A Different Kind of Pet: the African Dwarf Frog

Just a little background:

I first found out about African Dwarf Frogs (or as they're sometimes referred as ADF's) about a year ago. I saw them first on the internet as a compatible tank buddy to betta fishes. If you've never had a betta fish, they can sometimes be extremely aggressive so they normally need to be by themselves. My betta, named Alpha, is a pretty calm fish. He never flared up (they will puff up their gills), so I figured I could get him a little roommate and it wouldn't be an issue.

This started a love I wasn't expecting.

My boyfriend and I were on the hunt to find an ADF. The chain pet stores like Petco and Petsmart don't sell them. I needed to find one of those family aquarium stores where, the second you walk in, you just get a huge whiff of salt, kind of like the beach. Thankfully, we live near the ocean so there are plenty of them around.

When we walked in, the walls were just lined with aquariums full of beautiful, large fish and itty bitty baby fish that I have never heard of. I quickly found the ADF tanks and there were two. We picked the fattest one and took her back to the apartment. We've bounced back and forth with names but Froggo seemed to be the one that stuck. Creative, right? Alpha and she have had no issues, thankfully.

A few months later, a friend and I went to another fish store to get a shrimp to help with our algae issue (it was taking over the tank.) Next to the shrimp tank was a tank full of baby albino ADFs. I had to have one. They were so tiny, it was terrifying. I felt like I was going to take care of a newborn human child.

We named him Baby (appropriately). Since we put Baby and the shrimp into the tank, everyone has seemed to be happier. I always check in the tank to see Baby and Froggo always next to each other. They both have their own little personalities that remind me of little aquatic dogs. Froggo begs all the time for food. She knows the schedule now while Baby just harasses the shrimp who always seems to step on their faces.

So how do you take care of ADF?

ADF need big but somewhat shallow tanks. They aren't the best swimmers so they need to be able to get up to air quickly when they need it. The water needs to be around 70-75 degrees which is normally the tropical fish water temperature.

The bottom of the tank can be bare or with gravel. If you choose gravel, make sure they're relatively large pieces so they don't mistake it for food and end up choking.

Because they like to hide, there should be lots of plants and hiding places so they feel safe. The plants can be living or artificial but if you decide to use artificial, make sure they're silk. If they're the hard plastic, your little frogs could be injured.

Filters are not needed for the water but it can make your life a little easier. You will still need to do 25 percent water changes every week since filters do not get rid of the ammonia in the water. You also do not need special lighting for them. Just make sure that they have normal day and night cycles so that they can sleep.

Feeding is pretty simple for them. They need a variety of items in their diet but feeding them the diet is easy. ADF love bloodworms (frozen or dried), tadpole/aquatic frog pellets, shrimp (frozen or dried), and even frozen beef heart. I find it easiest to have a little dish at the bottom of the tank and dropping all of the food in the dish. The little frogs then begin to learn where the food is so it's easy. Try to feed them every other day as much as they will eat in 10 minutes or so. That way, they can digest all of their food and you do not have to worry about bloat or dropsy.

Those are all the basics of caring for the little ADFs. They're such a wonderful, entertaining pet and I guarantee you'll fall in love with them as quickly as I have.