Designing an Ideal Horned Frog Terrarium

[findiviglio]

Hi All,

Thebeautifully-colored and charmingly-pugnacious Argentine Horned Frog, Ceratophrys ornata, may be the world’s most popular amphibian pet. No matter how many rare and wonderful frogs I encounter, I always save a place for Horned Frogs in the zoo exhibits I manage and in my personal collection. Despite their size (females are often compared to salad bowls), Horned Frogs require relatively little living space. However, several important considerations must be kept in mind when setting up a Horned Frog terrarium. Once this has been accomplished, and if their other needs are met, you can look forward to a pet-keeping experience that may last for several decades. The following information can also be applied to the other Horned Frog species – there are 8 in all – that appear in the pet trade; please post below for more specific information on these. Read the rest of this article here: Horned Frogs as Pets - Designing an Ideal Terrarium for

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My Bio, with photos of animals I’ve been lucky enough to work with: That Pet Place welcomes Zoologist/Herpetologist Frank Indiviglio to That Reptile Blog | That Reptile Blog

Best Regards, Frank Indiviglio

[Mentat]

Hi Frank! Read article and find it informative and well written. However; disagree with the recommended temperature to keep Pacmans. In my experience and from reading available literature, Pacman frogs do better at day temps between 80-85F with a 5 degree drop at night. Keeping them at low 70s for extended periods can result in edema (starts around rear legs) as symptom to permanent organ damage (kidney, liver, and lymphatic hearts). Thank you !

[findiviglio]

Hi Frank! Read article and find it informative and well written. However; disagree with the recommended temperature to keep Pacmans. In my experience and from reading available literature, Pacman frogs do better at day temps between 80-85F with a 5 degree drop at night. Keeping them at low 70s for extended periods can result in edema (starts around rear legs) as symptom to permanent organ damage (kidney, liver, and lymphatic hearts). Thank you !

Hello Carlos,

Thanks for the kind words, and for pointing out some unclear language in my article...the temperature recommendation there is designed to illustrate a gradient, i.e. that temperature should range between those 2 points within the terrarium, so that the animal has a choice. Given that most owners keep this species in small terrariums, where a gradient is impossible to establish, your recommendation is accurate. Enjoy, best Frank