🐸 Pacman Frog Care Guide

Pacman Frogs are chunky, colourful terrestrial frogs known for their enormous mouths and equally impressive appetites!

Their proper name is Horned Frog, with several closely related species commonly sold as Pacman Frogs. They are available in many colours and morphs, including green, albino, Samurai Blue and other varieties.

Unlike tree frogs, Pacman Frogs spend most of their time on or buried underneath the substrate.

They are generally best considered display pets rather than handling pets.

Adults can reach approximately 10–15cm, with females generally becoming considerably larger than males.

With correct care, Pacman Frogs can live for around 8–15 years, so they still require a long-term commitment.

This guide covers the basics you need to keep your Pacman Frog happy and healthy.

🏠 Housing & Enclosure

Pacman Frogs are terrestrial and don't require a particularly tall enclosure.

Floor space and substrate depth are much more important than height.

For an adult, an enclosure around:

45cm × 45cm × 30cm

provides a useful starting size, with larger accommodation beneficial when properly maintained.

The enclosure should include:

• Deep moisture-retaining substrate

• Suitable heating if required

• Thermostat

• Low-level UVB

• Digital thermometer

• Digital hygrometer

• Shallow water dish

• Hiding areas

• Plants and cover

• Good ventilation

The complete enclosure should be set up and running correctly before bringing your frog home.

🌡️ Temperature

Pacman Frogs require warm but not excessively hot conditions.

Aim for daytime temperatures generally around:

🌡️ 24–28°C

At night, temperatures can naturally reduce to approximately:

🌙 20–24°C

Avoid overheating.

Always use a reliable digital thermometer to monitor the actual enclosure temperature.

🔥 Heating & Thermostat

Depending on your room temperature, additional heating may be required.

Any heat source should be controlled by a suitable thermostat.

Avoid heating the entire enclosure to exactly the same temperature. Your frog should have access to slightly warmer and cooler areas.

Because Pacman Frogs naturally burrow down into the substrate, avoid creating dangerously hot areas underneath them.

Never use:

• Heat rocks

• Uncontrolled heaters

• Exposed hot equipment

☀️ UVB Lighting

We recommend providing suitable low-level UVB lighting.

Appropriate UVB can support natural vitamin D3 production and calcium metabolism.

The correct UVB strength depends on:

• Enclosure height

• Distance from the frog

• Mesh between the lamp and animal

• Amount of plant cover

• Manufacturer's recommendations

Provide shaded areas so your frog can move away from the light.

Albino Pacman Frogs can be particularly sensitive to bright lighting, so care should be taken with lamp strength, positioning and available shade.

Provide approximately:

☀️ 12 hours light
🌙 12 hours darkness

Visible lighting should be switched off overnight.

💦 Humidity

Pacman Frogs require a humid environment.

Aim for humidity generally around:

💧 60–80%

Some natural fluctuation is perfectly normal.

Use a digital hygrometer rather than guessing.

The substrate should remain moist enough to support the frog's skin and natural burrowing behaviour without becoming permanently waterlogged.

🌧️ Misting

Mist the enclosure as required to maintain appropriate humidity.

Use treated/dechlorinated water suitable for amphibians.

How frequently you need to mist depends on:

• Enclosure ventilation

• Substrate

• Room temperature

• Heating

• Time of year

Check the actual conditions rather than simply spraying according to a fixed timetable.

🌬️ Ventilation

Humidity doesn't mean the enclosure should be soaking wet and stagnant.

Good ventilation is important.

Poor ventilation combined with constantly wet substrate can encourage:

• Mould

• Bacterial growth

• Skin problems

• Unhealthy enclosure conditions

Aim for moist, humid and well ventilated, rather than swamp-like.

🪵 Substrate

Pacman Frogs love to burrow.

Provide a generous depth of suitable moisture-retaining substrate.

Good options can include:

• Coco fibre

• Suitable amphibian/reptile soil

• Tropical soil mixtures

• Bioactive substrate

The substrate should be deep enough for your frog to partially or almost completely bury itself.

Avoid:

• Gravel

• Small stones

• Wood shavings

• Sharp substrate

• Strongly scented materials

• Chemically treated soil

• Fertilised compost

• Anything containing pesticides

🕳️ Burrowing

Don't worry if your Pacman Frog spends large amounts of time buried.

This is completely normal behaviour.

They naturally bury themselves and wait for prey to pass nearby.

Your frog may remain in one position for surprisingly long periods.

Constantly digging it out can cause unnecessary stress.

🌿 Hides & Cover

Although Pacman Frogs often create their own hiding places by burrowing, additional cover is beneficial.

Provide:

• Cork bark

• Suitable caves

• Leaf litter

• Plants

• Shaded areas

Make sure heavy decorations cannot collapse onto your frog if it digs underneath them.

💧 Water

Fresh, clean water should always be available.

Provide a shallow water dish that your frog can easily enter and leave.

The water should not be deep enough to create a drowning risk.

Pacman Frogs are not aquatic frogs and are not strong swimmers.

Change the water every day and immediately if it becomes contaminated.

Always use dechlorinated/appropriately treated water.

🚿 Amphibians & Tap Water

Amphibians have extremely sensitive, permeable skin.

Untreated tap water can contain chlorine or chloramine that may be harmful.

Use an appropriate amphibian-safe water conditioner where required.

This applies to:

• Drinking/soaking water

• Misting water

• Water used during enclosure maintenance

🦗 Feeding Your Pacman Frog

Pacman Frogs are enthusiastic carnivorous predators.

Suitable foods can include:

• Crickets

• Locusts

• Dubia roaches

• Earthworms

• Other appropriately sized feeder invertebrates

Variety is important.

Earthworms can make an excellent part of a varied diet when sourced safely.

🐭 What About Mice?

Large adult Pacman Frogs are capable of eating small rodents, but rodents are not required as a regular staple food.

They are considerably richer than many invertebrate foods.

If used at all, appropriately sized rodents should only be offered occasionally, not as the main diet.

A varied diet based primarily around suitable invertebrate prey is generally preferable.

📏 Correct Food Size

Prey must be appropriately sized for your frog.

Despite their enormous mouths, don't deliberately feed excessively large prey.

Large prey can create unnecessary risk.

If you're unsure what size food your frog requires, ask us at Roxy's Pet Shop.

⏰ How Often Should I Feed?

Feeding frequency depends on age, size and body condition.

🐸 Young Pacman Frogs

Young, growing frogs can generally be offered appropriately sized food daily or almost daily, depending on appetite and condition.

🐸 Juveniles

As growth slows, feeding can gradually become less frequent.

🐸 Adults

Adults can generally be offered suitable food around 2–3 times per week, adjusting according to body condition and the size of meals.

Pacman Frogs are naturally chunky, but this doesn't mean they should be continually overfed.

🥕 Gut Loading

Feeder insects should be properly gut-loaded before being offered.

Gut loading means providing the insects with nutritious food before your frog eats them.

Healthy, well-fed insects provide better nutrition.

Never feed wild insects collected from areas where pesticides or chemicals may have been used.

🦴 Calcium & Supplements

Correct supplementation is important.

Live food should be appropriately dusted with a suitable calcium and vitamin supplement.

The exact schedule depends on:

• Frog's age

• Diet

• UVB provision

• Feeding frequency

• Supplement being used

Follow the manufacturer's instructions.

Don't assume that more supplementation is always better.

Ask us if you're unsure which product to use.

🦴 Metabolic Bone Disease

Incorrect calcium, vitamin D3, diet or UVB provision can contribute to Metabolic Bone Disease (MBD).

Signs can include:

• Weakness

• Trembling

• Difficulty moving

• Abnormal limbs

• Soft or abnormal jaw

• Difficulty feeding

Correct husbandry is the best prevention.

If you're concerned, contact an exotics/amphibian-experienced vet.

♂️♀️ How to Tell the Sex

Sexing a Pacman Frog can be difficult when they are young. The differences between males and females generally become much easier to identify as they mature.

🐸 Males

Adult males generally:

• Stay noticeably smaller than females
• Develop dark nuptial pads on the inside of the thumbs/front feet when mature
• May call or “croak”, particularly during the breeding season
• Usually have a more compact adult build

🐸 Females

Adult females generally:

• Grow considerably larger and heavier than males
• Do not normally develop the dark nuptial pads seen in mature males
• Usually do not produce the typical mating calls of males
• Develop a larger, broader body as they mature

🔍 Nuptial Pads Are a Good Clue

One of the best ways to identify a mature male Pacman Frog is to look for dark nuptial pads around the inside of the thumbs.

These help the male grip the female during breeding.

Size can also provide a useful clue, as mature females are generally considerably larger than males.

⚠️ Young Pacman Frogs

Very young Pacman Frogs can be extremely difficult to sex accurately.

Size alone shouldn't be used to determine the sex of a juvenile, as growth rates can vary between individuals.

⚠️ Please Note

Sex cannot always be guaranteed in young Pacman Frogs. If purchasing a juvenile, its sex may only become apparent as it grows and reaches maturity.

✋ Handling – Keep It Minimal

Pacman Frogs should be considered look-don't-touch pets.

Amphibian skin is extremely delicate and absorbs substances from its surroundings.

Oils, soap, creams, chemicals and other substances on human hands can potentially irritate or harm them.

Only handle when genuinely necessary.

If handling cannot be avoided:

• Wash and thoroughly rinse your hands first

• Keep your hands wet with suitable dechlorinated water

• Alternatively use clean, moistened powder-free gloves

• Keep handling extremely brief

• Support the frog carefully

Never handle a frog after using hand sanitiser, moisturiser, perfume or cleaning products.

😮 Pacman Frogs Can Bite!

Pacman Frogs are ambush predators with very large mouths.

They may mistake moving fingers for food.

Adults can deliver a surprisingly powerful bite.

Avoid hand-feeding.

Use suitable feeding tongs when necessary and keep fingers away from the mouth.

🪶 Shedding

Pacman Frogs regularly shed the outer layer of their skin.

You may see the frog:

• Stretching

• Moving strangely

• Using its legs to push skin forwards

• Appearing to swallow

They often eat the shed skin, so you may never find it.

This is normal.

Persistent shedding or skin problems should prompt a review of humidity, water quality and overall husbandry.

😴 Long Periods of Inactivity

Pacman Frogs aren't particularly energetic pets.

It's normal for them to:

• Sit still

• Remain buried

• Stay in one location

• Become active mainly around feeding time

However, severe lethargy accompanied by:

• Weight loss

• Abnormal skin

• Weakness

• Refusal to eat

• Unusual posture

shouldn't automatically be dismissed as normal behaviour.

🧹 Cleaning

Good hygiene is particularly important for amphibians.

Every day:

• Check temperature

• Check humidity

• Check your frog

• Refresh water

• Remove waste

• Remove uneaten food

Regularly:

• Clean the water dish

• Remove contaminated substrate

• Clean decorations

• Check for mould

• Thoroughly maintain the enclosure as required

Use products specifically suitable for amphibian enclosures and follow instructions carefully.

Never spray cleaning products directly onto your frog.

🌱 Bioactive Enclosures

Pacman Frogs can be kept in properly designed bioactive setups.

These may include:

• Natural substrate

• Live plants

• Leaf litter

• Springtails

• Suitable isopods

However, remember:

Bioactive does not mean maintenance-free.

Pacman Frogs produce a considerable amount of waste.

You still need to monitor conditions, remove waste when necessary and maintain the enclosure.

⚖️ Monitoring Weight

Regular weighing can help monitor health.

Use accurate digital scales and keep a simple record.

Watch for:

• Unexpected weight loss

• Significant changes in appetite

• Changes in body condition

Pacman Frogs should look robust, but excessive weight isn't healthy simply because the species naturally has a round appearance.

🩺 Health

A healthy Pacman Frog should generally:

• Have clear eyes

• Have healthy-looking skin

• Maintain good body condition

• Feed appropriately

• Move normally when active

• Burrow normally

• Respond to food

Learn what's normal for your individual frog.

⚠️ Signs to Watch For

Contact an exotics/amphibian-experienced vet if you notice:

• Significant weight loss

• Persistent refusal to eat

• Severe weakness

• Abnormal skin colour

• Red or inflamed skin

• Sores or wounds

• Persistent bloating

• Difficulty moving

• Trembling

• Abnormal limbs or jaw

• Persistent shedding problems

• Swollen or closed eyes

• Prolapse

• Other major changes in behaviour or condition

Amphibians can deteriorate quickly when something is wrong, so don't ignore significant changes.

🐸 Can Pacman Frogs Live Together?

No – Pacman Frogs should be housed individually.

They are opportunistic predators and can attempt to eat or seriously injure other frogs.

Size difference doesn't make cohabitation safe.

Keeping them individually also makes it easier to monitor:

• Feeding

• Waste

• Weight

• General health

One Pacman Frog per enclosure.

🦠 Hygiene

Amphibians can carry bacteria such as Salmonella without appearing ill.

Always:

• Wash your hands after enclosure maintenance

• Wash your hands after unavoidable handling

• Keep amphibian equipment away from kitchens

• Supervise children's hygiene

• Clean contaminated surfaces appropriately

Never kiss your frog or allow it near your face or food.

⚠️ Chemical Sensitivity

Pacman Frogs are extremely sensitive to chemicals because of their permeable skin.

Keep the enclosure away from:

• Aerosol sprays

• Air fresheners

• Cigarette and vape smoke

• Strong cleaning fumes

• Paint and solvent fumes

• Insecticides

• Fly sprays

• Flea sprays

• Scented candles

• Heavy fragrances

Never use household insecticide around your frog or its live food.

🏡 Bringing Your New Pacman Frog Home

Before collecting your frog, the enclosure should already be:

• Fully set up

• At the correct temperature

• Maintaining suitable humidity

• Properly ventilated

• Filled with suitable deep substrate

• Furnished with cover

• Equipped with suitable UVB

• Supplied with fresh dechlorinated water

• Ready with appropriate live food and supplements

When your frog arrives:

• Allow it time to settle

• Avoid unnecessary handling

• Maintain stable conditions

• Allow it to burrow

• Offer appropriately sized food

• Don't continually dig it up to check on it

Hiding and burrowing are normal Pacman Frog behaviours.

👨👩👧 Is a Pacman Frog Right for You?

Pacman Frogs can make fascinating pets, but they aren't interactive handling animals.

Before buying one, remember that they:

• Can live for 8–15 years

• Need controlled temperature and humidity

• Require suitable UVB

• Eat live food

• Need calcium and vitamin supplementation

• Require treated/dechlorinated water

• Spend lots of time buried

• Shouldn't be routinely handled

• Can bite

• Must be housed individually

• Are sensitive to chemicals

• May require specialist veterinary treatment

They are ideal for someone who enjoys observing a fascinating animal rather than regularly handling their pet.

❤️ The Most Important Things to Remember

A happy, healthy Pacman Frog needs appropriate warmth, suitable humidity, good ventilation, deep moist substrate, low-level UVB, fresh dechlorinated water, varied live food and correct supplementation.

Remember:

🌡️ Keep temperatures appropriate – don't overheat.
💦 Keep the substrate moist, not waterlogged.
🌬️ Maintain good ventilation.
💧 Always use suitable treated/dechlorinated water.
🦗 Feed a varied diet of appropriately sized prey.
🦴 Use appropriate calcium and vitamin supplementation.
✋ Keep handling to an absolute minimum.
🐸 Always house Pacman Frogs individually.

Have the complete enclosure set up and running correctly before bringing your Pacman Frog home.

🐸 Roxy's Pet Shop

Need help with your Pacman Frog?

Whether you're choosing an enclosure, heating, thermostat, UVB, substrate, water conditioner, calcium, supplements or live food, please ask us. No question is too small or silly – we'd much rather you ask.

We recommend having your complete setup ready and running at the correct temperature and humidity before collecting your frog.

Roxy's Pet Shop
Bloxwich High Street, WS3 3LA
☎️ 01922 492521
🌐 roxyspetshop.co.uk

This care guide provides general husbandry information and does not replace veterinary advice. Requirements can vary depending on the exact species, individual animal, enclosure and equipment used. If you are concerned about your Pacman Frog's health, contact a qualified exotics/amphibian-experienced veterinary professional.