African Dwarf Frog (Hymenochirus boettgeri) Care Guide

A tiny fully aquatic frog that never needs to leave the water. Peaceful and entertaining to watch as it swims with a characteristic breaststroke kick.

Overview

Hymenochirus boettgeri is a species in the family Pipidae. A tiny fully aquatic frog that never needs to leave the water. Peaceful and entertaining to watch as it swims with a characteristic breaststroke kick. Poor eyesight makes it a slow feeder — may need target-fed in community tanks. Occasionally floats motionless at the surface (zen posture).

Taxonomy

Family: Pipidae
Genus: Hymenochirus
Scientific name: Hymenochirus boettgeri
Other names: Dwarf Clawed Frog
Origin: Africa

Habitat

Hymenochirus boettgeri is a small, fully aquatic frog from slow, shallow fresh waters of Central Africa. It surfaces to breathe air, has poor eyesight and senses food by smell and movement, feeding on worms, small invertebrates and prepared foods.

Tank requirements

Minimum tank volume: 20 L
Temperature: 22-26 °C
pH: 6.5-7.5
GH: 5-15 °dGH
Water flow: low
Adult size: 2-3 cm
Lifespan: 3-5 years
Recommended group size: ≥ 3
Difficulty: beginner

Diet

Classified as carnivore. Recommended feeding frequency: 1x daily. In captivity, offer a varied diet appropriate to the species — quality prepared foods supplemented with frozen or live items of suitable size.

Compatibility

Temperament: peaceful
Position in tank: bottom
Compatible tank mates: Neon Tetra, Corydoras, Cherry Shrimp, Snails
Avoid with: Large Fish, Aggressive Fish, African Clawed Frog

Breeding

Breeding strategy: egg-layer
Breeding difficulty: intermediate