (2-5 inches minimum, sometimes 6 or 7!) A bowl is way too small as an adult you'll need something like 20-30 gallons!

Also i was told that beach sand would work for the bottom of the goldfish bowl that i plan on useing, but i thought that the salt in the sand would disolve into the water and harm my new frog, but i wasn't sure.

Sand is bad, he'll end up swallowing it when he eats his food. I would actually leave the bottom bare, perhaps adding an underwater cave to hide in and some plants.

Also, these frogs can live well over 10 years, are you prepared for a pet that can live that long?

They need plenty of live food, and they will overeat so you must not overfeed!

Good site on there care.
<a href="http/www.petstation.com/clfrog.html" target="_blank">http/www.petstation.com/clfrog.html</a>

 

[bpxc]

okay thank you guys very much.
i got a 20 gallon tank for him, i still haven't got the frog yet, but i was wondering what kind of filter, will the waterfall filters be bad for him, i read that it is like a jackhammer 24-7 but i also read that any filter will do, i plan on him living for as long as he can, so i want to do this stuff right. I also got some real drift wood that has a hole through the middle of the log, how ever i know that when it decomposes, which it will slowly in the water, it gives of diffrent chemicles, will the AFC beable to tolerate the decopositions of the wood in a small tank or should a get a sinthetic decoration/

 

[keithp]

What about an underwater filter? Think that might work?

 

[FrogNewt]

This may be too little too late, but here's a breakdown of basic requirements for an African Clawed Frog (if you're sure that you do have Xenopus laevis and not its much smaller cousin of the Hymenochirus genus, the African Dwarf Frog):

Each adult frog will need approximately 10 gallons of water; that water should be cycled (see the forums which discuss cycling) and the water should be filtered. However, ACF's prefer still water and strong currents or major disruption will stress them out, so you should either find a filter with an adjustable flow rate or find some way to block severe water flow from the filter. I would rule out waterfall filters all-together.

In case it's not already been said, they can be sustained with bloodworms, tubifex worms, small fish, small shrimp (like ghost shrimp) and the occasional brine shrimp meal.

Several frogs can live safely together, but remember the rule about 10 gallons per adult frog.

Important point: Any fish large enough to fit into a clawed frog's mouth will very likely be eaten.

Good luck!