General Appearance: They are commonly known as “Pac Man” frogs because of their fairly round shape and really large mouth, which makes them resemble the popular video game character. They are also called “Horned Frogs” due to the presence of horn-like fleshy knobs on the top of their eyes.
*Always Wash Your Hands Both Before And After Handling Frogs or their Habitat*
Know your Frog:
Knowing your frog and understanding how to cater to its unique needs is important when you get one as a pet. They are called a ‘pet’ but frogs are not actually a pet you ‘play with.’ Rather, they are to be appreciated in the habitat similar to watching a fish tank.
PacMan frogs are native to most of the South American rain forests in Brazil, Uruguay, and Argentina.
PacMan frogs are mainly inactive and so do not need a large habitat, even though the frog can get large. PacMans are interesting and attractive pet frogs, but do not expect much movement except at feeding time.
PacMan frogs are aggressive eaters and hunt by ambush. They are carnivorous, feeding on insects and any other animal it is able to swallow. They can even be cannibalistic so you can only have one horned frog per tank – otherwise you may find one missing the next day!
Feeding:
The PacMans are not particular on their food…if it moves and they can catch it, they will happily eat it. They do need movement to recognize food, so they will not eat dead food sources. Crickets, worms and other small creepy crawlies form the bulk of the frog’s diet. They have been known to eat small fish like guppies or even pinky mice as they reach adult size. They can recognize routine –if you feed them at the same time every day you’ll start to find them waiting for their lunch. Any uneaten prey should be removed from the enclosure the next day to prevent dead insects from polluting the frog’s environment. Every-other feeding we suggest you sprinkle a little calcium or multivitamin powder onto the bugs before you drop them into the habitat. While small pacman frogs should be fed daily, larger frogs can be fed less frequently. The best guide is to feed based on your frog’s body condition – if your frog is getting too round and fat, cut back how often it is fed.
Temperature: Frogs are cold-blooded, meaning they can’t regulate their body temperature on their own. A heater is not usually necessary as these frogs are comfortable in room temperature, but if your home is cold you should consider a small heat light for extra warmth.
Humidity: These frogs like high humidity. You can help keep the humidity high by using a plant mister to spray the habitat with water once a day or more. Air conditioners lower the humidity of the room so if you have one on, you must give your frog’s habitat a few more sprays of water to make sure he doesn’t get dehydrated. Coconut Husk bedding is good to use because it helps to retain moisture in the habitat. You’ll also want to offer them a water dish to soak in. It has to be shallow so they don’t drown.
Cleaning: Make sure the habitat is always clean. If you move the frog into another container to clean his habitat, gently lift him with your fingers being careful not to poke, pinch or squeeze him. If he feels threatened, he may bit you. Or possibly mistake you for a food item, so be cautious. You must also be very careful when you clean your frog’s habitat. They are extremely sensitive to soaps and detergents. Using only hot water, rinse the habitat and décor. Remove dirty substrate bits or replace the entire substrate. Always wash your hands after handling the habitat contents.
What if I Can No Longer Care for My Frog?
These frogs live a long time. If there’s ever a reason you can no longer take care of it, please do not release the frog outside. He can not survive outside temperatures and he may not have learned to hunt on his own. Some suggestions: find a friend or neighbor who would like a pet frog, or donate it to a school for a wildlife display, or give it to a local pet shop who can possibly find it a home.
Having discovered a fondness for insects while pursuing her degree in Biology, Randi Jones was quite bugged to know that people usually dismissed these little creatures as “creepy-crawlies”.
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