Hello there, I am a new member!!!

[Leanneglover]

Hi my name is Leanne and I live in London with my terrible twosome of an African clawed frog and African dwarf frog (along with a load of other fishes!)


I am aware that a lot of you are probably going to think I am mad for putting my froggies in a community tank but I can assure you that they are very happy and have been very protective of each other for the 3 years which we have had them! I have lots of pictures of my babies together in a photo album if any one would like to see!


Anyway, I just joined the forum because I am proud of my froggies and enjoy reading about everyone else's!
i hope to have fun interacting on here with other AFC/ADF lovers and share stories, problems and advice :-) so feel free to comment :-)

[ccatgo]

Hello Leanne and welcome!!! So neat to hear how your little frogs are different from the 'norm' when it comes to behavior.....whatever works and keeps them happy!!!

[Heatheranne]

Welcome to the forum .

[deranged chipmunk]

Welcome to the forum Leanne. i'm sure everyone would love to see pics of your babies

[Leanneglover]

Hello everyone and thank you for the comments! I have an album on my page if anyone would like to take a look at my babies together! I would post some to this thread but I am still trying to work out how to do it! ( I worked it out yay!!!) there are more in my album.
Anyway, thanks again for reading my thread :-)

[rodsboys]

That is extermly intersting and slightly unbelievable. Do your frogs eat or attempt to eat fish?

[Leanneglover]

Hello, sorry for such a delay to reply!!! No they don't eat any of the fish fortunately :-) I recently bought 2 more baby acfs to add to my strangely placid family and the big AFC ( in these pictures) seems to be caring for the 3 smaller froggies! I will upload some more pics shortly! They really r one of a kind!!!

[mpmistr]

Hello everyone and thank you for the comments! I have an album on my page if anyone would like to take a look at my babies together! I would post some to this thread but I am still trying to work out how to do it! ( I worked it out yay!!!) there are more in my album.
Anyway, thanks again for reading my thread :-)

Your circumstance is interesting and I am also surprised that your Xenopus (big frog) has not swiftly turned on your Hymenochirus (little frog) and devoured the little guy..

-however-

despite your luck thus far keeping these two species together you must also understand that these two species do have vastly different needs besides the fact Xenopus should prey upon an african dwarf frog.. you have to remember that your dwarf clawed frog is a tropical species and your african clawed frog is a sub tropical species. your dwarf frog will be comfortable at 77F or more and your clawed frog is going to like things much cooler, at around 68F-72F.

Not to discourage you, but that is something to consider. These species really should not be housed together.

[Leanneglover]

Thank you for your comment! I did do my research before purchasing my little froggies and am aware that they thrive in different conditions however, the owner of the aquatics shop which I purchased them from assured me that they have been climatised to 75F. So I have kept them at a constant 75F for the past 3 years and they seem happy enough (I hope)! It would be a shame to seperate them at this stage just because literature says they shouldn't live together. And I am not sure why my xenopus has never attempted to eat my dwarf but as you can see from the pictures in my albums, they are pretty friendly! Which although strange, it's also very lovely to watch grow up together! And I sincerely hope that my dwarf will never become dinner.

[mpmistr]

Thank you for your comment! I did do my research before purchasing my little froggies and am aware that they thrive in different conditions however, the owner of the aquatics shop which I purchased them from assured me that they have been climatised to 75F. So I have kept them at a constant 75F for the past 3 years and they seem happy enough (I hope)! It would be a shame to seperate them at this stage just because literature says they shouldn't live together. And I am not sure why my xenopus has never attempted to eat my dwarf but as you can see from the pictures in my albums, they are pretty friendly! Which although strange, it's also very lovely to watch grow up together! And I sincerely hope that my dwarf will never become dinner.

Hard to say, can't really give too much advice here. Your situation really goes against conventional logic when housing these species. Technically your Xenopus should have turned your Hymenochirus into dinner the second he realized it fit in his mouth.

That's just the nature of frogs and Xenopus is not known for passing up a potential meal.. ever.

75F is probably the best temperature you can shoot for, I mean it's a bit warmer than Xenopus would like, they'd prefer a cooler 68F-72F to do well and your smaller Hymenochirus' comfort zone really starts at 77F. Over time this can effect them, just something to consider.

Does your Xenopus have a good appetite? He seems to be of good weight and size. I truly am shocked that your dwarf frog has made it this long. ACF are highly predatory animals, I don't think a dwarf frog would last more than a few minutes with an african clawed frog under most circumstances. These two species being houses together is akin to a lion being houses with a gazelle.

One last, final thing to consider (I know I am a buzz kill) is that when these species are not housed at their optimal temperature ranges the chance of developing disease increases and cross contamination of disease is very likely (even under optimal conditions) which is another reason it's always highly recommended to not 'mix' amphibians.

[Jenste]

Not trying to beat a dead horse, but adding two more ACF are just diminishing that little ADF's already extraordinary chances of survival. The fact that your current ACF has not eaten him already is astonishing....adding two more gluttonous giants into his world is not giving him a fair chance of survival. It would be much simpler, and compassionate, to give each species their own dedicated set up. A 20 gallon long can be turned into a great playground for three boisterous ACF or a nice little 2.5 gallon can home your solo ADF or a nice 10 gallon can home a charming ADF colony of 5-6 individuals.

[froghugger]

Hi, I have had both ACF and ADF! But I did not put them together because the size difference was very vast, glad to hear that that worked out for you though!