CARE GUIDE
Genus: Ceratophrys
Pac-Man frogs come in a variety of color forms and are known by many common names (Argentine horned frogs, ornate horned frogs, horned frogs). Due to their forgiving nature, ease of care, and the availability of captive-bred specimens, Pac-Man frogs make great pets.
NATURAL RANGE
Pacman frogs are native to South America. There are eight different species, each with their own natural ranges. A number of species are found only in Brazil, including the Wied’s frog, and Caatinga horned frog. Other species are also native to Ecuador, Venezuela, Columbia, Peru, and Uruguay.
HOUSING
Pac-Man frogs are sit-and-wait predators. They spend the majority of their time burrowed into the substrate with their eyes (and horns in some species) above the substrate. Because of this, caging does not need to be spacious. Babies can be kept in small, plastic reptile enclosures, whereas adults can be caged in enclosures of 10 to 20 gallons. Pacman frogs love to burrow, and should be provided with a few inches of substrate to bury themselves under. We recommend coconut fiber substrate or something similar.
TEMPERATURE & HUMIDITY
Pacman frogs are very tolerant to temperature swings, and can be kept in a range of 70-85F. Their ideal temperature is in the mid/high 70s. A 5-10F temperature drop at night is ideal.
Keep relative humidity between 60 – 80% within the PacMan frog terrarium at all times. To achieve this, keep the substrate damp, but not soaking wet. They should not be allowed to dry out.
SIZE & LIFESPAN
Captive-bred baby Pac-Man frogs are sold at around the size of a quarter, and these frogs can reach adult size in one to one and a half years. Adult males are smaller (2½ inches to 4 inches in length depending on the species) than female Pac-Man frogs, which can reach lengths of 4 inches to 7 inches. Well-cared for Pac-Man frogs can live approximately 15 years in a captive environment.
FEEDING
One quality that sets Pac-Man frogs apart from other frogs is their voracious appetite. A staple of crickets and/or roaches is best, but they can also eat fish, worms and even small mice. The amount of food you feed them is based on the size and temperature of the frog.
SOCIAL BEHAVIOR
Keep Pacmans as a solitary frog (1 per tank). They are aggressive eaters and can sometimes nibble on tank mates.
SEXING
Male Pacman frogs will croak a few times per day. This can be easy to miss, so the only tru way to sex them is when they are mature, the male will develop a dark spot or bump on their hand. This pad is found on most males and is the easiest way to determine sex. Females are also larger than males (4-7” for females, 2.5-4” for males), and females will also have a white chest while males’ chests will darken as they mature.
