Dwarf or Giant

[Pippin]

Here is my baby, I've had him about a month and a half now, and he's been growing fast. I know he's too young to tell gender on, but I wanted to make sure he is a giant and not a dwarf african bullfrog. Thanks

[Bombina Bob]

I would say giant.

[tgampper]

I maybe wrong, but I think your frog is a dwarf. Your frog seems to have two distinguishing traits of a dwarf: one is the white spot inside the tympanum (eardrum); the other is a pale interorbital bar connecting the two eyes and running perpendicular to the vertebral stripe. The problem is that I cannot tell if the tympanum spot is actually white or just a reflection of light. If you can take a look at it under low light, you can see much better. Giants will not have a white spot and lack the interorbital bar.

The African bullfrog family is in a state of flux right now, with the resurrection of a fourth species. Don't be too disappointed, dwarfs are cool too

What is also confusing is the popular name. In African frog field guides, the dwarf is known as the African Bullfrog (Pyxicephalus edulis) and the giant is known as the Giant Bullfrog (P. adspersus).

[Pippin]

I bought him from LLL as a giant. I had read somewhere on here that juvenile adspersus also had a white tympanum spot that they grew out of. Its not that I have a problem with a dwarf, but I was hoping for a nice fat green giant one day. He was also captive bred and I got him when he was the size of a quarter. So hopefully they would know what his parents were to send the right frog.

[tgampper]

Both giants and dwarfs share similar characteristics when they are juveniles, this makes it difficult to determine species. My information comes from several field guides about African frogs and toads. Since you purchased the frog as a giant, then I do hope it is.

[GrifTheGreat]

Giants have a very small white spot that fades away once they reach adulthood. Dwarfs never lose the white spot and it tends to be larger on dwarf tympanums.

[Pippin]

What is the species in your picture grif?

[GrifTheGreat]

What is the species in your picture grif?

Adspersus.

[demon amphibians]

I bought him from LLL as a giant. I had read somewhere on here that juvenile adspersus also had a white tympanum spot that they grew out of. Its not that I have a problem with a dwarf, but I was hoping for a nice fat green giant one day. He was also captive bred and I got him when he was the size of a quarter. So hopefully they would know what his parents were to send the right frog.

LLL is a very reputable company. The chances of them selling you a dwarf while saying its a giant is a slim chance. But mistakes can happen. After looking at your pic i am certain your frog is a giant.

[tgampper]

And the debate rages on....

I don't know of any other species of frogs that caused so much excitement

[Pippin]

I was very pleased with LLL and they sent my girlfriend a beautiful albino pacman in that same order too. My frogs white spot in his tympanum looks just like the frog pictured by grif so I would think he would be a giant, there will be more pictures of him as he grows anyways though. While were on the topic of growth when should I start feeding earthworms? Can he eat them now? If so how do I feed them without him ingesting a ton of coco fiber?

[GrifTheGreat]

I was very pleased with LLL and they sent my girlfriend a beautiful albino pacman in that same order too. My frogs white spot in his tympanum looks just like the frog pictured by grif so I would think he would be a giant, there will be more pictures of him as he grows anyways though. While were on the topic of growth when should I start feeding earthworms? Can he eat them now? If so how do I feed them without him ingesting a ton of coco fiber?

Offer worms imediately. Cut pieces off starting at the tail of the worm of an appropriate size. Half the length of your frog is a good start.