Ceratophrys ornata
Pacman Frog
Pacman frogs are hardy, striking and almost entirely sedentary — an excellent choice for keepers who want a low-activity display amphibian.
CeratophryidaeLifespan 6–10 yearsCare complexity 3/5Suitable for beginners
At a glance
- Scientific name
- Ceratophrys ornata
- Family
- Ceratophryidae
- Origin
- Grasslands of Argentina, Uruguay and Brazil
- Lifespan
- 6–10 years
- Adult size
- 10–17 cm
- Weight
- 300–500 g
- Temperament
- Sedentary ambush predator with a strong feeding response
- Activity level
- Very low; buried most of the time
- Social needs
- Strictly solitary — they eat each other
- Intelligence
- Learns feeding schedules
- Noise
- Occasional loud croaks
Housing and environment
- Housing
- Minimum 45 x 45 x 30 cm with 10–15 cm of moist substrate
- Space requirement
- Small footprint but deep, clean substrate
- Temperature
- 24–28°C day, 21–24°C night
- Humidity
- 60–80%
- Exercise
- Minimal; deep substrate for burrowing is the key need
- Grooming
- Not applicable; skin absorbs everything in its environment
Diet and feeding
Appropriately sized insects and occasional rodents for adults, dusted with calcium
Behaviour and compatibility
Burying, ambushing and aestivating in a skin cocoon if conditions dry out
- With children
- Observation only — they bite hard
- With other animals
- House alone
- Training difficulty
- Not applicable
Health
- Impaction
- Obesity from overfeeding
- Bacterial skin infections
- Metabolic bone disease
- Toxin absorption through the skin
Exotics vet; use only dechlorinated water for misting and soaking
Special care requirements
Never handle with bare, lotioned or soapy hands; use clean wet gloves when handling is necessary