Caring for African Dwarf Frogs
African Dwarf Frogs have become a popular addition to aquariums. These little frogs are fully aquatic, so you don’t have to worry about a half aquatic and half terrain aquarium. African Dwarf Frogs can actually survive without water.
The frogs are bottom scavengers and are a fantastic choice for kids or controlling your fry population. If you have too many fry guppies in a tank, add some African Dwarf Frogs and they’ll eat guppy fry to ease the population. These frogs are more difficult to care for if they’re not being used to manage a guppy population.
African Dwarf Frogs can be finicky eaters. We have put together a mini guide on how to keep your aquatic friends in good shape and full bellies. We will be discussing some of the feeding characteristics and tips for African Dwarf Frogs in this article.
Feeding Dwarf Frogs
As mentioned above, African Dwarf Frogs are difficult to feed because they are finicky eaters but on top of that, they are slow eaters and cannot compete with fish. Aquarium owners must ensure that African Dwarf Frogs are able to remain in the water for longer periods of time without becoming disintegrated. As the dwarf frogs are slow eaters, they may choose to return to a food source at a later time to grab another bite.
The best food options for African Dwarf Frogs are to feed them either frozen bloodworms or live black worms. Frozen bloodworms are the more commonly known food source but are an excellent choice when it comes to feeding your aquatic critters. Frozen bloodworms won’t disintegrate quickly, so your frogs are able to enjoy their favorite foods. However, frozen bloodworms can be used as an alternative. They tend to float on top of the water while frozen bloodworms sink to the bottom when they defrost. Live black worms are a better option if you don’t want food to be provided every day.
Although blackworms are a less popular food option for African Dwarf Frogs than other foods, they offer a host of amazing benefits. You can usually purchase a portion of black worms from your local fish store. These worms will live in your tank and will burrow into the gravel. This makes them a more long-lasting food source. These worms can be kept inside the tank as they are able to provide food for hungry frogs.
African Dwarf Frogs feed by grabbing and pulling the worms into their mouth with a jerking motion. The way the blackworms move will encourage your frogs to eat them and if you have any docile fish in the tank, they will enjoy a snack as well. Because they are high in protein, blackworms make a great food source for your frogs. The higher the protein, the easier it is to keep your frogs fat and healthy.
Both black and frozen bloodworms can be used as a food source of high quality. Frogs will be happier if they are fed high-quality food. These frogs are often sold outside of pet shops, such as in mall kiosks. They will usually be advertised as being small-sized and living in small aquariums. The smaller the aquarium is, the less space there is for waste to disperse. Higher levels of waste mean less health and more work to clean the tank. Your animals will live longer and healthier lives if you give them a bigger tank and better food.
Food pellets are one food source that we don’t recommend. Food pellets quickly dissolve in water, making African Dwarf Frogs slow eaters. Your frogs will have less time to enjoy their meal before a pellet becomes to disintegrated to eat. Additionally, pellets that have been disintegrated will cause more waste in your tank. If you choose to feed your African Dwarf Frogs pellets it is best to place them in a small dish inside the tank. The pellets will not be disintegrated and can remain in the tank.
African Dwarf Frog Behavior
A key point to make is the behavior of African Dwarf Frogs. It often raises concerns for owners. People will often express concern for their frogs if they are seen hugging and not moving for more than a day. This is a normal behavior for the frogs and indicates that they are mating. The African Dwarf Frogs’ females are larger and the males have a thinner body. There is no reason to be alarmed if you see a smaller one hugging a bigger one. The frogs will simply follow the natural order of nature.
You should ensure you have enough space if you plan to raise some tadpoles. As well, any fish that are in the tank with the frogs may pose a threat. While adult frogs may co-exist with docile fish easily, most fish will attempt to eat the frog eggs.
African Dwarf Frogs make a great addition for your aquarium. When you ensure that they are fed correctly, you will soon have happy and healthy frogs within your aquarium.