(Ceratophrys cranwelli)
Lifespan: 10-15 years
Diet: Carnivorous
Temperament: Docile
Experience level: Intermediate
South American horned frogs or famously known as Pac-Man Frogs because of their large, rounded mouths are nocturnal amphibians from South America! These cute little guys are one of the most popular frogs in the hobby and can be found in almost every pet store! They are native to Argentina, Brazil, and Uruguay where they live in marshy jungles and tropical grass lands. They are not great swimmers and spend most of their lives on the jungle floor. These frogs though being known to be a great beginner pet, we here think otherwise. Horned frogs or Pac-man frogs have specific needs and if those needs are not met, they can quickly decline! If you want a Pac-Man frog, here are some things you will need to know.
Enclosure
Pac-man frogs should have an enclosure that can mimic their natural habitat and encourage their natural behaviors. Pac-man frogs like to burrow since they are ambush hunters that like to sit and wait for prey to come by. They will need deep substrate with plenty of ventilation and hiding places. An enclosure about 23-18 inches is the minimum for an adult Pac-man frog. Their enclosure should be wider than it is tall since Pac-man frogs have no need for climbing.
Can I keep Pac-man frogs together?
That would be an absolute no! Pac-man frogs are not necessarily territorial, but they are known to put whatever fits in their mouth which also includes other Pac-man frogs!
Lighting
UVB/UVA:
Pac-Man frogs or South American horned toad spend most of its time buried to ambush their next prey and due to its lazy like lifestyle they do not absorb much UVB. You will find that many care guides will say that UVB is not necessary for Pac-man frogs but that is not true. All animals benefit from UVB and giving just supplements and vitamins just won’t work alone. Providing your pac-man frog with a low watt UVB bulb like a 5.0 Reptisun or equivalent will be just fine.
How to measure UVI (strength of the UVB)
The best way to measure UVI (UV index) in an enclosure is with a Solarmeter 6.5 or equivalent. You will point it at the light, and it should read 1.0 or 0.5 for albino with everywhere else being lower. Remember the higher your cage the less it will reach towards the bottom. That is why it is important to measure to make sure they are getting the right UVB strength or to adjust decor so it can reach better.
Heating
Pac-Man frogs are from South American where it is warm and humid. They love a temp gradient, so they regulate their body temperature. Your pac-man frogs enclosure should have a warm side about 80-85 degrees and a cool side that is around 75-80 degrees. You can achieve these temperatures with a heat mat against the side of the tank not the bottom, a heat emitter, or heat lamp. Pac-Man frogs will burrow to escape the heat and sometimes they are not very bright. That is why it is important to put the heat mats on the sides of the enclosure and your frog will not make themselves overheat.
At night you should turn off all the lights to mimic the darkness of night. Pac-Man frogs are nocturnal and adding extra light can cause stress. At night the temps should be around mid 60s- mid 70s. If your house gets any colder than 65 degrees a low watt heat emitter may be needed to keep your pet comfortable.
Humidity
Pac-Man frogs love it humid, and their enclosure should be around 60%-80% and this can be achieved with regular misting either it be manually or with a fogger. Substrate should be damp and not soaking wet. Keeping the enclosure humid is great for your Pac-Man frogs' skin and prevents dehydration. Frogs do not drink like other animals but rather absorb moisture through their skin. Always make sure to dechlorinate your water before giving it to your pet.
You can monitor your frog's enclosure with a hydrometer for their humidity and overall temperature. A thermostat will always be the perfect way to go for these guys so that temperatures are always regulated.
Substrate
Pac-Man frogs need to have substrate to live and the best substrate for them will be something that can hold moisture. A blend of coco fiber, organic topsoil, and sphagnum moss will do fine in your Pac-Man frogs enclosure. Remember to avoid anything large enough that your frog could accidentally ingest. Gravel or large wood chips should be avoided as these items could potentially be ingested and cause impaction. Rule of thumb is if it doesn’t crumble it should not be in the frog tank. The substrate should hold its shape when clenched in your hand but falls apart easily.
Your frog's substrate should be around 3-4 inches deep for an adult and 1-2 for young frogs. Enough to cover themselves completely.
Décor
When it comes to décor make sure the decorations are larger than your frog's mouth to avoid them accidentally eating it especially if you are decorating with fake plants and other ornaments. Fake plants are exceptional for Pac-Man frogs and can add color and enrichment for your pet without the need of trying to keep them alive. Pac-Man frogs love to hide under things so adding cork rounds or other items as such for them to get into or hide under will make them happy.
Can I go Bioactive?
Going bioactive for your Pac-Man frog will be greatly beneficial as having bioactive elements can make your pet feel more at home. Live plants tend to be safer for frogs as if they are accidentally ingested it can pose no harm to the pet. With bioactive terrariums it is important to have a clean up crew! Clean up crews are commonly isopods, springtails, and night crawlers. Be sure the species of isopods are right for your frog, many use dwarf whites as they are small and more unlikely to get eaten. Clean up crews help take care of waste or mold that might grow in the tank, and they will help keep it clean longer.
Many will opt out of bioactive enclosures because it can take months for it to become established enough for your frog and many do not have the patient for it.
Live plant options
- · Pothos (devil ivy)
- · Ferns
- · Bromeliads
- · Spider plant
Food
Pac-Man frogs are carnivores, and they feast upon anything that can fit in their mouths. They have a voracious appetite and are known to easily become obese in captivity. Obesity can lead to health issues if not careful. It is important to feed your frog a variety of foods to keep them healthy.
Feeding guide:
Baby (2-5 months) feed every day or every other day
Juvenile (6-12 months) feed every 2-3 days
Adult (1+ years) feed every 2-3 days
Give only what your frog can eat in 10-15 minutes and then remove all uneaten food. Food should be no larger than the width if your frogs head.
- · Crickets
- · Dubia roaches
- · Red runner roaches
- · Mealworms
- · Waxworms
- · Hornworms
- · Black soldier fly larvae
- · Earthworms
- · Silverside fish (guppies, minnows,) -treat only
- · Pinky or fuzzy mice – treat only
- · Reptilinks
Water
Your Pac-Man frog should have access to clean, dechlorinated water at all times, and it should be shallow enough so they can easily get in and out. They are not great at swimming and can easily drown if the water dish is too deep. They will soak in their water dish to hydrate as frogs drink through their skin. Frogs commonly also use their water dish as a toilet and will often pee and poop in it so cleaning it daily is necessary to avoid them from getting sick!
Vitamins
Pac-Man frogs should always take their vitamins! It will help them stay healthy and live a long life. You should give your frog a multivitamin and calcium (with or without D3 depending on if you are providing UVB or not). Calcium is essential for bones and overall health of the frog. Use calcium with D3 if you do not have a UVB on your frog. This is a common practice and usually is done 1-2 times a week by dusting their food with a small amount. Switching from the multivitamin to calcium regularly.
There are many brands out there to choose from and it is ultimately up to you which one you would like to give your frog. We here use Repashy calcium plus.
Health
Pac-Man frogs are generally hardy but are very prone to several health issues. This includes infections, nutritional deficiencies, and parasites! Red leg syndrome, bacterial and fungal infections, MBD (metabolic bone disease), eye infections, respiratory issues from improper husbandry, and even chemical intoxication!
It is important to make sure your Pac-Man frogs' husbandry is correct and that they soak regularly. There are only a few vets that specialize in amphibians. Be sure you know of an exotic vet that does in your area before you get one so in case your pet gets sick you will have a vet to take them to. Pac-Man frogs can decline quickly if untreated.
Last note
Always wash your hands before and after handling your pet to help prevent the spread of diseases and parasites. Zoonotic diseases like salmonella can be passed on from reptiles to humans.
Always clean up after your pet. A clean pet is a happy pet. Always practice proper hygiene!