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Do you want something cute, creepy and different to any pet you’ve ever had before? Then the Horned frog or Pac-Man frog could be for you. Native to forests in Argentina, Paraguay and Brazil, these fat frogs with cartoon faces are voracious ambush predators, hiding amongst the leaf litter for unsuspecting prey to stray too close to their capacious mouths. 

The green and brown marking on wild specimens camouflage them perfectly and they spend almost their entire lives hunkered down on the forest floor, motionless, waiting for a meal. They’ll eat anything from worms and insects to small snakes, mice, frogs and even their own kind, so in captivity they should be kept on their own.  

Housing  

Although they hardly ever move, adult horned frogs can grow to 8” in diameter so deserve a terrarium of at least 60x45cm. Height is not important as they don’t climb, but the substrate should be deep soil so that they can burrow into it.

Burrowing is very important to these frogs and loose substrates such as soil will be the only way to provide them with this opportunity. There are a number of variations of soil substrates and its good to research as some may be beneficial to any live plants you include in your habitat as well. 

Drainage layers, including drainage substrate and matting, can be added to aid humidity but remember these frogs are good at digging and may reach these layers if the soil section isn't deep enough.

As well as soil, moss and leaf litter make good additions to your terrarium. These help mimic the frog’s natural environment and are beneficial for humidity and enabling better cover to reduce stress.

Once your forest floor is created, décor such as cork bark, rocks and foliage will make good enrichment opportunities for your animal. They will also keep your animal mentally stimulated which is beneficial to their health, as well as making your enclosure aesthetically pleasing. A water dish can be provided in larger vivs, aiding humidity and giving the frog the opportunity to sit in the water if it wants to. 

Heating and lighting

To provide the best habitat for your frog use a basking lamp to create a basking area of 28°C. This temperature should only be present on one side of the tank to allow escape, with the general temperature gradient in the rest of the enclosure between 22 and 25°C. Bulbs should always be thermostatically controlled to avoid overheating. 

During the night, your heating system can be switched off and your terrarium allowed to cool to between 15 - 20°C. This is natural for them to experience this nighttime drop and creates a good night/day cycle.

Next is a UV bulb. The benefit of UV with your frog is that it creates a more natural setting, it benefits your frog’s health and it would be exposed to UV in the wild, albeit in low levels. Both bulbs should be used in a 12 hour cycle, switched off at night to create day and night periods. UV bulbs have a lifespan of 6-12 months depending on the brand, so make note of the date you purchased the bulb.

Water Water used for spraying substrates and water dishes should be properly dechlorinated beforehand, which can be done using a reptile safe liquid dechlorinator. Water dishes should be cleaned frequently to prevent bacteria growth and temperature and humidity in the enclosure measured with a thermometer and hygrometer.

Mould grows in warm, humid environments so remove any visible growths, churn the soil and add cleaner insects which will eat the mould when it grows.

Feeding

Your frog should be fed on an insectivorous diet including crickets, locusts, cockroaches, and earthworms. Dust all food with good quality calcium and multivitamin powders so your frog receives all the required nutrients through their diet. Calcium is essential in bone development and multivitamins will aid bodily functions.  

Frogs are also prone to neurological issues so extra vitamin A is beneficial to their bone and tissue growth. Vitamin A aids vision, skin health and the immune system. As a protein boost, you can offer your frog the occasional pinkie mouse, though this shouldn't be done too often as it will lead to higher quantities of fat and protein than is needed.

Shopping listVivariumHeat sourceThermostatUVB LightingThermometerHygrometerWater bowlSubstrateHidesDecorationCalcium, Multivitamin, Vitamin ACleaning EquipmentSpray bottleDe-chlorinatorSpecies fact file

Name: Horned frog, Pac-Man frog

Scientific name: Ceratophrys sp.

Lifespan: 5 - 6 years

Length: 4 - 8inch

Origin: South America

Vivarium Size: 60x45x30cm

Temperature gradient: 22 - 28°C

Humidity:  60 - 80%

Lighting: Low - Mid-level UVB

Feeding: Live food

In addition to this, we also have customer information documents that must be completed and sent back to us before we complete the sale.

Pac-man frogs are solitary species of frogs and are known to be highly canibalistic so they MUST be kept on their own.

The order is subject to terms and condtions***

 

 

***TERMS AND CONDITIONS***

 

Deposit holds the animal for 14 days, we will contact you to arrange shipping.

Deposits are non-refundable, the only exception is if you do not meet the criteria for the set-up.

Shipping costs are £60 within the UK for next day delievery.

We only ship Tuesdays - Thursdays to ensure the animals are not stuck in shipping over the weekend.

All our orders are subject to meeting the criteria for the set-ups unless purchasing the set-up from us.

We must see proof of set up i.e correctly sized terrarium, heaters with heat guards as well as being connected to a thermostat and appropriate UVB etc.

 

If you have any additonal queries, we would be more than happy to help. You can contact us over facebook messenger or give us a call on 01698 598398 between our opening hours.

Green Pac-Man Frog - Ceratophrys sp cranwelli

£32.99Price
Out of Stock
  • In order to meet the criteria, you must show proof the enclosure and set up. You must show proof of the following or an alternative of the following:

    A 10 gallon tank for a baby/juvenile pac-man frog, this must be upgraded to a 20 gallon tank for an adult. 

    A suitable substarte ie eco earth, fertilizer free top-soil. Your frog should be able to bury itself in the substrate. 

    Appropiate heating ie a under the tank heater on the SIDE of the enclosure or  a heat bulb attatched to the relevant thermostat. 

    Appropriate low-level UVB. 

    A hide should be provided, you can also provide some decoration ie fake plants. 

    A hygrometer and thermometer.

    A water dish that the frog is able to soak but can also easily get out of.

    Calcium supplements for dusting feeder insects. 

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