Ornate Horned Frog Care Sheet
- Common Name
- South American Ornate Horned Frog
Pac Man Frog
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- Scientific name
- Ceratophrys ornata
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- Native to
- Tropical Rainforests of South America
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- Size
- 6 - 9 inches
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- Life span
- Normally around 6 years. Have lived up to 12 years in captivity
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- General appearance
- Large, fat frogs, seem to consist of two parts, a stomach and a mouth and appear
to be designed solely to eat. They are often very colorful, usually green with dark red to black
markings along their back, females slightly larger than males. Usually round in shape, with a
mouth disportionately larger than the body appearing to look like Pac Man characters, this is one of the few frogs that do have teeth.
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- Enclosure
- Minimum 10 gallon aquarium, with a secure lid.
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- Heating and Lighting
- These frogs do best in a 9-12 hour photoperiod. Longer periods may cause them to
stop eating. Fluorescent is preferred because incandescent may dry out the skin. Temperatures preferred are 72 to 82°F and can be achieved by the use of a heat mat underneath the tank. All heat sources must be controlled by a thermostat to prevent overheating.
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- Substrate
- The tank can be lined with paper towels, aquarium gravel, reptile bark or Astroturf
with clumps of sphagnum moss and artificial or live plants. Frogs are very sensitive so
make sure products used are reptile safe.
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- Environment
- Must have a shallow bowl of water where it will spend most of its time. Have enough
loose material to simulate the loose leaves in the forest for hiding spots. High humidity is required so mist daily
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- Diet
- Feed a variety of crickets, fish and mice. Juveniles should be fed every 2 – 3 days. Adults should be fed once a week and then every 10 – 14 days, as it grows older. It is important to not feed prey items that are too large. Offered food should be no larger than half the size of the frog. Use a vitamin and calcium supplement once weekly with juvenile frogs and every 3 – 4 weeks with adults.
Crickets can be put in the aquarium and fish may be placed in the water dish or you can use small tongs or tweezers to hold the prey items in front of the frog.
Note: These frogs will tend to bite anything that moves. Never use you bare hands when feeding to avoid bites. Many frogs are killed when a hand is quickly drawn away from a bite and the frog is flung against a wall.
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- Maintenance
- Periodically clean out dead crickets and cricket parts. Water should be freshened daily if evaporating and changed at least once a week. Handlers are advised to wash hands thoroughly after handling animals or animal related products.
Information provided by WNYHS
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