Need Advice about my African Clawed Frogs!

Yes, they are native to an area that includes both shallow and deep waters. I agree that this means they can tolerate deep water, but it does not mean they can't thrive in water deeper than 18".

Yes, many articles recommend shallow waters. Does this mean they can't also thrive in deeper water? No.

I am not making my statements just on the one 4' tank, I am also basing it on every other case of 'too deep' tanks I have seen them in. I am not trying to trump anyone or prove anyone wrong. I am sharing relevant information that applies to this thread.

College experience relevant? I am in the last semester as a Biology major.

Do what makes sense to you. If it makes sense that a fully aquatic frog that is a very good swimmer should be in shallow tanks or deep tanks only if there are shallow areas or areas for resting close to the surface, great. Do that and share it with us. If it makes sense that they should be in bigger tanks, fine, do that and let us know.

I am not suggesting they need deep tanks. I am not saying or implying that everyone is wrong because I saw them in a very deep tank once. All I am saying is that I have seen many cases of them in tanks now being stated as too deep, and yet the frogs were fine and even better then ones I have seen in smaller tanks.

This is only one piece of information that should be considered when determining a setup. I am in no way implying that I am the be all and end all of African clawed frog care.
 
I think the main emphasis here is that i, as well as many other hobbiests do look to care sheets and species profiles for correct information....hence why we are updating our species profile system, to provide the correct info for people to look to for advice.

I really dont think that these should be dispelled all to quickly as i get the "feeling" it is thought by some in this thread. Experience is one of the keys here, and yes, its like follow my leader, BUT, when so many successfull keepers are reporting that this species do well in a shallower tank ( i see this from all the links posted in this thread, not from any of my own personal experience ), i feel a person should go with that advice as the norm and common practice..

Ok, there are others who feel they have an exception to the common norm or rule, but, we have to remember, that exceptions do happen, but, it does not make them the right way in everyones eyes.

What this boils down to is accepting that some have a different opinion than others, but, simply state you opinion and leave it be, and not argue or push your own opinion...Its down to a thread OP to choose which opinion to choose based on what is posted, not by how much a point is argued.

Lets now keep this to the thread OP's starting post which was regarding more room, not a deeper or shallower tank, and leave the discussion of whether its better for this frog to have a deep or shallow tank to another discussion thread..

Thanks..

Hello, Im new here, and Im not sure if this is where I should put this thread. Anywho- I have 2 Albino African Clawed Frogs, and they are around 10 months old, around 3-4 inches. They both live in the same 10 gal tank, and I was wondering if they need more room? They look a little crowded, but they swim freely and have room. I also think that they are going to mate soon. I know they reach sexual maturity at 10 months, and the girl is SO much bigger than the male. I was also wondering, is there anything that will tell me that they will mate soon?
 
I have to say I agree with the more shallow water for these guys. I am experienced in having one drown in a 55 gallon tank, this was long ago and before I knew better. Their natural instinct, at least this one's was to go to the floor of the tank. The stress of him try to go to the bottom and trying to get back to the top proved too much for him.... 4 foot deep tank... that surprises me. I am not saying it's impossible, it just surprises me.
 
Could you elaborate on that case some more?

How do you know he drowned and that it was not one of the many other possible causes of death for these guys?
What else was in the tank? What was the water change schedule?
What filtration?
How big was the frog?
Were there other frogs present?
How long had he been in there?
How long had you had him?

I am not saying it didn't happen, I am just trying to understand the case better.
 
WOW!! I did not mean for that question to turn into that!!! I appreciate all the advice, and opinions. My mom has a 25 gal tank that I am going to get from her, and for now, give them more room until I can get a wider tank.
 
^^ About my last post, My friend also has a 55 gal tank, and she is willing to give it to me. I dont know which one to choose! I understand they prolly want shallower water, and I wont fill it up all the way. I just want them to be happy in whatever they live in, and I think it would be awesome to get them a bigger tank.

Would an "algae eater" be okay in the tank? If I can find one bigger than their mouths?
 
55 gallon tank would be wonderful for them. You can even make a sort of paludrarium like feature with air plants and marginal plants in the background. ACFs will eat anything that fits in their mouths. Common plecos(those algae eaters) grow from two to three feet long-you'd have to worry about their needs more than the ACFs. A more expensive pleco isn't worth it as there is the chance they will get eaten. You could try having rockwork and a stable population of guppies in there, if anyone thinks this is a bad idea please chime in.....
 
When I get the bigger tank, I would love to put two fish or whatnot in the tank. Is that possible with the 25 gal tank? What would be good with my ACFs?
 
Could you elaborate on that case some more?

How do you know he drowned and that it was not one of the many other possible causes of death for these guys?
What else was in the tank? What was the water change schedule?
What filtration?
How big was the frog?
Were there other frogs present?
How long had he been in there?
How long had you had him?

I am not saying it didn't happen, I am just trying to understand the case better.

no clause needed, I have no problem explaining.
  • I knew it becsause of the condition of the frog upon death. This was about 10 years ago, the tank was fully cycled, parameters were in check
  • my schedule was weekly
  • the fish in the tank was a lot of guppies and a pleco
  • the filtration was 2 HOB's, 330's to be exact as well as a UGF
  • the frog was young, a few inches big at best
  • there were no other frogs present
  • I had him for a few weeks in that tank for the same amount of time
 
Oh yeah, and just because you read somewhere that they can inhabit lakes and rivers doesn't mean that they live in the depths of a lake or in deep channels running through the middle of a river. 99% of aquatic amphibians live close to shore in very shallow water away from predators that lurk in the deeper parts.
 
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