Category: Amphibian Basic Care Guides

Care level: intermediate

Temperament: generally outgoing and active

Minimum Enclosure Size: 20 gallon long (30″x12″x12″ (75x30x30cm)) for 1-3 

Cohabitation: good in singles, pairs or groups but females should not be kept together after maturity

Ideal Temp: 70-80°F (21-27°C)

Night Temp: 60-65°F (15.5-18°C)

Safe Temp Range: 60-85°F (15.5-29°C)

UVB: UVI zone 0.5-1/Ferguson zone 1 (e.g. Arcadia Shadedweller 7% at 18+” (45+cm) with no mesh or at 12+” (30+cm) over typical mesh)

Humidity: 70-100%, dips down to 50% temporarily is safe with access to water

Diet: small invertebrate feeders such as fruit flies, small crickets, small roaches, rice flour beetles, bean beetles, etc. 

Size: size varies by morph, from ‘Bakhuis’ at 1.25” (3cm) to ‘Citronella’ 2.5-3” (6-7.5cm)

Wild Distribution: humid, wet forests throughout parts of Guyana, Suriname, Brazil, and much of French Guiana

(care guide written with contributions by mandi#6740)

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Other Resources:

The World of Frogs – Dendrobates tinctorius

NEHERP – Dendrobates tinctorius

ADW – Dendrobates tinctorius

AmphibiaWeb – Dendrobates tinctorius

Care level: Beginner-intermediate

Temperament: Generally very personable and friendly, but not recommended for handling

Minimum enclosure size: 20L (30×12×12″ (75×30×30cm)); larger individuals 40B (36×18×18” (90×45×45cm)) 

Enclosure temp: 50-75°F (10-24°C), ensure enough substrate to burrow to colder temps if needed

UVB (not required): UVI zone 0.5-1/Ferguson zone 1 (e.g. Arcadia Shadedweller 7% at 18+” (45+cm) with no mesh or at 12+” (30+cm) over typical mesh)

Humidity: Around 70%

Diet: Invertebrates like nightcrawlers, roaches, crickets, etc. with optional very occasional pinkie mice

Adult size: 6-12” (15-30cm)

(care guide written with contributions by mandi#6740)

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Other Resources:

Dubia.com Guide – Tiger Salamander

ADW – Ambystoma tigrinum

ADW – Ambystoma mavortium

AmphibiaWeb – Ambystoma tigrinum

AmphibiaWeb – Ambystoma mavortium

Caudata Culture – Tiger Salamander 101

Care level: Beginner

Temperament: Timid and jumpy

Minimum enclosure size: 12×12×18” for 1-2 frogs

Basking spot temp (surface): 80-84°F (27-29°C)

Cold side temp: 72-75°F (22-24°C)

Nighttime/minimum temp: 65°F (18°C)

UVB: UVI zone 0.5-1/Ferguson zone 1 (e.g. Arcadia Shadedweller Arboreal 2.5% at 2-4″ (5-10cm) with no mesh or Arcadia Shadedweller 7% at 12+” (30+cm) with typical mesh)

Humidity: Day – 50-60%; night – 80-100%

Diet: Insectivore

Adult size: Up to 2.5” (6cm)

(care guide written with contributions by mandi#6740)

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Other Resources:

Dubia.com Guide – Green Tree Frog

ADW – Dryophytes cinerea (formerly Hyla cinerea)

AmphibiaWeb – Dryophytes cinerea (formerly Hyla cinerea)

Care level: Beginner

Temperament: Docile and personable, but not for handling

Behavior: active at various times throughout the day/night, aquatic, solitary (non-aggressive to others)

Minimum enclosure size: 20 gallons (90L)

Water temp: 65-75°F (18-24°C)

Lighting: LED or normal aquarium lights can be used

Diet: Soft-bodied invertebrates like nightcrawlers and waxworms as well as commercial foods, fish, and brine shrimp

Adult size: 4-5” (10-13cm)

Wild Distribution: stagnant grassland pools/ponds and streams in southern Africa; introduced populations in California, Chile, Great Britain, and other regions

(care guide written with contributions by mandi#6740)

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Other Resources:

Dubia.com Guide – African Clawed Frog

ADW – Xenopus laevis

AmphibiaWeb – Xenopus laevis

Common Species: Ceratophrys cranwelli (Cranwell’s horned/pacman frog), Ceratophrys aurita (Brazilian horned/pacman frog), Ceratophrys cornuta (Surinam horned/pacman frog), Ceratophrys ornata (ornate pacman frog or Argentine horned/pacman frog), and Ceratophrys cranwelli x C. cornuta hybrids (fantasy pacman frog)

Care level: Beginner-intermediate

Temperament: Very eager feeding response; not for handling

Behavior: crepuscular/nocturnal, terrestrial/fossorial, solitary

Minimum enclosure size: 40B (36×18×18”(90×45×45cm)) 

Warm side temp: most species 80-85°F (27-30°C); C. ornata and C. aurita 75-80°F (25-27°C)

Cold side temp: 70-75°F (21-24°C)

Nighttime/minimum temp: 60°F (16°C)

UVB: UVI zone 0.5-1/Ferguson zone 1 (e.g. Arcadia Shadedweller 7% at 18+” (45+cm) with no mesh or at 12+” (30+cm) over typical mesh)

Humidity: varies by species; C. cranwelli 50-75%, C. ornata 70-80%, C. cornuta and C. aurita 75-85% (higher in the wet season)

Diet: Insects (occasionally rodents, fish and frogs/lizards) 

Adult size: Up to 6” (15cm)

(care guide written with contributions by mandi#6740)

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Species specific notes:

Ceratophrys cranwelli –

• native to the Gran Chaco region of Argentina, Bolivia, Paraguay and Brazil
• mainly dry, thorny forests as well as savannas, hardwood forests and inland wetlands
• Soil in the area is sandy and clay based
• Temperatures range from 60-85°F and humidity 50-75%

Ceratophrys ornata –

• Native to the Pampas region of Argentina
• Mainly subtropical grasslands and seasonal wetlands; frogs are found mainly around seasonal bodies of water
• The area is grassy and shrubs with a few trees
• Soil in the area ranges from fertile and moist to sandy and loamy with some clay
• Temperatures range 55-75°F (average 65°F) and humidity 70-80%

Ceratophrys cornuta –

• Native to the Amazon rainforest and Amazon basin
• Forests are terra firma (firm, dry soil) or dense forest
• Frogs are found burrowed under leaf litter next to roots or logs; more active when there is rainfall
• Soil in the area is mainly loam with silt and/or clay
• Temperatures range 70-90°F (average 77°F); humidity 77% in the dry season and 88% in the wet season

Ceratophrys aurita –

• Native to the Atlantic forests of Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay
• Forests are dense with rich diversity of plants
• Frogs are found near seasonal (sometimes permanent) ponds in the forest and at the edge of the forest, under leaf litter
• Soil in the area is sandy with clay
• Temperatures range 65-86°F (average 71-75°F); humidity 63-96%

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Other Resources:

Dubia.com Guide – Pacman Frog

How Can We Do Better By Pacman Frogs? (information on species care differences and advanced husbandry)

Ornate Pacman Frog Guide by bufomancer

ADW – Ceratophrys cornuta

AmphibiaWeb – Ceratophrys cornuta

AmphibiaWeb – Ceratophrys cranwelli

AmphibiaWeb – Ceratophrys ornata