african clawed frog

[Evangeline]

African clawed frog questions

[Maxy24]

Awwww, I thought I was going be useful!

[Evangeline]

Well I just bought 2 baby albino african clawed frogs and 2 silver dollar fish for my 29 gallon aquarium. I read salt isnt good for them so I had to refill the tank as it already had salt added. I no its not proper way to cycle the tank but I didnt have a choice. Everybody seems to be doing well and I baught 5 in one strips to test and make sure all the levels are right. I am feeding the frogs nutafin max predator sticks and repto min sticks and freeze dried blood worms. Do you think when they get bigger I could buy them feeder guppies for a treat. The silver dollars havnt eaten anything yet. I have tried blood worms, tropical flakes and sinking bottom dweller food. Maybe they are still ajusting to the new move.

[Maxy24]

Most people would not suggest keeping ACFs with fish of any sort, keep an eye out for any nipping issues from the fish. Also make sure, once the fish start eating, that they don't steal all of the frog's food.

I have heard of people using feeder guppies, though make sure they come from a clean place or else you risk disease. you can feed small earthworms too. I cycled my tank with the frogs in it, just do weekly water changes and it should be fine. I've never heard of the nutrafin max food, I feed reptomin and frozen bloodworms and brineshrimp (as a treat). I've heard freeze dried blood worms can cause bloat in ACFs, so you might want to stop that, plus they provide very little nutritionally.

Good luck with the little guys!

[Evangeline]

Yes I just read about freeze dried food and bloat while I was researching so I will stop that. There main diet for now will be the reptomin and nutrafin. The nutrafin has worms,fish,shrimp and other meat. Its a fish stick designed for arowana, and other large or predatory fish. This is what the guy at the pet store was feeding them. The tank is 18 inches tall. I started reading that the water level be no higher then 12 inches. I cant do that with the filter system because it hangs on the back. I am keeping a bare bottom tank as it is easier to clean and monitior what they eat. I have fake plants and three large cave sculptures with plants. What is your setup like, what tipe of filter.

[swolek]

Why did you buy them before cycling the aquarium? I'm kind of confused.

Anyway, I wouldn't recommend keeping ACFs with fish, especially slow-moving Silver Dollars. ACFs should be in their own tank, they're aggressive feeders and predatory. The Silver Dollars are going to end up bitten or worse. Also, the Silver Dollars are schooling fish that can grow to be over five inches...I'm not sure you have room for a school?

Why not just make it an ACF tank without fish? And yes, they can have guppies :).

[Evangeline]

I am returning the fish. The tank was cycled but had aquarium salt in it. The owner of the pet store said they are fine with silver dollars and aquarium salt. I floated the bags in the aqiuarium and looked online and sure enough it said frogs shouldnt have salt in there water. So I had to empty the tank and fill and put the frogs and fish in. Didnt really have a choice. I know I shoudnt have listned to the owner and done all my research first. Anyway I am going to just have the two frogs and maybe put a few feeder guppies in there. Once I return the fish should I lower the water level to 12 inches or keep the tank full at 18. Im using a aqua tech filter system. It will be louder obviously with the water level down.

[swolek]

I am returning the fish. The tank was cycled but had aquarium salt in it. The owner of the pet store said they are fine with silver dollars and aquarium salt. I floated the bags in the aqiuarium and looked online and sure enough it said frogs shouldnt have salt in there water. So I had to empty the tank and fill and put the frogs and fish in. Didnt really have a choice. I know I shoudnt have listned to the owner and done all my research first. Anyway I am going to just have the two frogs and maybe put a few feeder guppies in there. Once I return the fish should I lower the water level to 12 inches or keep the tank full at 18. Im using a aqua tech filter system. It will be louder obviously with the water level down.

Yeah, unfortunately pet stores owners are more interested in selling animals then giving correct info :(.

18 inches is fine, just put some decorations in so they can rest half way if needed :). But honestly, their environment in the "wild" is deeper than most aquariums so it shouldn't be a big deal.

[Evangeline]

ok thanks for the help.

[Evangeline]

So I sold the fish and made some changes to the frog tank. I lowered the water level to 12 inches and added some driftwood which the frogs seem to love. I had a power filter system but with lowering the water level the water coming out of the filter is really loud and makes to much water movement so I took out the filter. I have a 10-30 whisperer air pump going in one corner of the tank. Its quiet and not very strong. I do once a week partial water changes. Everywhere I read it says these frogs dont do well with strong current and loud vibration but yet they all say water level no more then 12 inches and my baby frogs defenetlly dont seem to be as tired trying to swim to the top of the tank for air. These frogs are extemely messy. With no water movement the tank would go stagenent and stink. I could buy a small box filter to attach to the air pump. Whats your advice.