About my Frogs
I have two pet African Dwarf Frogs. Purchased them from PetSmart on August 22nd, 2026. They are both biologically male with a white bump under their arms indicating so. Regardless, I will be referring to them with the pronouns they/her.
They are named Bluey and Bingo. Here's what they look like:
Bluey:
- Chubbier than the other. I always find her in the food bowl or sniffing around kicking the rocks for more food. She tends to notice food in the bowl quicker than Bingo, although both of them are honestly so dumb and take half an hour to an hour to notice.
- I haven't heard her sing yet.
Bingo:
- She's noticeably thinner than the other, but she is eating and not unhealthy.
- I've heard her sing on one morning. She sort of sings only one "note" when compared to the other ADFs I see online. The other frogs continously sing a whole song but she sings just one "note" at a time. She sounds like a broken pipe. All ADFs sound like a broken pipe.
What are African Dwarf Frogs?
These are fully aquatic frogs that must live in an aquarium. Unlike other frogs, they cannot live on land as they will quickly dry out.
The term, African Dwarf Frog, actually encompasses four frog species:
- Hymenochirus boettgeri (Tornier, 1896)
- Hymenochirus boulengeri (De Witte, 1930)
- Hymenochirus curtipes (Noble, 1924)
- Hymenochirus feae (Boulenger, 1906)
Hymenochirus boettgeri is usually the most common species found in pet stores in America, but all four species are sold under African Dwarf Frog.
According to the information I have gathered, there is no difference in care between these species, but there has not been much research done on these frogs so who knows.
If you happen to own different species in the same tank, you may notice some frogs behaving differently or not interacting with other frogs.
These frogs are social creatures, although some may argue that their lack of intelligence hinders their ability to recognize other frogs. I do not have experience in this, but from reading other people's experiences, it seems it is highly recommended to have more than one frog, as they will feel more comfortable that way.
They are an exotic tropical animal, so they require specialized care. However, they are commonly seen as on the "easier" side of exotic animal care. But I would say "easier" with the note that they still require delicate care. No animal should be mistreated. Frogs have sensitive skin; it is not simply "easy." They still require excellent water parameters (must perform water changes and cleaning) and feeding.
Why am I getting an African Dwarf Frog?
I have never had a pet before, so why am I choosing African Dwarf Frogs? I think it's obvious that I LOVE frogs!!! I've always loved frogs for my entire life. Essentially since birth, I've had a froggy bath towel and froggy plushies. I created "frog hand symbols" in primary school to play out imaginary scenes using hand gestures with my friends as a way to bypass the "no talking" rule in school. It's really cute, I know.
However, my family has always struggled with finances, so adopting live animals was never going to happen. My parents would be unable to finance an additional life, especially one that they would care even less about.
Circumstances have changed now though. My sister found a job and is able to fund froggy lives. I did some research and found that African Dwarf Frogs were the only frog that would be tolerated in my home. They do not require large insect feedings. They eat small water creatures such as mysis shrimp, and they can even eat artificial pellets (although obviously that is not recommended as their main diet).
BUT! My sister's job is only temporary. And there is a catch to her terms: I need to clean up her trash, clean her room, clean the house, and essentially obey her commands :( . She knows that I am desperate for pet frogs, and that I'm willing to do basically anything for them.
If you want to see anything extra in the tank, or simply want to support my frogs' living costs, you probably already know that there is a link at the bottom of the page. (COMING SOON) When I figure this out, I will make sure there is a way to ensure that you know that the funds are used correctly. Funds will likely be stored and tracked in Hack Club Bank.