African Dwarf Frog
Hymenochirus sp.
The African Dwarf Frog (Hymenochirus sp.) is a peaceful amphibian that's easy to keep. Give it a tank of at least 40 litres (11 US gallons), water held at 72-79°F, and a pH of 6.5-7.5. Always keep a group of at least 3 - they feel safest in numbers.
Captive lifespan reflects typical experience in a home aquarium, not maximum recorded age; genetics, sourcing, and care vary.
Natural distribution
Central Africa (Congo Basin)
- Africa
Regional colours match the stocking calculator's origin map.
African Dwarf Frog Tank Setup
A tank of at least 40 litres (11 US gallons) works well. Keep the water at 72-79°F with a pH around 6.5-7.5, and set up both cover and open swimming space where they spend most of their time (All surfaces). Always keep a group of at least 3 of their own kind - kept alone or in pairs they tend to turn shy, nippy, or wash out in colour.
What Do African Dwarf Frogs Eat?
They have small mouths, so stick to small foods: crushed flake, fine granules, and now and then a treat of frozen or live foods such as daphnia or baby brine shrimp. Anything too large simply gets ignored.
African Dwarf Frog Tank Mates
Not a fish - a fully aquatic amphibian; must surface regularly to breathe air. Do not confuse with the African Clawed Frog (Xenopus laevis), which grows far larger, is predatory, and is illegal to keep in some regions. Poor eyesight - locates food by smell/movement, so ensure it actually gets fed rather than out-competed by fast fish. Best in a species tank or with very calm, similarly slow-moving tankmates. The African Dwarf Frog is peaceful, which is the first thing to weigh up when you choose tank mates. It's a shoaling fish, so settle a group of 3 or more of its own kind before adding anything else - a stressed, lonely fish is far more likely to nip or hide. Before you buy, run your full stocking list through our stocking calculator. It weighs temperament, adult size, and water needs together, which a single species page can't do on its own.
Are African Dwarf Frogs Good for Beginners?
Not a sensible first purchase. Get the tank cycled, keep easier fish stable for a year, then revisit if you still want the extra work this species demands.
African Dwarf Frog - frequently asked questions
What size tank do African Dwarf Frogs need?
African Dwarf Frogs need a tank of at least 40 litres (11 US gallons). A bigger tank is always easier to keep stable, and gives them more room to settle in and behave naturally.
How many African Dwarf Frogs should I keep together?
Keep a group of at least 3. African Dwarf Frogs are a shoaling species and become stressed, lose their colour, or hide when kept singly or in pairs.
What water parameters do African Dwarf Frogs need?
Keep them at 72-79°F with a pH of 6.5-7.5, steady rather than chased to an exact figure. In a cycled tank, ammonia and nitrite should both read 0 ppm, with nitrate kept low through regular water changes.
What do African Dwarf Frogs eat?
African Dwarf Frogs have small mouths, so they need small foods. Crushed flake and fine granules form the staple, with the occasional treat of frozen or live foods such as daphnia or baby brine shrimp. Feed small amounts once or twice a day, and remove anything they don't eat.
Are African Dwarf Frogs good for beginners?
Yes - African Dwarf Frogs are a good beginner choice once the tank is fully cycled and you can keep a proper group. They are hardy but still need stable water and a school to feel secure.
Common mistakes with African Dwarf Frogs
- Adding to an uncycled tank - always wait for the nitrogen cycle to complete; small schooling fish are especially vulnerable to ammonia.
Building a community? Run the full list through the stocking calculator before you add anything else.
Great tank mates
Chosen from temperament, overlapping temperature/pH bands, plausible minimum tank footprints, and size versus yours in App-aquatic data. Hobby nuance always wins - verify stocking and temperament before purchasing.
Check African Dwarf Frog against any other fish → Compares water parameters, predation risk, fin nipping and tank size, and draws both at life size.
Fish to avoid mixing with African Dwarf Frogs
These well-known species are commonly sold alongside this fish but are not recommended tank mates - verify before purchasing.
- OscarPredator - Oscar will eat or injure smaller tank mates
- Pea PufferPredator - Pea Puffer will eat or injure smaller tank mates
- Common GoldfishGoldfish - prefer cooler, harder water that tropical fish cannot tolerate
