Hello all! and does anyone know...

[Tessa Toone]

...how long claw-toed frogs live, please?

Twelve years ago, a friend asked me to take over the care of his three African claw-toed frogs, as due to illness he could no longer manage them. To the best of my knowledge, he had had them at that point around eight years, and he was fairly sure that they were at least three-four years old when he got them.

One of them died in 2005, but the other two are still going strong. I'm more into dogs than frogs, tbh, but I've grown kinda fond of them over the years, and I'm quite happy to just go on taking care of them...but by my reckoning they are now 24! Is this normal???

They still seem perfectly healthy, they both vocalise, eat properly, and will come to the surface to feed, or catch my finger, when I come to the tank, but I can't truthfully say they've really had much attention, they've just kinda "sat there" for 12 years! (tho recently one of them seems to have taken to clicking along to one of the songs I play regularly, tho I appreciate I could be imaging things!)

Thanks for any help
Tess

[tgampper]

Welcome to the forum, Tess

...how long claw-toed frogs live, please?

One of them died in 2005, but the other two are still going strong. I'm more into dogs than frogs, tbh, but I've grown kinda fond of them over the years, and I'm quite happy to just go on taking care of them...but by my reckoning they are now 24! Is this normal???

On average, African clawed frogs live between 12-20 years in captivity. I haven't heard very many ACFs living that long, but it is possible.

They still seem perfectly healthy, they both vocalise, eat properly, and will come to the surface to feed, or catch my finger, when I come to the tank, but I can't truthfully say they've really had much attention, they've just kinda "sat there" for 12 years! (tho recently one of them seems to have taken to clicking along to one of the songs I play regularly, tho I appreciate I could be imaging things!)

African clawed frogs are really hardy in captivity and very few diseases affect them. Most of the problems are the result of poor husbandry. Both males and females will rap. The rapping is a metallic, buzzing sound that can be quite loud. Mine will rap every night, sometimes so loud you can hear them all over the house. If you have a female, she will sometimes emit a ticking sound, telling the male that she's not ready. They are mostly active at night. I have been keeping these frogs for many years and it seems the more I learn about them, the better I like them. Good luck and enjoy your frogs!

There are several people on the Frog Forum that keep ACFs and would be happy to answer any questions you may have.

[Jenste]

Hey and Welcome!

These frogs are great additions to the family! The really get to like fingers and mine love a good rub on the belly now and again

as for how long they live? usually around 20 years....but there are cases of them living longer...my aunt has a frog that she has had since before my cousin was born - - my cousin is turning 28 in June...
And he is still kicking! Him and his 15 year old girlfriend both seem to be in excellent health....
my aunt was the one who got me into keeping ACFs

[tgampper]

Hi Jen:

Wow, 28 years is very impressive! They really do make great pets. I have six ACFs now and two of them are 19 years old and still going strong.

[scribbles]

Welcome to the forum . My ACF's are only a couple of years old, but I hope they'll stick around for many more years! A toy store down the street from me has a 22 year old very large female ACF, who they keep in only a 5 gallon tank. These frogs are very hardy!

[Tessa Toone]

28??? wow! okay, well then at least I can stop worrying!

Thankyou to everyone for the warm welcome, and also for the good advice and your replies. I'm now reading my way around the forum, and learning lots!

thanks again
Tess