Breeding Projects

Pacman Frogs

Breeding Projects Pacman Frogs

The Pacman or Horned Frog, also called Ceratophrys cranwelli, is a big frog that lives on land and comes from South America. They are called Pacman frogs because their wide mouths look like the characters in the popular 1980’s video game, Pacman.

Pacman frogs are favored as pets because they are easy to care for, needing simple food, housing, and being affordable.

These frogs are typically green and brown in the wild. However, through the interesting process of selective breeding, a variety of colours, also known as different color morphs, have been developed in captivity.

The process

Breeding frogs have similarities with other reptiles and amphibians, but they require precise care and specific conditions such as water quality and temperature. For Pacman frogs, you must place a single female with multiple males, with the dominant male fertilizing the female’s eggs. Choosing the right frogs for breeding is vital, and you must monitor both male and female frogs to ensure they are prepared for breeding. You need to provide careful care and monitoring for this delicate process to ensure the best outcomes for the frogs. See our Facebook Page for more images, videos and information about our breeding projects pacman frogs.

Breeding Projects Pacman Frog. Horned frog mating with male frog on top of female

Males and female frogs are selected. The most dominant male grips on to the female to ensure that he fertalises the eggs

Breeding Projects Pacman Frog. Pacman frog eggs in water

Eggs are laid into the water. Over the first 12-24 hours we can see if they are fertile by the colour and size of the eggs

Breeding Projects Pacman Frog. Tadpole on day 3

Eggs very quickly develop into tadpoles which are then fed bloodworm several times a day. Pacman frogs are canibalistic so its important to feed them regularly

Towards the end of the first week, the tadpole grows its back legs and starts to appear more like a frog

On day 7, tadpoles have formed front legs. They are removed from the breeding vat and placed into their own housing

The frogs will then absorb their tail as a from of nurtition. They are unable to eat during their change into a frog and so their tail serves as a meal

What next?

Pacman frogs have enormous clutches of eggs. Not all of their eggs would survive in the wild. They may lay hundreds to thousands of eggs. Naturally, some tadpoles would consume the smaller, weaker ones from the clutch. The rest would survive and hatch into healthy offspring. The frogs would then proceed to locate their own food sources. These may include mice, tiny lizards, invertebrates, and other smaller frogs.

While it may be challenging for terrestrial frogs to survive due to predators. The exact number that reach adulthood outdoors is unknown. Females lay a large number of eggs to ensure the species’ survival.

Once our Pacman frogs are feeding regularly (4 weeks or more), they are listed for sale at Blackpool Reptiles. We supply our customers with a healthy selection of morphs, including albino, green, 4-spot, Pikachu, reduced pattern, and mutant horned Pacman frogs.

Pacman frogs, regardless of color, require the same care. We choose to keep our pacman frogs in bio-active enclosures as this provides them with the greatest amount of natural enrichment.

Pacman frogs require heat, usually in the form of a mat. They need temperatures around 75-80 degrees Fahrenheit (°F) and a basking temperature of 80-85 degrees Fahrenheit (°F). We recommend using a thermostat with heat mats as Pacman frogs burrow into the substrate. Regular temperature monitoring is essential to prevent dehydration or burns.

Provide 60-80% humidity for your pet frog. You can provide this by placing a large water dish near the heat mat to raise humidity levels. Use live moss that can be sprayed and utilise a bioactive humidity holding substrate. You should also provide a low-intensity UVB as pacman frogs require a UV Index range of 0 – 0.7 (Shade) and 0.6 – 1.4 (Max bask).

Pacman frogs should be fed a mixed diet including inverts, pinkie mice and formulated pacman frog food. Food requires coating with calcium and vitamin D3 twice a week. Formulated foods generally contain D3 so always check the ingredients before providing more. See our Horned Frog care sheet for more care advice or contact us to talk about your new pet frog.

What do Pacman Frogs need?

OUR Adult horned frog kit (day & night heat)

Enclosures for horned frogs generally revolve around a plastic or glass box, offering a range of options.
As with any reptile, the size of the enclosure typically depends on the frog’s size. For example, a baby horned frog would be more suited to a 1.3l—3l plastic tub, while an adult frog would require a large faunarium or glass tank.

A soil-style bedding is required for Horned Frogs. Coco fiber being a great substrate that retains humidity and resembles the forest floor substrate. Mix this with moss or leaves to create a more natural environment. Provide a nice thick layer a few inches deep since horned frogs like to bury down into the soil. Since frogs absorb liquid through their skin, make sure to provide a water dish large enough for your frog to immerse in with dechlorinated water and replace it daily.

Always use feeding tongs with horned frogs due to their powerful bite. Consider choosing metal ones for adult frogs..

The winner is… Bio-active housing. This year, we have focused on bioactive housing for several reasons. Firstly, we always advise creating your pet’s environment as similar to the wild as possible. Reptile live plants are available for sale at Blackpool Reptiles. These are used to create drinking and hiding spots.

The benefits of using live plants expand far beyond the visual appeal. We recommend curved larger leaves over thin bushy leaves. This allows your frog to hide underneath the leaf and use the inside for drinking. By using more structured plants along with bark and wood, you can create the perfect hiding place for your frogs, ensuring they feel secure in their home. Moss is a great addition because it provides humidity, which is essential for horned frogs. To maintain the proper humidity levels for your horned frog, adding a small water feature, like a shallow dish of water, will be beneficial.