Care and Requirements

[COOCOpUcHoo]

Hey guys, although I probably won't get an African Bullfrog in a LONG time. But I just want to know the requirements and PRICE of the frog. (Price meaning over all feeding heat light etc.) Is it a good intermediate amphibian, and were can i find a good care sheet?

[Truffs1178]

Here's a good care sheet for you: Frog Forum - African Bullfrog - Pyxicephalus adspersus - Care and Breeding

They eat a lot especially when young so they can be expensive but housing and the actual price of the frog isn't too bad. I got mine for about £39.00(64.30 dollars)

[Lija]

You are asking about budgeting for pixie, am I right? Then:
- frog- not much
- tank - depends, big male needs big tank.
- food - major expenses here, not much while little, big $ when adult lol, say you have male that would eat about 50-80 night crawlers per week, some more, some less, but say average 50x whatever price is in your area.
- light/heat, same as for pacman expenses wise.

[GrifTheGreat]

Jack and Lija have pretty much said it all.

Humidity can be less than that of a Pacman Frog's requirements. GABFs can handle 60% to 90%. They spend a lot of time bathing so you will need to provide a good water dish and change water 2 to 3 times per day to keep your frog healthy and growing well.

Pyxies are aggressive. Far more than most Pacman Frogs and their appetite is also much higher. Feeding one is expensive especially for juveniles and adults, but like most frogs their appetite does decrease with age.

[Truffs1178]

Don't let the price of food put you off. They eat less regularly as they get older. Mine only wants to eat about once or twice a week these days and he's only about 5 months old.

[bcreps]

Don't let the price of food put you off. They eat less regularly as they get older. Mine only wants to eat about once or twice a week these days and he's only about 5 months old.

Interesting my female is maybe 3 to four months old and some times she doesn't eat like she used to. still has most of her baby colors, but at 4 inches I noticed her appetite has gone down. I thought it could be from changing her set up but shes always happy and hasnt shown signs of stress. Is 4 months a bit early for a pyxie to be less interested in food?

[COOCOpUcHoo]

So how about care and difficulty?

[Mentat]

In the USA a Pixie will cost you $40-$50. You will need an enclosure ($20 for a 20L at PETCO when they have their $ a gallon sale), a screen top for it (another $20), and a combo digital gauge (($20-$30). Substrate, a silk plant and water dish can be another $20. Depending on Season and location will need a heat source. Recommend a large dome with dimmer and ceramic heat emitter and that will set you back $35-$40. I'm presuming you have a stand for enclosure but if you don't, add another $100-$150 for it. And that is the simplest cheapest set-up you can start with. The 20L will work until frog is full grown if a female or Dwarf; but if a large male, will need a minimum 40B tank as an adult.

Electricity cost in your area will determine final numbers; but you will have a consumption based on the Season and your room temperature. In Winter my Pixie set-up can consume 2400 watts daily and in warm Summer days it's none. If running a water filter on the wet side, have to add that number too but normally it's low (around 350W daily).

Finally food will be the larger expense. Can offset that by raising your own roaches and recommend you start the culture couple months before you get the frog. IRT night crawlers; Walmart's sells 18 for $2.96 + tax. My little Duncan eats 3 every other day or so (good thing about a small Pixie). In contrast; Stilgar (at 5 in.) could decimate a dozen and have another dozen large crickets or medium Dubias for dessert every couple days. So he could go through $50-$60 in food and supplements monthly.

Hope these numbers help you compute an estimate. Be aware I'm listing the bare essentials and if you add a humidifier, electronic controller, fancier enclosure, etc. could bring the initial cost up by couple hundred dollars. Good luck !

[Lija]

So how about care and difficulty?

Same as for pacman more or less, except they need bigger water dishes and more frequent changes, can be 2 or 3x day.
they are more aggressive eaters and you need to be careful not to wave your fingers in front of the mouth lol

[Lija]

Carlos I'll tell you a story about how I kept mine in one of those with not attached screen tops lol, he jumped out of it with the screen, that was about 18" away lol ouch.... gosh they can be so powerful when they jump and apparently he wasn't too happy about something.... I'm just glad I was here to get him fast and he didn't injured himself, silly frog
Anyhow if you use that screen top you better get locks, whatever they are called just in case...

[Mentat]

Carlos I'll tell you a story about how I kept mine in one of those with not attached screen tops lol, he jumped out of it with the screen, that was about 18" away lol ouch.... gosh they can be so powerful when they jump and apparently he wasn't too happy about something.... I'm just glad I was here to get him fast and he didn't injured himself, silly frog
Anyhow if you use that screen top you better get locks, whatever they are called just in case...

Right, then need make the 20L a 29G and that would raise estimate from $20 to $29 .

[COOCOpUcHoo]

So the care is relatively simple, yet pricing on the long run is a bit much.

[Mentat]

So the care is relatively simple, yet pricing on the long run is a bit much.

Depends to what do you compare it. A large dog will eat more $ every month and veterinary costs can run high too. A saltwater reef aquarium can run into the thousands just to get it set-up! If looking for low cost, a small Rana or Toad is your best bet .

[Lija]

Or tiger salamander, they dont need heating or anything special, they are like doggies would beg for food and are fine with 3 crickets a few times a week or worm or 2 or dubia.