African Clawed Frog

This page is educational reference material for preparing questions. A licensed veterinarian examines the animal, makes the diagnosis, and sets the treatment.

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A frog that never comes on land

African clawed frogs, Xenopus laevis, spend their whole lives underwater. Adults are about 4 to 5 inches, females larger than males, with eyes on top of a flat head and dark claws on the hind toes. They have no tongue. Food is shoved into the mouth with the hands. The table's temperament line, hardy and an active swimmer, is fair. The legal line is the one sellers skip.

Lifespan is often about 15 years in a clean tank, and some animals pass 20. The 30-year figure in the quick facts is the far end of published reports, not a promise. Temperature belongs between 68 and 77°F. A 10-gallon tank is the listed minimum for one frog and gets crowded fast. Use a lid. They are famous escape artists.

What the mouth is for

Sinking pellets, earthworms, and bloodworms match the diet line. They will also swallow fish, tadpoles, and a smaller frog. A community aquarium is the wrong picture. Bare glass or stones too large to gulp are safer than gravel. Floating food that they cannot find on the bottom is a common reason a new keeper thinks the frog is "not eating."

Released clawed frogs have established invasive populations, and this species was part of the story of chytrid fungus moving around the world. Several U.S. states restrict possession. California is one of them. Do not buy one and plan to sort the paperwork later, and do not dump the tank into a pond.

When the water is the illness

Red skin, floating upside down, or a belly that balloons are water-quality problems until a vet says otherwise. Test ammonia and nitrite before you add medicine. ARAV lists clinics that will see a frog. Sudden refusal to feed is covered on the amphibian appetite page, and the checker sorts urgency. The table's own price line is about $5 to $25 for the animal and $100 to $200 for a basic setup, which is cheap compared with the years of water changes. Beginner is a fair label only for someone who already keeps fish and will keep the lid on.

African clawed frog questions

How long do African clawed frogs live?

Many live around 15 years, and some pass 20 when the water stays clean. The table's 15 to 30 year span puts 30 at the extreme, not the typical outcome.

Can they live with fish?

No. African clawed frogs eat fish, and they will also eat smaller frogs. Keep them alone or with other clawed frogs of similar size in a lidded tank.

Are African clawed frogs legal everywhere?

No. Several states restrict them, California among them, because released frogs become invasive and they have a history as a chytrid carrier. Check wildlife rules before you buy.

Do they need a land area?

No. They are fully aquatic. They do need a tight lid, because they shove their noses into any gap and leave.