Species Highlight “African Bull Frog” with pictures

Today is post #9 of #30PostsHathSept. It will be a little different than the typical dart frog caresheet, as I have been trying to highlight other frogs as well. Here is the African Bullfrog or Pixie Frog.

Scientific Name : Pyxicephalus Adspersus

Also Known As: Pixie Frog, African Burrowing Frog Pyxicephalus_adspersus,_Boston_Aquarium

Photo Credit:Wikipedia

Found:

The African Bull Frog can be found throughout South Africa extending north towards Mozambique &Kenya. Distribution needs to be re-examined in light of recent separation between Pyxicephalus edulus and P. Adspersus.

Behavior:

These frogs have minimal activity, except during feeding. They should be housed individually, except during breeding time.

Size:

Adult male african bullfrogs can reach 9″+. Females tend to be smaller.

Temperature & Humidity:

These frogs like a temperature of 75-80 degrees F. with a daily misting, but will tolerate lower temperatures.

Feeding:

Due to the African Bullfrogs large size, the size of their mouth & powerful jaws it is best to feed using tongs. They will eat crickets, locusts, cockroaches, silk works, hornworms, wax worms, earthworms, mice & rats, amphibians, feeder lizards & some birds. Young African Bull Frogs should be fed daily, as much as they can eat in 15 minutes. Sub – adults’ & adults can be fed similarly but every other day.

Breeding:

These frogs breed after a period of dormancy known as aestivation. African Bullfrogs will lay in water around 3″ deep. The number of eggs can easily be in the thousands. Tadpoles will metamorphose in less than 30 days.

Threats:

According to the ICUN red list, the major threat is harvesting of frogs for local consumption. Some areas in South Africa population decline is due to urbanization of their breeding habitat.

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