African dwarf frogs are a species of small, friendly aquatic frogs that can be found in colors ranging from olive green to greenish-brown, with black spots.These frogs make great pets because of their calm, docile nature and willingness to get along with other fish species. They are always very social, and groups of two or more frogs tend to thrive well in a single tank!How should an owner care for their tank African dwarf frog in order to make sure it has a long and healthy life? It is recommended to keep a close eye on an African dwarf frog’s wellbeing and health, as though very sturdy, small things can significantly affect this frog and cause a decline in its health.Why do African dwarf frogs die?There are a few reasons why healthy pet African dwarf frogs die, for seemingly no reasons at all. These frogs do have a relatively long lifespan in the wild, however they do not do as well in captivity for a number of reasons.Improper Water Conditions: African dwarf frogs are very sensitive to water conditions, so keeping them at the right temperature and acidity levels is very important. As they are aquatic frogs, they spend most of their time in the water, so making sure that the water is according to their needs is very important. African dwarf frogs require warm water, as well as a lamp, to provide them with enough heat and light for them to be comfortable. It is important that these are not too powerful, as otherwise, the water may become too hot, causing these frogs to die.Improper Handling: An owner may feel the need to handle their pet frog from time to time and shower it with a lot of love and affection. However, this is very delicate and an owner could injure their pet without realizing! You must pick up this frog very slowly and gently, as doing so too harshly can end up with this animal sustaining a broken leg or bruised rib. A frog’s internal organs may also become irreparably damaged if it is handled too roughly. If its legs are broken, it will be unable to hop up to the surface to breathe and will drown. An African dwarf frog has lungs. If a frog dies and it has recently been handled by the owner, then the owner may have accidentally mishandled the frog.Unclean Tank: Invest in a good filter system, as cleanliness is highly important for these amphibians. It is very easy for ammonia and nitrates to build up in a dirty tank, which can promote the growth of blue-green algae and minerals can accumulate that are very harmful to these aquatic creatures. If there is any algae building up in the tank, remove all the aquatic animals from it and clean it immediately. Check if the filter is working properly, and add small creatures, like catfish or Amano shrimp, to the tank because they eat algae. Good water parameters will help these frogs be healthier and happier, leading to a longer lifespan! Schedule regular tank cleanings to avoid the build-up of any unwanted debris, and check on the water filter from time to time!Improper Feeding: African dwarf frogs usually hang out at the bottom of the tank, which can make feeding them a bit difficult. Avoid feeding them live food as this can contain a number of parasites that can destroy them from the inside if consumed. If an African dwarf frog shares a tank with other fish, then it is important to make sure that its food actually reaches it at the bottom of the tank. Fish in the upper and middle layers may gobble up the food as it sinks towards the bottom! Make sure to feed food pellets that sink to the bottom of the tank and are too big for fish to feed on. The ideal amount of food to feed this frog is as much as it can eat within three minutes, two times a day. Be very careful with this as underfeeding this animal as well as overfeeding can cause this animal to die. Do not keep its diet monotonous. Make sure to add in occasional frozen or dried brine shrimp and bloodworms as treats, so that the frog stays perky and happy.Stress: African dwarf frogs are actually very susceptible to developing health problems because of stress. Stress can be caused by many factors such as improper handling, dirty tank conditions or water parameters, improper water temperature, unfriendly tank mates, and cramped conditions. It is important to monitor a frog’s behavior. If it seems to be feeling low for any reason, try to analyze why it might be feeling like this and improve its environment so that it stays happy. Make sure the tank size is big enough to accommodate all the aquatic wildlife present, or the frog may end up feeling too cramped. As these frogs enjoy spending time at the bottom of the tank, it is implied that they enjoy their space. Continuously handling them for long periods of time or touching them for no reason can cause them to stress out, which may put pressure on their hearts!Diseases And Fungal Infections: Like any other aquatic creature, a perfectly healthy frog may contract diseases or develop health problems because of hidden fungi or bacteria present in its tank. The most common illnesses that can affect an African dwarf frog include bloating, dropsy, and fungal skin infections. If you observe that a frog is not its usual self or seems ill, then try to pinpoint what symptoms it is displaying and treat it accordingly.What is the oldest African dwarf frog?Though the oldest African dwarf frog has not been recorded, a captive African clawed frog has lived for around 30 years. African clawed frogs are aquatic frogs that are very similar to African dwarf frogs, and these two species are often mistaken for each other. In fact, African dwarf frogs are also called dwarf clawed frogs!Similar to African dwarf frogs, African clawed frogs can live for between 5-15 years in the wild. Both species are popular pets, however these frogs live for a longer time in the wild than in captivity. These species are very easily prone to dying in captivity because of various factors which do not exist in the wild.The easiest way to differentiate between an African dwarf frog and an African clawed frog is to look at their feet. Dwarf frogs have four webbed feet, while clawed frogs only have two webbed feet, the hind ones. Their front feet are separated into separate toes.Lifespan Of African Dwarf Frogs In CaptivityThe average lifespan of African dwarf frogs is around two to five years in captivity. However with proper care and ideal tank conditions, these frogs have even been observed to live for up to 15-20 years! To help a pet African dwarf frog live longer, there are a number of signs to look out for which indicate that a pet is in distress. If this frog seems like it suffering, then it is important to get it treated immediately. The signs to look out for are:Pale Skin: African dwarf frogs, like other frogs, tend to molt their skin from time to time. Adult frogs tend to shed once every three to four weeks. Right before shedding, their skin may become very dry or pale, which is normal. However, if the new skin underneath retains the same properties, then it may mean that something is wrong with these animals. Shedding more frequently than usual is also a sign that they are ill, as this process should only happen once a month. It will be very obvious if their skin is pale because they normally have a very bold, solid coloring which stands out.Staying At The Top Of The Tank: These frogs are very adventurous and they may try to escape the tank more than once, however they usually hang around at the bottom of the tank. The most time they spend near the surface of the water is when they come up to breathe, as they do not have gills and have to rely on their lungs for oxygen. If you notice that a frog is spending more time than usual at the top of the tank, then it may mean that something is very wrong. It might mean that it is unhappy with the tank conditions and wishes to leave, or does not feel safe with the other fish in the tank.Improper Skin Shedding: When a pet frog sheds, the dead skin must come off in one single piece. If the skin is coming off in small pieces, chipping off, or hanging off for long periods of time, then it means that a frog is not receiving enough nutrition. It could also be a skin disease, caused by high levels of ammonia or nitrite fungus in the tank. Though these two can be treated easily, it could also be an effect of chytrid fungus which can be deadly for frogs. Always check the water quality in the tank, and install a proper filtration system in order to avoid this. Make sure that the water temperature is not too cold or hot.Stillness: Frogs should always be exploring the tank and jumping around! If you notice that a frog has not moved for hours, or is simply floating in place, then it is very close to passing away. In this case, it is important to contact a veterinary doctor and find out what is wrong.Do African dwarf frogs kill each other?No, in fact, African dwarf frogs are very social and thrive best when kept in groups of two or more! Frogs may seem to act aggressively towards each other from time to time, however, this is not because they are territorial. They are just trying to make their way around each other. If it is a mixed group of frogs, then they are trying to attract a mate.These frogs are not aggressive at all and get along very well with fish of different types. However, they may try to eat smaller ones! The mating process of African dwarf frogs can last for quite a long time, and takes place over many hours! If two frogs are locked together for an extended period of time, they are not fighting but simply mating.
African dwarf frogs are a species of small, friendly aquatic frogs that can be found in colors ranging from olive green to greenish-brown, with black spots.
