Frogs are classified as amphibians that need plenty of water or an environment with high humidity levels to thrive. There are over 5,000 known species of frogs globally, and you can own most of them as pets. While some frog species are extremely hard to raise, some are extremely easy, like the Pacman frog. But what are Pacman frogs?
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Pacman frogs are also known as ornate horned frogs and are species of frogs that are native to the humid regions in South America. Pacman frogs are a strictly terrestrial frog species and make for poor swimmers. Pacman frogs get their name from the well-known PacMan video game because they share a lot in common. Pacman frogs are a large species with a round body and an abnormally largemouth. Furthermore, Pacman frogs are known for eating just about anything moving in front of them. Pacman frogs are also a popular species of frog to keep as a pet. They are easy to care for and do not require unique habitats. Instead, Pacman frogs only require appropriate heat and humidity levels along with a steady supply of food. Furthermore, there are tons of Pacman frog morphs or different colors and patterns. The mass amount of morphs make Pacman frogs a fantastic sight to see while also being quite fun to feed. As you continue to read this article, we will give you all the information you will need to know about Pacman frogs. Furthermore, we will also be discussing everything you need to know if you are in the market for your own Pacman frog.
What Are Pacman Frogs?
Pacman frogs are a species of frog native to the humid regions of South America. Pacman frogs have a variety of other names you might be familiar with including, Ornate horned frog, South American Horned Frog, and Argentine wide-mouthed frog. Pacman frogs have slight protrusions above their eyes which look like little horns, which is why they are called horned frogs.Pacman frogs get their name because they share a lot in common with PacMan’s well-known video game character. Both have large round and circular bodies and have a very large mouths. Pacman frogs are also known not to be picky eaters and will eat just about anything you put in front of them if it moves. Pacman frogs have been seen in the wild to be cannibalistic and will even eat younger and smaller frogs, including other Pacman frogs.In the wild, Pacman frogs usually sport green and brown colors to help them blend in with their environment. However, Pacman frogs in captivity have been bred to show different morphs. Morphs are reptiles that show different colors and patterns than that species would typically show in the wild. There are over 20 Pacman frog morphs, and they all have distinct colors and patterns. While some are rarer than others, they are all beautiful and intriguing to look at.
Pacman Frog Temperament
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Pacman frogs in captivity are known to be quite relaxed and docile pets. However, wild Pacman frogs are much more aggressive and can bite you if they feel threatened. Therefore, while pet Pacman frogs are relatively docile, you should not handle them with bare hands. All frogs do not drink water; instead, they absorb water through their skin to stay hydrated. Because of this fact, all frogs should not be held with bare hands because your hands can have lingering chemicals which the frog can absorb into its skin and either become sick or even die. With that said, if you have pet frogs or want to own a pet frog or two, avoid picking them up with your bare hands. Instead, if you need to move your frog to clean their cage, wear a clean powderless latex glove. Pacman frogs have a large appetite that matches their large bodies and will attempt to eat anything that moves too close. As a result, Pacman frogs in captivity eat a wide variety of insects throughout their juvenile stage and can eventually start eating medium-sized mice as they reach adulthood.
How To Properly House A Pacman Frog
Pacman frogs spend most of their time immersed in the mud or damp leaves in their native environment, with only their eyes protruding. This is how they sit while waiting for prey to approach. They will behave similarly in captivity. Thus a huge enclosure is not required.A 10-gallon tank or terrarium with a screen top for air circulation would suffice for adult Pacman frog maintenance. You may keep your frog in a tiny plastic reptile holder while it is still a baby. However, Pacman frogs are solitary species as adults and should be maintained separately to avoid fighting.Pacman frogs want to have locations in their terrarium where they may hide. They’ll utilize them as safe havens to sleep in during the day or flee to when they’re under danger. Consider constructing a unique space out of a tiny cardboard box filled with wet moss for a simple and humid hiding location.Logs, bamboo tubes, and reptile tunnels are among the other concealing accouterments. Adding natural plants to your terrarium, such as Pothos plants, can also help to create hiding spaces and enhance humidity.
Choose The Right Substrate For Your Pacman Frog
Because Pacman frogs enjoy burrowing, you will need to provide a substrate that is simple for them to burrow in. For example, coir (ground coconut) or bark are great burrowing surfaces. Leaves, moss, and live plants can also be used.You will need to add enough substrate until it is two to three inches deep while also keeping it wet but not soaked at all times. To keep the humidity levels up, mist it every day with new, clean water from a spray bottle.
Temperature Is Important For Pacman Frogs
© Allan’s Pet CenterDuring the day, the ideal temperature for Pacman frogs is between 75 and 85 degrees Fahrenheit. However, temperatures can drop between 65 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit at night. If the frogs become too hot, they will burrow into the cold, damp substrate to cool themselves.Because overhead lamps can quickly dry up the Pacman frog’s fragile skin, you should use an under-tank heater to heat the terrarium. In the frog’s habitat, you should have two thermometers: one near the heater to measure the heat and another on the far side to ensure there is also a chilly region. In order for the Pacman frog to maintain its temperature effectively, you must have both warm and cool sections in the terrarium.
Lighting For Your Pacman Frog
Pacman frogs are nocturnal, meaning that they are most active at night and rest during the day. A fluorescent UVB lamp fixture is ideal for delivering a 12-hour cycle of light to your Pacman frog throughout the day to resemble sunshine. The frogs will be able to tell what time of day it is as a result of this, and they will be able to modify their resting and feeding patterns accordingly. It will also supply vitamin D3, which is necessary for the frog’s health.
Setting The Right Humidity Levels For Your Pacman Frog
Humidity levels for Pacman frogs range from roughly 50% to as high as 80%. The frogs can get respiratory illnesses if there isn’t enough humidity. Replicating a short nighttime rainfall by sprinkling the terrarium with fresh, clean water from a spray bottle is the most dependable technique to give moisture for your Pacman frog.Because the terrarium might house hazardous germs if it is excessively damp, you should reduce the humidity before dawn. However, you will know that you sprayed too much if the terrarium is still quite wet in the morning. You might want to consider installing an automatic rainfall system to keep the humidity levels consistent while also watering the plants.You can also get a hydrometer that will tell you the exact humidity level inside the aquarium. These meters can be helpful, so you ensure that your Pacman frog is getting enough moisture to keep them healthy.
Ensure Your Pacman Frog Has A Healthy Diet
Knowing how and when to feed your pets is important in keeping them happy and healthy. Understanding what your Pacman frog diet should be and how often it should eat will go a long way towards keeping them healthy throughout their lives.
Your Pacman Frog’s Water Bowl
You will need to keep a water bowl in your Pacman frog’s terrarium so it can take a dip when it needs to. The container you select must be shallow, as the frog may want to take a dip and is not a good swimmer. Because some frogs will stay in the water dish for long periods of time, it’s a good idea to put some plants around it to make it a more comfortable and safe environment for them. Also, maintain the terrarium’s water dish on the warmer side, so the frog doesn’t get too chilly.
What Do Pacman Frogs Eat?
Pacman frogs are known for their voracious appetites and like a diet high in juicy invertebrates. You may give them crickets and Dubia roaches as a major food source. Mealworms, wax worms, tiny fish, and mice can all be used as appetizers.Before feeding the bugs to the Pacman frog, make sure they’re gut loaded. Gut loading entails providing the insects with vitamin and mineral-rich meals for at least 24 hours before offering them to the frog. By doing so, you will provide the frog with a rich bug diet.If your Pacman frog becomes too chilly, it will refuse to eat because it will enter brumation, a reptile’s kind of hibernation that happens naturally in the wild during the winter months. Raise the temperature within the aquarium to help the frog come out of its brumation.
Avoid Feeding Your Pacman Frog Too Much
Your Pacman frog should have a circular shape, but if it is becoming unusually fat and huge, you may need to reduce its diet. When food is scarce during the winter months, Pacman frogs will instinctively overeat to compensate. Of course, you’ll be feeding your frog all year, so there’s no need for your Pacman to overeat. A young Pacman frog’s diet should contain crickets or other insects once a day. Then, they incorporate mice or feeder fish as they mature into adults every few days.
Final Thoughts
Pacman frogs are a beautiful species of frog that are known for their large round bodies, wide mouths, small horns, and huge appetites. They are native to the humid regions of South America and are typically green and brown in the wild. Pacman frogs are a popular species to keep as a pet and are one of the easiest to care for. Furthermore, Pacman frogs have a huge selection of morphs that you can choose from that come in a wide selection of colors and patterns.
