Pac-Man FrogsPac-Man frogs are not very active, don't like to be handled, and don't move a whole lot. So why would you want one as a pet? They are funny, easy to care for, and come in a variety of amazing colors. If you want a low maintenance pet with a large appetite, this is the frog for you!
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The Pac-Man Frog or otherwise known as the Ceratophrys Ornate is one of the most basic exotic frogs and a great pet for beginners. The Pac-Man frog is originally found and originated from the South American rain forests. They come in a large variety of different color morphs.
They are a very inactive frog that spends much of their time buried in their substrate. You can expect the average Pac-man frog to live up to 10 years if they’re kept in great conditions. They tend to spend much of their time in one spot.
Pac-Man frogs are a great pet to observe but don't care to be handled and their skin can be easily damaged if handled roughly. Handle seldom and with care.
Enclosure
Unlike your common backyard or stream frog, the Pac-man frog is what’s known as a tropical frog. This means that the species are used to areas that get a lot of humidity and for this reason, the Pac-man frog is going to require a lot of humidity. To best make sure they’re getting the proper amount of humidity, the frog should be kept in an enclosed type of habitat. An aquarium will ideally work best.
The best kind of aquarium to get is one that has a screen lid that doesn’t come off easily, to prevent escape from any pet you might be housing. Also, this screen lid allows for proper air flow and ventilation inside the enclosure.
Pac-man frogs are not great climbers and there’s a very low chance that they’ll be able to escape from the top, but a screen lif is still advised for their safety. As babies, these frogs do fine in smaller Kritter Keepers. As adults, a 10 gallon aquarium is the bare minimum. a 20 gallon long is ideal.
Pac-man frogs are best known as anti-social and are best kept alone by themselves. It’s not uncommon for new owners to try keeping two Pac-man frogs into the same container and to have them fight, trying to eat each other. Remember, Pac-man frogs will literally try to eat anything you put in front of them (including another frog). They are solitary pets.
Substrate
Frogs require a lot of humidity, so choose a substrate that will help maintain high humidity. This particular species of frog likes to burrow down into substrate so you need to provide the proper substrate at least a few inches deep. Sphagnum Moss, coco fiber, or jungle mix make great substrates for these frogs. Avoid mulch or chunk moss as they may ingest larger pieces and become impacted.
Never use any kind of material such as cedar bedding or any sort of pine material what so ever. This is usually material that’s sold for small mammal pets such as gerbils and hamsters and while it make work great for them, it’s not great for frogs. You don’t have to provide a lot of decorations or things for Pac-man frogs to play on, because as long as they have a place to burrow down, they’re more than likely happy. They like to find a nice spot in the substrate and burrow down into the substrate and sit there. This not only provides a sense of security but the species is particularly lazy.
You can decorate your frog’s cage with things such as vines, plants, rocks or small trees for your pets to sit on. They may like hiding spots but they like the burrowing into the substrate the best.
Heating/Humidity
It’s ideal to make sure that the temperature stays in the range of 80 to 85 degrees during the day with a nighttime drop. A small watt lamp over one end of the enclosure is all these frogs need for heat. UVB is not necessary, but a natural day/night light cycle is important for their well being.
Humidity is important to ensure that they have a smooth shedding process and stay hydrated.. There are plenty of tools for checking the humidity but if you want to make sure they’re at the ideal spot, go for 70%. You can go as low as 50% humidity and all the way up to 80% humidity, but it’s generally recommended that you stay at 50%.
If you’re having trouble maintaining the perfect humidity at around 50 to 80 percent, then try using a spray bottle and mist the enclosure every once in a while until the humidity starts to level out. You may want to tweak the heating mat/heating lamp settings as well to ensure that it’s not drying out the entire enclosure.
Food/Water
Pac-man frogs tend to eat live insects more than any other type of food out there. There are also commercial powdered foods you mix with water to create balls that some frogs may eat. A variety of both is best. Babies should be fed every day. Adults can be feed 2-3 times a week. Dust food with calcium 1-2 times a week.
Crickets and Roaches are the best choices for feeding Pac-man frogs. Superworms and mealworms can be offered now and then as treats. Using a tongs to hand-feed them is the best way to ensure they are eating well and leftover bugs are not biting them. If you chose to leave bugs in the enclosure, be sure to remove them after a few hours if they go uneaten.
Keep fresh water available for your Pac-Man at all times. Frogs are very sensitive to chemicals in water, so always use a water treatment with any water used. The bowl should be big enough for your frog to soak itself in, and shallow enough for them to get in and out of with ease.
Shedding
As almost all other types of reptiles and amphibians do, the Pac-man frogs will periodically shed their skin. A healthy Pac-man frog with the proper setup will shed with no issues, and will likely eat their shed skin. You may notice your frog has a cloudy look to him at times - this means he is about to shed his skin. A frog that is about to shed may be uninterested in food - this is normal and their appetite will resume once they have shed.
They are a very inactive frog that spends much of their time buried in their substrate. You can expect the average Pac-man frog to live up to 10 years if they’re kept in great conditions. They tend to spend much of their time in one spot.
Pac-Man frogs are a great pet to observe but don't care to be handled and their skin can be easily damaged if handled roughly. Handle seldom and with care.
Enclosure
Unlike your common backyard or stream frog, the Pac-man frog is what’s known as a tropical frog. This means that the species are used to areas that get a lot of humidity and for this reason, the Pac-man frog is going to require a lot of humidity. To best make sure they’re getting the proper amount of humidity, the frog should be kept in an enclosed type of habitat. An aquarium will ideally work best.
The best kind of aquarium to get is one that has a screen lid that doesn’t come off easily, to prevent escape from any pet you might be housing. Also, this screen lid allows for proper air flow and ventilation inside the enclosure.
Pac-man frogs are not great climbers and there’s a very low chance that they’ll be able to escape from the top, but a screen lif is still advised for their safety. As babies, these frogs do fine in smaller Kritter Keepers. As adults, a 10 gallon aquarium is the bare minimum. a 20 gallon long is ideal.
Pac-man frogs are best known as anti-social and are best kept alone by themselves. It’s not uncommon for new owners to try keeping two Pac-man frogs into the same container and to have them fight, trying to eat each other. Remember, Pac-man frogs will literally try to eat anything you put in front of them (including another frog). They are solitary pets.
Substrate
Frogs require a lot of humidity, so choose a substrate that will help maintain high humidity. This particular species of frog likes to burrow down into substrate so you need to provide the proper substrate at least a few inches deep. Sphagnum Moss, coco fiber, or jungle mix make great substrates for these frogs. Avoid mulch or chunk moss as they may ingest larger pieces and become impacted.
Never use any kind of material such as cedar bedding or any sort of pine material what so ever. This is usually material that’s sold for small mammal pets such as gerbils and hamsters and while it make work great for them, it’s not great for frogs. You don’t have to provide a lot of decorations or things for Pac-man frogs to play on, because as long as they have a place to burrow down, they’re more than likely happy. They like to find a nice spot in the substrate and burrow down into the substrate and sit there. This not only provides a sense of security but the species is particularly lazy.
You can decorate your frog’s cage with things such as vines, plants, rocks or small trees for your pets to sit on. They may like hiding spots but they like the burrowing into the substrate the best.
Heating/Humidity
It’s ideal to make sure that the temperature stays in the range of 80 to 85 degrees during the day with a nighttime drop. A small watt lamp over one end of the enclosure is all these frogs need for heat. UVB is not necessary, but a natural day/night light cycle is important for their well being.
Humidity is important to ensure that they have a smooth shedding process and stay hydrated.. There are plenty of tools for checking the humidity but if you want to make sure they’re at the ideal spot, go for 70%. You can go as low as 50% humidity and all the way up to 80% humidity, but it’s generally recommended that you stay at 50%.
If you’re having trouble maintaining the perfect humidity at around 50 to 80 percent, then try using a spray bottle and mist the enclosure every once in a while until the humidity starts to level out. You may want to tweak the heating mat/heating lamp settings as well to ensure that it’s not drying out the entire enclosure.
Food/Water
Pac-man frogs tend to eat live insects more than any other type of food out there. There are also commercial powdered foods you mix with water to create balls that some frogs may eat. A variety of both is best. Babies should be fed every day. Adults can be feed 2-3 times a week. Dust food with calcium 1-2 times a week.
Crickets and Roaches are the best choices for feeding Pac-man frogs. Superworms and mealworms can be offered now and then as treats. Using a tongs to hand-feed them is the best way to ensure they are eating well and leftover bugs are not biting them. If you chose to leave bugs in the enclosure, be sure to remove them after a few hours if they go uneaten.
Keep fresh water available for your Pac-Man at all times. Frogs are very sensitive to chemicals in water, so always use a water treatment with any water used. The bowl should be big enough for your frog to soak itself in, and shallow enough for them to get in and out of with ease.
Shedding
As almost all other types of reptiles and amphibians do, the Pac-man frogs will periodically shed their skin. A healthy Pac-man frog with the proper setup will shed with no issues, and will likely eat their shed skin. You may notice your frog has a cloudy look to him at times - this means he is about to shed his skin. A frog that is about to shed may be uninterested in food - this is normal and their appetite will resume once they have shed.
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