Bad Frog!

[JoeCal]

I have two African Dwarf frogs that I keep in an aquarium with a Mystery Snail. I am sure that they are African Dwarf frogs as they are the right size (and are about 2 years old), the eyes are small and on the side of the head and they have webbed front hands.

My problem is that I am on my second Mystery Snail and the frogs have now pulled the heads off of both of them. I don't know if they are eating them, but they have definitely mangled the heads to where they just look like raw meat hanging out of the shell. On one they even pulled off the valve flap (or whatever it's called) that they close themselves up with.

Has anyone ever heard of ADF's doing this to snails. I've looked all over the internet and haven't found any other occurrence of this happening. I feed them daily and I don't believe this is because they are hungry. And, I also don't think this is just them messing with the snail after it has died. Both times the snail seemed very healthy one day and the very next day I looked into the aquarium and his head was gone and all ragged looking.

I also think that it is the female that is doing this. She has shown the most interest in the snails in the past and is also the most aggressive when feeding, while the male is timid and skittish. I've also seen her grab a snail off a plant or the side of a tank and just toss it down on the rocks. But, then again, I've also seen her laying on the bottom and letting the snail go right across her back and it didn't seem to bother her at all.

So, has anyone else heard of this happening? I want to keep a snail in the aquarium to help keep it clean and will probably continue to do so, but was hoping for some suggestions on what I might do to keep it from getting his head eaten (or just pulled off for fun if that is the case). A different type of snail perhaps? I will admit that I haven't actually seen them pulling the head off, but both times they were right around the snail when I found it without its head.

[tgampper]

Dwarf clawed frogs have been known to eat snails on occasion. These frogs, like their larger cousins, the African clawed frogs, will eat just about anything they can get into their mouth. It isn't wise to keep these frogs with fish or other small animals.

[JoeCal]

Thanks for the info. You're the first person I could find on the internet that has said that.

[Groffy]

I saw this thread and just had to respond. I acquired an African Clawed Frog about a year ago. The previous owner warned me that it would eat anything and it does. Despite it's poor eye sight it is an avid and precise hunter. I feed it feeder fish and it is quite a show to watch it hunt. Sorry about your snails.

Just out of curiosity, what do you feed your frogs. I also feed my frog blood worms.

[Jenste]

I saw this thread and just had to respond. I acquired an African Clawed Frog about a year ago. The previous owner warned me that it would eat anything and it does. Despite it's poor eye sight it is an avid and precise hunter. I feed it feeder fish and it is quite a show to watch it hunt. Sorry about your snails.

Just out of curiosity, what do you feed your frogs. I also feed my frog blood worms.

you should not feed your frog feeders - - they are covered in disease and not very nutritious - - stick to Reptomin sticks, earth worms (store bought, not live caught), and frozen blood worms as treats.

[JoeCal]

I feed my frogs bloodworm chunks and a freeze dried medley. They like it and seem to be healthy.