African Dwarf Frog

Hymenochirus boettgeri

The tiny, fully aquatic frog that flutters around community tanks like a little submarine — cute, cheap, and great with calm small fish.

1.5–2.5 in5–10 years

Habitat

Enclosure

5 gal minimum · groups

Temperature

72–78°F

Humidity / Water

Fully aquatic · pH 6.5–7.5

Heating & lighting

Gentle heater, 72–78°F. They breathe air at the surface, so keep the water shallow enough to reach easily and a lid on — they escape through the tiniest gap.

Diet

Feed these

Sinking frog pellets
Frozen bloodworms
Brine shrimp

Never feed

Fast, greedy community fish (the frog starves)
African clawed frogs — they'll eat them
Tiger barbs

Target-feed with sinking frog pellets and frozen bloodworms — they hunt by smell and lose every race. In community tanks, deliberately feed them.

Cohabitation

Can live with

Other African dwarf frogs — groups Neon tetras Guppies — calm fish only Corydoras catfish

Never house with

African clawed frogs — they'll eat them Tiger barbs Large fish — they'll be eaten

Groups are happiest — they're social and do better with company. Watch them at feeding time: they're slow and clumsy, and fish will steal their food.