How to Care for Albino African Black Clawed Frogs

The Albino African Black Clawed Frog is a fully aquatic species of frog originating from the west coast of Africa and makes for a fascinating pet. Both albinos and regular Black Clawed Frogs can be readily found in pet stores specializing in reptiles and amphibians as their care needs are exactly the same. But even persons who've kept frogs as pets before may have trouble with this particular species as their needs are different from the norm. This guide will explain how to properly care for this type of frog.

Things You’ll Need:
5 Gallon Tank
Low Flow Filtration System
Non-chlorinated Water
Sand or Earth
Fish Tank Decorations
Froggy Food

Step 1:
Begin by preparing a fish tank for the frog to live in. This species spends one hundred percent of its time in the water so you will need to set up a tank of water as if you were keeping fish. For one or two such frogs a five gallon tank is the absolute minimum, the females can get to be about six inches long, the males being slightly smaller. This species is very active and likes to have plenty of room to move around.

Step 2:
Use clean sand or earth to line the bottom of the tank. These frogs will actively attempt to eat pebbles or gravel if it’s small enough to fit in their mouths, so regular fish gravel is not appropriate. Along with the gravel you should also include foliage, fake or real, good sized branches, and other decorations that give the frogs plenty of places to swim around and hide under.

Step 3:
Install al low-flow filtration system to keep the frogs' wastes from polluting the water. African Black Clawed Frogs, either albino or normal prefer water with little to no current, so any system particularly loud or powerful is not recommended. The amount of ammonia from the frogs' waste can become toxic very quickly. For this reason the tank's water should be completely replaced weekly. Also the tank's water should be completely chlorine free; any chlorine in the water will sicken and kill the frogs within a matter of hours if not minutes.

Step 4:
Install a thermostat. This species is particularly hardy and has been known to survive temperatures below freezing point, but they can sicken if the temperature of their environment is off for prolonged periods. Water temperature should stay in the low 70s Fahrenheit year-round.

Step 5:
Feed the frogs roughly three times a week, but don't stint on the portions. These frogs subsist mainly on live food and have very strong hunting instinct. They can and will eat anything they can fit in their sizable mouths, though it can often be the death of them. Don't give them tetras or feeder goldfish as they contain an indigestible enzyme which can give your frog serious trouble. Instead give them blood worms, mosquito larvae, earthworms, tubifex worms, live ghost shrimp, beefheart brine shrimp, shrimp pellets, and live guppies. They will readily stuff themselves, but don't worry about feeding them too much; they have enough sense to stop before they harm themselves. With these instructions your Albino African Clawed Frogs should live long and happy lives.

Tips & Warnings
Keep the males separate from the females if at all possible. Albino African Black Clawed Frogs mate frequently and their tadpoles require care distinctly different from that of other species of frog hatchlings. This species of frog lacks a tongue to grab food with; instead it will scoop food into its mouth with its front legs/flippers.
These frogs are voracious eaters and will readily attack other species of animal or smaller frogs they come across, because of this do not put other animals or fish in the same tanks As African Black Clawed Frogs. Before purchasing these frogs ensure that you have both the time and money to adequately care for them. This species of frog can live for over fifteen years and represents a sizable investment.