around 8 months of age they become large enough that you can begin seeing the females cloaca growing.... it will look like a little tail on her rear end.

between 8-12 months the males will develop their nuptial pads, also called dirty hands...this is when their forearms and hands darken.


I have used sand, small/large river rock and gravel with my acf.

the trick is to either get something so large that they cannot swallow it...or something tinier than a pea so they can pass it.

Word of caution with large river rocks - - a poorly timed kick can send a rock slamming into a wall...forceful enough to even crack your aquarium glass