African Dwarf Frogs Hymenochirus boettgeri (in Latin) Also known as Congo Frogs or ADFs (for short)

Physical Characteristics

• They are aquatic frogs and live submerged but come up to the surface to breath air once in a while
• ADFs can get 2 inches long from snout to tail
• They have webbed feet and hands (so if you see aquatic frogs with clawed hands they are most likely African Clawed Frogs which are very different in size and tank requirements)
• Unlike newts, ADFs do not regenerate lost limbs

Minimal Requirements

• ADFs are generally hardy and easy to care for if minimum requirements are met. But be careful not to expose them to bad water conditions. Their skin offers little protection for poisons/toxins in the water
• Provide at least 2 1/2 gallons of water for each frog
• Cycle tank before adding frogs
• Keep good water quality by weekly water-changes and use of dechlors (such as NovAqua) that also binds heavy metals.
• ADFs need water temperatures in high 70s
• The tank should be well covered as they are escape artists
• ADFs can adapt to a range of hardness/pH levels
• Substrate should be to big to swallow, but not so big that food gets lost in between rocks. Sand or very small gravel would also work well.
• Frogs may like to have a floating plant (real or not) to hang on to when they get up to the surface

Possible Tankmates Can be kept with other ADFs - male or female Can be kept with most friendly community fish. ADFs eat their food from the bottom so it it best not too have too much competition from other bottom dwellers.

Food and Diet

• African Dwarf Frogs are usually not picky eaters
• Should be offered food generally given to carnivourious fish (and not for plant eaters)
• You should provide a variety over a week of feedings
• Favourites are frozen bloodworms, brine shrimp, beef heart. You can also feed HBH Frog and Tadpole Pellets. They would enjoy live food (like grindal worms) if you can offer it.
• The frogs will end up with nice round tummies after feeding.
• You can feed one or two times a day
• The frogs can get obese if you overfeed
• It is OK to skip a couple of days if you go away for the weekend

Behavioral Characteristics

• They are funny and cute little critters
• They like to swim and crawl around in the tank
• ADFs swim to the surface for air and come back in such a hurry that they crash into the bottom (but no harm done)
• ADFs like to hunt for food. They do not see well but sense motion easily, so often they will snap at anything that moves. These frogs probably find non-live food using their sense of smell. And they do a lot of digging.
• Sometimes they do zen like things. They may lay motionless upside down (And scare their poor owners. But it is just a frog thing) or they may hang on the surface with their little noses sticking out.
• Sometimes they like to hide, so provide a secluded spot. You may find yourself taking apart the tank to try to find the little guy
• They shed their skins once in a while. It is always funny to watch them get rid of that last little bit

How To Tell Males From Females Not easy to do especially when the frogs are young Females may be rounder than males Females have a more pronounced tail stub that males Mature males have a white (or pink) bumb under their forearms Males may sing/make noices often at night.

Mating, Eggs and Tadpoles

• If males and females are kept together mating will occur
• The males will hug the females from behind and they will (eventually) make their way to the surface where eggs will be released and fertilized.
• Frogs and fish will usually eat all eggs. So if you want to raise tadpoles you have to move the eggs (or the parents)
• Tadpoles (which should hatch after a day or two) need to be fed good nutritious food to mature. Unlike most tadpoles that are filter feeders, Hymenochirus are predetory from the day they finish absorbing their yolk sack. They need to live in water that has lots of microbes for them to munch on until they are big enough to eat things like daphnia and baby brine shrimp. Read more about their feeding requirements here.

Health Issues

• Frogs can carry bacteria and viruses and should be quarantined like fish.
• If cared for properly frogs should normally stay healthy. But sometimes diseases cannot be avoided. Be very careful with your choice of medication as frogs are sensitive because they absorb chemicals through their skins more easily than fish.
• One of the common frog ailments is "red legs". Legs or body may be red and flaky. Frogs with this illness should be isolated and you may try a Maracyn/Maracyn 2 treatment. Do not use Kanacyn with your frog.
• Another common disease is "bloat" or dropsy. This is still unexplained and untreatable. See picture here.
• More pictures of frogs with different ailments.
• You may want to ask questions on our forum if your frog seems ill
• Also consider taking you frog to your vet if you think it is suffering from a disease

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