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Horned Frog (“Pac-Man”) Care Sheet
Introduction
The horned frog, or “Pac-Man”, is one of the easiest amphibians to keep in captivity.
Horned frogs belong to the Leptodactylidae family which has eight known species found in
South America. In the pet trade, the most commonly found of these eight is the ornate
horned frog, or Argentine horned from (Ceratophrys ornata). Ornate horned frogs can
grow up to 8 inches long and weight between 1 and 2 pounds.
Enclosure
Your Pac-Man will eat anything they can fit in their mouths, including other frogs, so a
solitary lifestyle is very important. Because of this, your frog will thrive in a small enclosure.
A ten gallon terrarium is plenty of space for any horned frog, including adults.
Substrate
Use a substrate that holds humidity well, such as a plantation soil, moss or eco-earth. This
will help ensure that your horned frog stays wet. Keeping the cage clean is extremely
important with amphibians because they are more sensitive than other ectotherms to
chemical changes, such as the presence of ammonia that is emitted in their own urine.
Water and Humidity
Dehydration is one of the biggest killers of amphibians. The humidity level for your Pac-
Man frog should be kept at 80% or higher. This can be maintained through misting, proper
substrate, or even a waterfall set-up within the enclosure. A large, shallow water dish
(large enough for your frog to sit in) should be kept available and clean at all times.
Heat and Light
The POTZ (preferred optimum temperature zone) of a Pac-Man is 74 to 84 degrees
Fahrenheit. This is usually room temperature in most homes, so an alternative heat
source is not necessarily required. Horned frogs are also natural burrowers and are rarely
seen above ground except at night. They are also nocturnal (active at night) so UVB
lighting is not required.
Food
Horned frogs have huge mouths and can consume anything they can fit in them. Smaller
frogs can be fed “gut-loaded” crickets, and larger frogs can eat larger items. Pinkie,
fuzzies and adult mice are commonly used as food for larger frogs.
Do NOT feed your frog kingworms! Horned frogs usually swallow their prey alive and
whole. If your frog swallows a kingworm, it can chew its way out of your frog, killing it.
Conclusion
Horned frogs, or Pac-Man frogs, are one of the hardiest and easy-to-keep amphibians on
the market. If a vibrantly colored “Jabba the Hut” sounds like a good pet, then a Pac-Man
is the perfect frog for you!
Introduction
The horned frog, or “Pac-Man”, is one of the easiest amphibians to keep in captivity.
Horned frogs belong to the Leptodactylidae family which has eight known species found in
South America. In the pet trade, the most commonly found of these eight is the ornate
horned frog, or Argentine horned from (Ceratophrys ornata). Ornate horned frogs can
grow up to 8 inches long and weight between 1 and 2 pounds.
Enclosure
Your Pac-Man will eat anything they can fit in their mouths, including other frogs, so a
solitary lifestyle is very important. Because of this, your frog will thrive in a small enclosure.
A ten gallon terrarium is plenty of space for any horned frog, including adults.
Substrate
Use a substrate that holds humidity well, such as a plantation soil, moss or eco-earth. This
will help ensure that your horned frog stays wet. Keeping the cage clean is extremely
important with amphibians because they are more sensitive than other ectotherms to
chemical changes, such as the presence of ammonia that is emitted in their own urine.
Water and Humidity
Dehydration is one of the biggest killers of amphibians. The humidity level for your Pac-
Man frog should be kept at 80% or higher. This can be maintained through misting, proper
substrate, or even a waterfall set-up within the enclosure. A large, shallow water dish
(large enough for your frog to sit in) should be kept available and clean at all times.
Heat and Light
The POTZ (preferred optimum temperature zone) of a Pac-Man is 74 to 84 degrees
Fahrenheit. This is usually room temperature in most homes, so an alternative heat
source is not necessarily required. Horned frogs are also natural burrowers and are rarely
seen above ground except at night. They are also nocturnal (active at night) so UVB
lighting is not required.
Food
Horned frogs have huge mouths and can consume anything they can fit in them. Smaller
frogs can be fed “gut-loaded” crickets, and larger frogs can eat larger items. Pinkie,
fuzzies and adult mice are commonly used as food for larger frogs.
Do NOT feed your frog kingworms! Horned frogs usually swallow their prey alive and
whole. If your frog swallows a kingworm, it can chew its way out of your frog, killing it.
Conclusion
Horned frogs, or Pac-Man frogs, are one of the hardiest and easy-to-keep amphibians on
the market. If a vibrantly colored “Jabba the Hut” sounds like a good pet, then a Pac-Man
is the perfect frog for you!
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