Aquatic Frogs

Aquatic frogs or water frogs have become the first choice for the people who love watching the activities of these small creatures. These frogs can be good pets and can live for more than 15 years, if properly taken care of. Scientifically, they are known as Xenopus laevis. There are number of varieties under this species but the most commonly preferred aquatic frog as pet is the African clawed frog. They lack webbing in their front foot which makes them distinguishable from the other species. Aquatic frogs can be kept as pet, and are easy to take care of. In this Buzzle article we will discuss how to take care of them.

Aquatic Frogs as Pets

Aquatic frogs mostly live in water but breath air from the surface. They can also survive on land, if they are forced to. They just require a normal housing like the other aquatic creatures which can be done by using an aquarium. They can be very easily taken care of. You just need to arrange a healthy and safe environment for them to flourish. Following are some of the points which you need to keep in mind before getting an aquatic frog as pet.

• First thing is to decided whether you really want to have one as a part of your family. Keeping a pet and then not taking care of them may result in its death which is very sad. So think before you get one.
• Which species you want to have. If you like small frogs then go for African dwarf frogs as pet and if you want to have a big one then you can have an African bullfrogs which is almost 8 to 9 inches long.
• You need to have a proper aquarium which should be clean. Take care of the frog's food and other requirements.

Aquatic Frogs Care

The best way of keeping your frog away from the illness is to keep it in a clean tank. Aquatic frogs can live for more than 15 years in a better environment. Following are some of the points on aquatic frogs care which may help you to take better care of your frog.

• You need to have an aquatic tank which can have 10 gallon water to accommodate one frog and if there are two then the water should be 20 gallon. Crowded environment can make them susceptible to diseases which may further lead them to death. You need to keep some covers, as these frogs get frightened very fast and hence search for place to hide.
• Setting up an aquatic tank is still easy but its necessary and difficult to keep it clean. You need to have a proper filtration system as these frogs produce a large amount of waste which can increase the level of ammonia and nitrite.
• Temperature and pH plays a very important role in maintaining the health of an aquatic frog. The temperature should be maintained between 64-75ºF which you can maintain with the help of a water heater. Whereas, pH should be maintained between 6.5-7.5 which you can do with the help of pH regulator.
• Feeding can be a problem for some of the frog owners. Aquatic frogs eat earthworms, brine shrimp, blood-worms and feeder fish. Once the frog gets food you can feed them after 2 to 3 days. If your frog is not eating, hold the food in between you finger and thumb and put your finger close to your frogs mouth and just wiggle. He will grab the food.
• Lightening is not necessary for the frogs. So, it's up to you to have lightening in the tank.

Breeding is easy in frogs, you just need to have a pair of mature frogs and the knowledge of reproductive season. If you talk about illness, the pet frogs usually do not get ill but normal skin infections are quite common. If they get into some serious illness then you need to consult an aquarist. Take care of the hygiene of your tank and monitor the activities of your frog. If they seem to be dull and are not interested in having food, it may indicate their poor health. So, try to keep your aquatic frogs in good health by following the care tips given in this Buzzle article and be happy with your small creatures.