🐸 Pacman Frog Care Guide

⭐ Species Overview

Pacman frogs (also called horned frogs) are large, round, sit-and-wait ambush predators from South America. They spend most of their time buried, waiting to lunge at prey.
They are solitary, easy to maintain, and great display animals.

🏠 Enclosure

Tank Size

• 10–20 gallon tank for one adult (they don’t need height).
  
  

• These frogs do NOT cohabitate—they will eat each other.
  
  

Lid

• A screen lid is ideal to allow airflow and maintain humidity.
  
  

🌡️ Temperature & Humidity

Temperature

• Ideal range: 75–82°F
  
  

• Night drop: 70–75°F
  
  

• Use:
  
  

  • Low-wattage heat mat on the side, not the bottom (avoid burns).
    
    

  • Or a gentle heat lamp if needed.
    
    

Humidity

• 60–80%
  
  

• Mist daily or use a fogger/humidifier.
  
  

• Keep substrate slightly damp—never soaking wet.
  
  

🌱 Substrate

Best choices:

• Coco fiber (Eco Earth)
  
  

• Sphagnum moss (mixed with soil)
  
  

• ReptiSoil
  
  

Should be:

• 3–4 inches deep for burrowing
  
  

• Kept moist but not muddy
  
  

Avoid:

• Gravel, bark chips, or anything they can swallow.
  
  

💧 Water

• Provide a shallow water dish that allows the frog to soak but not drown.
  
  

• Dechlorinate ALL water (tap water must be treated).
  
  

• Change water daily to prevent bacterial growth.
  
  

🍽️ Diet

Pacman frogs are voracious eaters!

Juveniles (daily or every other day)

• Crickets
  
  

• Dubia roaches
  
  

• Small nightcrawlers
  
  

• Black soldier fly larvae
  
  

Adults (2–3 times per week)

• Large nightcrawlers (best staple!)
  
  

• Roaches
  
  

• Occasional:
  
  

  • Pinky mice (rarely—too fatty)
    
    

  • Silkworms
    
    

  • Hornworms
    
    

Feeding Tips

• Offer food with tongs—they have strong bites.
  
  

• Dust insects with calcium + D3 1–2 times weekly.
  
  

• Never feed wild-caught bugs (parasites/pesticides).
  
  

🧼 Cleaning

• Spot clean daily (poop is usually in the water dish).
  
  

• Replace substrate every 4–6 weeks.
  
  

• Wash décor and tank with hot water only—no harsh chemicals.
  
  

😷 Handling & Safety

• Avoid handling—their skin absorbs everything.
  
  

• If needed, use powder-free gloves or a soft scoop.
  
  

• They can bite hard—keep fingers away from the mouth!
  
  

❤️ Behavior Notes

• They bury themselves a lot—this is normal.
  
  

• They may puff up and hiss when annoyed.
  
  

• They go through periods of brumation-like dormancy if temperatures drop.
  
  

• They’re inactive but charming with their “big mouth” personality.
  
  

🐸 Common Problems

Not eating

• Wrong temperature
  
  

• Stress
  
  

• Too dry
  
  

• Impacted from swallowed substrate (rare with coco fiber)
  
  

Shedding issues

• Caused by low humidity
  
  

Swollen eyes or lethargy

• Often water quality issue → change water daily