Common Name: African Clawed Frog
Latin name: Xenopus laevis
Native to: Southern Africa
Size: Up to five inches
Life span: African clawed frogs usually live 10 to 15 years in captivity but have been known to live up to 30 years.
General appearance: African clawed frogs are wedge shaped, with the head being smaller than the rest of the body. The eyes are positioned on the top of the head and lack eyelids. The African clawed frog's color ranges from grayish to brownish with marbled and darker shades with a creamy white underside. Albino morphs are becoming more popular and are commonly found.
Housing requirements:
Enclosure: African clawed frogs are exclusively aquatic and should be maintained in an aquarium. Ten gallons of dechlorinated water per African clawed frog with a minimum of 20 gallons should be adequate. The water level should not exceed 12 inches to allow the African clawed frog to easily reach the surface to breathe. There should also be some hide places in the enclosure. There also should not be anything metal in the enclosure since the metal ions can be toxic to the African clawed frog. Most people believe that waterfall filters can be beneficial to the African clawed frog. Filters such as under-gravel filter or anything with an air stone can create problems with the African clawed frog.
Temperature: Water temperatures in the enclosure should be maintained at 70° to 75° F. Water PH should be maintained at 6.5 - 7.5. Water should be tested to ensure the optimal water condition.
Heat/Light: The African clawed frog requires a 12-hour photo period and can be provided with a standard aquarium hood and a household timer. A standard aquarium heater can be used to maintain water temperatures in the aquarium.
Substrate: African clawed frogs can easily have nothing at the bottom of the tank, gravel has been known to cause impaction.
Environment: African clawed frogs come from freshwater ponds and lakes and are strictly aquatic. They do not require any portion of land.
Diet: African clawed frogs are scavengers and will eat anything that they can put in their mouth. Items such as brine shrimp, bloodworms, krill, shrimp pellets, wax worms, tubifex worms, mealworms, guppies, silversides, waterfleas, or many commercially available foods such as Reptomin™ and HBH Frog and Tadpole Bites can all be offered as food.
Maintenance: In addition to a filtration system a 25% water change should be performed every two to four weeks with a gravel siphon.
