I'm Considering Adopting Some African Dwarf Frogs

So I went to PetCo and bought a couple of ADFs! They're so cool! PetCo just got them in yesterday, and I'm pretty sure that they're really young. Each one is maybe an inch or so long. Also, Tiff, I did take your suggestion and raise the water level so as not to disturb the little guys (or girls, I dunno). At the moment, one is hiding behind the filter. (Don't worry, it's not by the intake. Just burbling) I gave it a few pellets and it took them, so it seems to at least be relatively fine. The other has been hiding under an outcrop. It's poked its head out a few times now. I can see her front claw as we speak.

I only bought one Anubias Congensis and planted it toward the front of the habitat. They haven't really checked it out; just got home a few minutes ago. The two seem pretty okay, and I hope that their habitat is suitable for them.

Does anyone have any ideas on how to tell the gender of a juvenile?


Just make sure you keep up on the water changes and feed very lightly for the first few weeks. Your tank is not cycled and you're likely to see an ammonia spike. Also, since PetCo just got them in yesterday (and they use the same distributors as PetSmart) watch them very closely as any stress from shipping (at least 24 hours in a box on a truck/plane) may have not yet hit them, especially since you have now bagged them and moved them to another new home.

As far as I am aware there is no way to tell sex differences at this age.
 
Just make sure you keep up on the water changes and feed very lightly for the first few weeks. Your tank is not cycled and you're likely to see an ammonia spike. Also, since PetCo just got them in yesterday (and they use the same distributors as PetSmart) watch them very closely as any stress from shipping (at least 24 hours in a box on a truck/plane) may have not yet hit them, especially since you have now bagged them and moved them to another new home.

As far as I am aware there is no way to tell sex differences at this age.

Yeah, I don't know about their gender. It does appear as though I got one female and one male. I only say that because one is skinnier and does not have cloaca, and the other is more heavy-set and does. But hey, I could be wrong. Unfortunately, at this age, a male won't have a Post Axillary Subdermal Gland, which is pretty much the best way to be sure that it's a male. They seem to be fine at the moment.

You are right, though. I'll have to watch the two really closely to make sure neither of them... er... croaks. (Pun not intended.) You do seem to have a lot of experience with these little guys... What do you always do to make sure a transition goes as smoothly as possible?
 
I've also named the male (I think) "Echo" and the female (again, not sure) "Delta." Just for future reference.
 
Also, since PetCo just got them in yesterday (and they use the same distributors as PetSmart) watch them very closely as any stress from shipping (at least 24 hours in a box on a truck/plane) may have not yet hit them, especially since you have now bagged them and moved them to another new home.

What sorts of abnormal behavior do they exhibit when stressed? I mean, because I just got them and they'll have to adjust for a couple of days.
 
For keeping them healthy during acclimation:

Always make sure they are being added to a cycled tank
Drip acclimate
Test ammonia levels daily and do water changes to keep it at zero, testing for nitrites and nitrates as well
Feed minimally until the tank is cycled and don't feed the first three days after introducing them
Keep lighting levels low: no full light for the first few days and keep the light on only from about noon to 4

Watch for: discolouration (or darkening), hanging out near the surface, redness around the mouth or toes or "armpits," monitor eating habits when feeding begins (do they eagerly feed?), weight loss, and bloating are all common signs of distress and disease.
 
Okay. Yeah, both of 'em are acting fine. Chilling out together under an outcrop during the day, and coming out and exploring at night. I checked on them a couple of times last night, and they seemed to be happily swimming along. I'm going to see if they'll eat some freeze-dried bloodworms tonight. Bought a turkey baster and everything. They eat eagerly enough. Yesterday Delta ate a couple of pellets. She's started diving down under the rock. Progress! =)
 
Freeze dried blood worms will float so a turkey baster is useless for them. They're not likely to eat from the surface, but you may be able to train them.
 
Freeze dried blood worms will float so a turkey baster is useless for them. They're not likely to eat from the surface, but you may be able to train them.

Yeah, I kinda figured that out. The two of them haven't really been eagerly accepting food. I did see Echo checking out the food bowl earlier. We actually started using a couple of straws to drop the sinking pellets down into the bowl. It actually works really well. I'm going to have to take out those pellets, unless they eat them tonight. Delta's doing really well; she comes out in the mornings and evenings, and stays out throughout the night. Echo's almost always out. Sometimes she hides in the afternoons.
 
You're right. I suppose I'll have to start doing that. They're such picky eaters... I love 'em, though! :D
 
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