Pacman Frog

A 10 to 20 gallon terrarium is sufficient for a single adult. Pacman frogs are sedentary ambush predators that spend most of their time buried in moist substrate with just their eyes and mouth exposed. They do not need tall enclosures. They need deep (3 to 4 inch), very moist coconut fiber or organic topsoil substrate. The substrate must feel damp like a wrung-out sponge at all times. They absorb all their water through their skin and a dried-out Pacman frog will go into estivation (a state of dormancy) and potentially die. Temperature: 75 to 85 degrees F. Humidity: 70 to 90%.

Pacman frogs eat with reckless, impressive aggression. Offer appropriately sized live or freshly deceased prey: dubia roaches, crickets, and nightcrawlers (earthworms are an excellent nutritional staple) form the primary diet. Occasional pinky mice for large adult frogs and waxworms as very occasional treats are acceptable. Prey should be no larger than the width of the frog's head.

Adults eat every 3 to 4 days. Juveniles eat every 1 to 2 days. Dust prey with calcium w/D3 2 to 3 times per week and a reptile multivitamin once weekly. Use feeding tongs at all times - a Pacman frog's bite is strong enough to break skin. They strike at movement reflexively and will bite anything that moves near their face, including fingers.

Gut-load all feeder insects 24 to 48 hours before offering. Remove uneaten prey promptly - prey left overnight in the enclosure stresses the frog and can cause unnecessary strikes and injury to the prey.

Pacman frogs are sedentary ambush predators - enrichment for this species is primarily about providing the correct environmental conditions rather than toys or interaction. The most important enrichment element is deep, moist substrate (3 to 4 inches of coconut fiber or organic topsoil) that allows complete burial with just the eyes and top of the head exposed. This is natural resting posture for a Pacman frog.

Provide a small, shallow water dish large enough to soak in, and a hide for when the frog is not buried. Some leaf litter on the substrate surface adds natural texture and aesthetics. The frog will rearrange and bury through it naturally.

Observe rather than handle. Pacman frogs are display animals - watching them hunt prey and seeing them emerge during their active periods (usually at night) is the primary enrichment for the keeper. Handle very minimally and only with feeding tongs within arm's reach at all times. Their bite can draw blood and they hold on tenaciously.

Toxic out syndrome (TOS): this happens when a Pacman frog is kept on unsafe substrate (gravel, artificial turf with dyes, paper towels with chemicals). The frog absorbs toxins through the skin, causing neurological symptoms (spinning, thrashing, paralysis). Only use chemical-free substrates. Metabolic bone disease from lack of supplementation causes jaw deformities over time. Red-leg syndrome (bacterial infection) results from unsanitary water. Change the substrate monthly and use only dechlorinated or RO water.