African Dwarf Frogs
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Amphibia Subclass: Lissamphibia Superorder: Batrachia Order: Anura Family: Pipidae Genus: Hymenochirus Boulenger, 1896
Species
See text. Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1000x504, 128 KB) Summary Two African Dwarf Frogs (Hymenochirus boettgeri) in Amplexus. ... Scientific classification or biological classification is a method by which biologists group and categorize species of organisms. ... “Animalia” redirects here. ... Typical Classes See below Chordates (phylum Chordata) are a group of animals that includes the vertebrates, together with several closely related invertebrates. ... For other uses, see Amphibian (disambiguation). ... Orders Anura Caudata Gymnophiona The subclass Lissamphibia includes all recent amphibians. ... Suborders Archaeobatrachia Mesobatrachia Neobatrachia The Anura is the order of animals in the class Amphibia that includes frogs and toads. ... Suborders Archaeobatrachia Mesobatrachia Neobatrachia The Anura is the order of animals in the class Amphibia that includes frogs and toads. ... Subfamilies Pipinae Xenopodinae The Pipidae are a family of primative, tongueless frogs. ... George Boulenger. ...

General Information

African dwarf frogs of genus Hymenochirus, also known as dwarf aquatic frogs (ADF or DAF for short), are frogs native to Sub Saharan Africa. They are members of Family Pipidae. For other uses of the word, please see Genus (disambiguation). ... Distribution of frogs (in black) Suborders Archaeobatrachia Mesobatrachia Neobatrachia - List of Anuran families The frogness babe is an amphibian in the order Anura (meaning tail-less from Greek an-, without + oura, tail), formerly referred to as Salientia (Latin saltare, to jump). ... A world map showing the continent of Africa Africa is the worlds second-largest and second most-populous continent, after Asia. ... In biological classification, family (Latin: familia, plural familiae) is 1) a rank or 2) a taxon in that rank. ... Subfamilies Pipinae Xenopodinae The Pipidae are a family of primative, tongueless frogs. ...

They are entirely aquatic though they do break the water surface as they are air breathers. They have hard time seeing close range but have good sight 7 cm or further. They rely on a sharp sense of sniffing and touch to find food such as tiny insects, some small fish meat, mosquito larvae and worms (which, in capitivity, should be fed every two days at full maturity, but every day while they are growing; a day skipped every week helps with digestion^{[citation needed]}). They are often sold in pet shops and can live in captivity for 10-20 years at the max, most lasting an average of 7. Animal environments are classified as either aquatic (water), terrestrial (land), or amphibious (water and land). ... Diversity 41 genera Genera See text. ...

They are cousins to the larger African clawed frog, [Xenopus laevis]. When very young, African dwarf frogs can be confused with African clawed frogs, but may be distinguished by examining their forelimbs. The African dwarf frog has webbed forelimbs and hindlimbs, while X. laevis has webbing on the hind limbs only. African dwarf frogs are usually only an inch and a half in body length when fully grown; females are generally larger than the males. The African clawed frog, on the other hand, can reach a body length of 3+ inches. Binomial name Xenopus laevis Daudin, 1802 The African clawed frog (Xenopus laevis, also known as platanna) is a species of South African aquatic frog of the genus Xenopus. ...

In Captivity

Housing:

The general rule for housing ADF's is that there is to be at least 1 gallon per frog. Therefore, 2 can be housed in a 2.5 or with a small peaceful fish, such as a tetras. They prefer neutral to slightly alkaline water.

Substrate:

The substrate shouldn't be small enough for the frog to accidentally eat, but not large enough that when foraging they are crushed, pinned, or drowned. Sand to medium sized gravel is appropriate, sand being more preferrable. The frogs aren't big enough to stirr up the sand, but not too small to root about to find lost food. You may want to invest in a small scavenger, such as a corydora or otinciclus catfish, so anaerobic conditions do not develop under the sand or gravel because of decomposing food items. To prevent the sand from clouding the water, wash in a bucket with a screen stretched atop 3 to 4 times with the coldest water possible, thereby, romiving any pathogens or parasites from the substrate.

Temperature and Lighting:

These frogs are found naturally in sub-tropical conditions, so a temperature of at least 70ºF - 75ºF, with a slight drop at night to simulate nocturnal conditions. Lighting isn't a requirement but can be provided by incandescent or fluorescent lighting tubes. Again, you must simulate nocturnal conditions, so switching off the light after 8 to 12 hours is essential. If these conditions are not simulated on a regular basis, life will become stressful and unnatural for the frogs, and they will become succeptible to diseases such as red leg or dropsy.

Tankmates:

The African Dwarf Frog is suited to peaceful communities, and semi-peaceful communities. This basically means no frog nippers or predators. They can be successfully housed with Betta splendens, but males may become aggressive at any moment, so a female tankmate is a bit safer. They can be housed with small catfish, environmental conditions and habitat size permitting, such as corydoras or otinciclus. Peaceful, community tetras like the neon, cardinal, or glowlight tetras are fine, again circumstances permitting. Guppies, platies, or swordtails are good tankmates as well. These frogs are docile enough to be housed with small crustateons, like ghost shrimp, or cherry shrimp. And again, circumstances permitting, Singapore Flower Shrimp or Amano Shrimp are possible. Small apple snails, such as P. brigesii, also known as Mystery Snails. They are detrivores and will not kill, nor try to eat a sleeping frog. African dwarf frogs also enjoy their own kind, of course.

Filtration:

These being frogs, air breathing animals, filtration or aeration isn't required. However, if fish are introduced, this changes and filtration is required. Excepting B. splendens, of course, whos specially adapted labrynth organ allows the fish to take oxygen directly from the atmosphere and pass it through his or her gills. But in case it is required, power filters must not have intake big enough for the frogs' delicate legs to become trapped, therefore, drowning them. Sponge filtration is ok, but not efficient. Air stones are BAD as they can attribute to gas bubble disease, which, in case you didn't know, is deadly. Undergravel filters can only be used with just that, gravel. The preferred substrate of sand prevents them from working properly, therefore, breaking your possibly expensive filter.

Feeding:

These frogs hunt by smell and will consume frozen, freeze dried, sun dried, pellet, and live foods. They're not as picky as a betta. Just make sure that the food is eaten, and not left to decompose under the sand. Also, drop and algae wafer to distract the scavengers. Do you want your frog to eat, or don't you? The scavengers, if any, will immediatly go after the wafer and continue to consume it instead of the frog's food. However, if housed with ghost shrimp, this strategy is not needed, because the shrimp will drop food and flee instead of risking life or limb, then come back later for the leftovers. If an excessive amount of sand is consumed during the feeding process, put a small dish with no sharp edges into the bottom of the tank, and your frog will soon learn to come to the dish for food.(NOTE: Frozen bloodworms tend to work great. Also, these frogs do not need to be constantly fed. feeding can only be skipped every few days. <Added by: Pieguy369>)

Taxonomy

• Zaire African Dwarf Clawed Frog, Hymenochirus boettgeri
• Eastern African Dwarf Clawed Frog, Hymenochirus boulengeri
• Western African Dwarf Clawed Frog, Hymenochirus curtipes
• Hymenochirus feae

External links

• Hymenochirus species
• Dwarf Clawed Frogs
• Care Sheet of African Dwarf Frogs
• Breeding African Dwarf Frogs
• The Aquarium Wiki - Species and care information for African Dwarf Frog
• Care and Breeding of African Dwarf FrogsWhen they mate they have millions eggs and they are layed under water.