Care Sheet: South American Horned Frog

Handling your amphibian should be limited due to the sensitive nature of their skin.

Scientific Name:	Ceratophrys ornata, Ceratophrys cranwelli
Common Name:	Argentine horned frog, ornate horned frog, Pacman frog
Native to:	South America (Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay, Paraguay, Bolivia)
Size:	2.5-4 inches for males, 4-7 inches for females
Lifespan:	Up to 10 years

South American Horned Frog generally refers to one of two species of frog, the Ornate Horned Frog and Cranwell’s Horned Frog.  Ornate Horned Frog tends to be the slightly larger species.  Females are generally larger than males.  Once they are full grown, males have nuptial pads on the inside of their hands and males will tend to be more vocal.  In their native environment, the local people refer to them as “ezcuerzos” which means “toad” in Spanish.  These burrowing amphibians are actually frogs, not toads, as they have teeth that are connected to their jaw.  True toads do not have teeth.  It is not uncommon for these frogs to break skin if they bite a person.

When the ground is dry and/or food is scarce, South American Horned frogs will develop a tough outer skin, like a cocoon to keep themselves from drying out.  Once they are rehydrated, they will shed and eat this protective layer.  This process is known as estivation.

Quick Overview

Enclosure Size	10 to 20 gallon tank, one individual per enclosure
Temperature	65-85 degrees
Humidity	Substrate should be kept moist, but not waterlogged
Substrate	Coconut Fiber, Ecoearth
Diet	Crickets, worms, some larger frogs may be able to eat pinkie mice

Pacman frogs may retain water which they release as a defense mechanism when picked up.

South American Horned Frogs are popular as pets due to their simple care requirements.  A 10 gallon tank is large enough to keep one individual.  Multiple frogs should not be housed together as they may cause injury to each other.  Some frogs may appreciate a shallow water dish, but they do not require one as they absorb moisture through their skin from the substrate.  They do require areas to hide such as a log or a fake plant.  Live plants that are not toxic can also be used in the enclosure with the understanding that the frog may occasionally dig up the plant as they love to burrow in the substrate.  
Frogs do not require additional heating or UVB lighting as long as the enclosure is in an area that is room temperature.  UVB lighting should not be used with albino frogs as this may cause blindness.  Most frogs have a voracious appetite so feeding should be scaled back if they begin appearing too plump.  Smaller frogs will require smaller prey items.  

At Ferrets and Friends, LLC our South American Horned Frogs are fed two to three times per week.  Our larger frog eats about five large sized crickets each week while our younger frog eats about three medium sized crickets.   These crickets are dusted with a calcium with D3 supplement.

Animal Care Cost Example (2017 prices): Set up

Ten Gallon Aquarium	$15
Tank Lid	$10
Log Hide	$8
Fake Plant	$13
Water Dish	$15
Eco Earth	$11
Cost of frog	$15-$70
Total	$95-$150

Animal Care Cost Example (2017 prices): Annual Cost

Vet wellness exam	$50
Ecoearth	$44
Diet (crickets and worms)	$40
Total	$134