Ceratophrys cranwelli

[Arachnophilist]

Does anyone keep this species? if so could you share your experiences with them? and any tips or tricks for keeping a happy healthy Horned Frog? any input is appreciated.

 

[nickbachman]

i have a good bit of experience wtih cranwelli. i have a couple of them right now, a ~3.5" and a ~2 incher. they're gorgeous animals. keep them on a couple inches deep of coconut fibre, so accidental ingestion of the substrate doesnt have as an adverse effect as gravel or bark chips would. a dish of water (with water no deeper than the frog's nostrils when it's at rest), maybe some moss, a good amount of humidity, and ~80 degrees daytime and 75 at night will make for one happy cranwelli. also, lots of food. they'll eat anything. a varied diet of crickets, nightcrawlers, mealworms, waxworms, fish, and the occassional mouse will be good. as far as fish go, they say livebearers like mollies and platies are best, but i use goldfish on my pyxie frog and havent seen any bad effects. lately i've been doing a mouse a week, which is quite fatty, but they seem to enjoy it. i wont keep it up like that forever, just to fatten them up for now. here's a pic of my littlest cranwelli right after i got him and some video links to both my cranwelli eating mice.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=enVMjh1Lk9I
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zgE9StJ_dlk

 

[Stylopidae]

I have a unique experience with this animal. Mine has lost any interest in insects or prekilled food, including hissing cockroaches (I'm hoping discoids will change this) so I feed mine a couple of pinkies/fuzzies once a month and he's doing fine.

He's kept at room temp, about 70* and has yet to go into brumation. Although mine has a waterdish, I've never seen him use it so I just keep the substrate moist.

Do NOT feed soley fish, as they have an enzyme that disolves vitamin B and they will die as a result.

Calcicoat for younguns, vitamin coat occasionally for the older ones and feed the occasional mouse. These are hardy animals that thrive in captivity

 

[Lestat_tnt]

Here is my albino horned frog. They are very hardy, and can go without food for long periods. I have had mine for almost 2 years. Not sure of its age.

 

[nickbachman]

lestat, i didnt even know you had a cranwelli. maybe i did, but i sure forgot. i'd REALLY like to see pics of each of your frogs, with their age and size written along with the pics. that'd be amazing.

 

[Philth]

Im sure I could look it up myself, but since Im here...Do these frogs require UVB lighting?

later, Tom

 

[P. Novak]

Here is my albino horned frog. They are very hardy, and can go without food for long periods. I have had mine for almost 2 years. Not sure of its age.

Wow whats the size of that pacman? That thing looks huge, what size did you have it at when you bought it? Right now I have one that is about 1" to 1.5" across. Thanks

Oh and about handling them, is it ok? I mean with gloves, or washing our hands prior to handling? Thanks

 

[Shelob]

I strongly recommend UVB lighting unless your frog gets onto mice, then you should be good because of the calicium within the mice's skeleton.

 

[Scorpendra]

guessing that's why mine croaked. *shot*

 

[Mushroom Spore]

Oh and about handling them, is it ok?

You know they'll just try to eat your hands, right?

 

[P. Novak]

You know they'll just try to eat your hands, right?

Lol not my littler guy/gal, shes too small, barely able to fit her little mouth around my finger if she tried.

 

[Frogsarethapoop]

I handle all of mine on a regular basis. That albino in the picture posted looks obese. Generally, the rule of thumb is that if a horned frog is wider than it is long, then it is obese. I have the obesity problem with one of my horned frogs (the only one that I feed mice too). I don't feed the others mice because the fact that mice are way too fatty, and not healthy for a horned frog.

 

[Stylopidae]

I love pacmans...for them mice, roaches, cars, planes, people...it's all on the menu

 

[LeilaNami]

The little ones are so cute! With that fat little body they look like jelly beans!

 

[Thoth]

As far as I have read UVB is not necessary for any amphibian species, The only reason we and some other animals need UV exposure is to synthesize vitamin D, necessary for calcium metabolism.

Just make sure the substrate is deep enough to completely bury themselves in. Mine likes to stay buried only coming out to feed and then burrowing again. I keep mine on peat moss.

Thiaminase, what breaks down vitamin B, is found only in some fish species, goldfish are one
here is a more complete list (of those with and without thiaminase) (just click on arrows on the top to flip to the next page):
http://newton.nap.edu/books/030903325X/html/64.html

 

[LeilaNami]

As far as I have read UVB is not necessary for any amphibian species, The only reason we and some other animals need UV exposure is to synthesize vitamin D, necessary for calcium metabolism.

Just make sure the substrate is deep enough to completely bury themselves in. Mine likes to stay buried only coming out to feed and then burrowing again. I keep mine on peat moss.

Thiaminase, what breaks down vitamin B, is found only in some fish species, goldfish are one
here is a more complete list (of those with and without thiaminase) (just click on arrows on the top to flip to the next page):
http://newton.nap.edu/books/030903325X/html/64.html

UVB may not be necessary but it is beneficial.

 

[Thoth]

UVB may not be necessary but it is beneficial.

Thanks, forgot to add that.

 

[LeilaNami]

actually C. cranwelli is the Chacoan horned frog and the C. ornata is considered the pacman I believe.

 

[nickbachman]

"pacman" is just a name given to both ornata and cranwelli by the pet industry to help sell them, and because of their eating behaviour. ornate horned frog is the name given to C. ornata.

 

[LeilaNami]

"pacman" is just a name given to both ornata and cranwelli by the pet industry to help sell them, and because of their eating behaviour. ornate horned frog is the name given to C. ornata.

Ah I see. Thanks for clearing that up.