A little damp, very welcome.
African Dwarf Frog
Hymenochirus boettgeri
Also called Zaire dwarf clawed frog, Congo dwarf clawed frog, Dwarf clawed frog
From Central Africa: Nigeria, Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, the Central African Republic and the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, where it lives in still, shaded rainforest pools and quiet backwaters of slow rivers.1
At a glance the quick version
Looks how to spot one
Tiny, fully aquatic clawed frog with smooth skin
A small, flattened frog with a pointed, narrow head, no tongue and no eyelids. Its legs are long for its size, the hind feet are fully webbed and carry small claws, and a lateral line of sensory organs runs along the body to pick up movement in the water. Females are noticeably bigger and pear-shaped, while males are slimmer and show a small pale gland just behind each front leg.12
Personality what they are like
A gentle, unhurried frog that spends its time drifting, resting on the bottom and nosing around for food. It is not aggressive toward peaceful tank mates, though it is a slow eater and can be outcompeted by quick fish.12
Daily activity how busy a day looks
Swims up to the surface regularly to breathe air and forages along the bottom, using touch, smell and its lateral line rather than eyesight to find food. It can put on short bursts of fast swimming when needed.21
Grooming and care the hands-on bits
Keep in a cycled, filtered aquarium with a secure lid. Because the frogs breathe air at the surface, a long, shallow tank works better than a tall one. Feed modest portions, as these frogs readily put on extra weight when overfed.1
Home where they are happiest
A covered freshwater aquarium with calm, shaded areas and easy access to the surface. In the wild it prefers still, quiet water, so gentle filtration and planted or sheltered spots suit it well.1
Food basics what goes in the bowl
Carnivorous scavenger. In aquariums it does well on small sinking foods such as live, frozen or freeze-dried bloodworms, tubifex and brine shrimp, offered where the frog can find them.12
Company who they like around
Fits well in a peaceful community aquarium, as long as tank mates are neither big enough to eat the frogs nor small enough to become their food.1
The story where it all began
The species was named in 1896 by German zoologist Gustav Tornier, honouring fellow zoologist Oskar Boettger. It is now bred widely for the aquarium hobby and is one of the most commonly sold pet frogs.1
Fun facts for the dinner table
- 1
It has no tongue and no eyelids, so it pushes food into its mouth with its front feet.1
- 2
Males produce a quiet buzzing 'hum', usually at night, to attract females.2
- 3
Instead of external ears it relies on a lateral line along its body that senses ripples and vibrations in the water.2
- 4
It is often confused with young African clawed frogs, which grow much larger.2
Recognised by the official bits
- IUCN Red List
- Least Concern1
- Taxonomy
- Described by Gustav Tornier in 18961
The care rhythm Furry Diary remembers it for you
A typical home-care rhythm for a African Dwarf Frog. It is our own starting plan, not a vet's advice, and you can change every line in the app.
- FeedingHow often depends on species and agevaries
- Temperature checkevery day
- Water changeAbout 20 to 25% of the waterevery week
- Water testevery week
- Filter rinseRinse in old tank water, never tap waterevery month
- Vet check-upFind a vet who sees exotic petsevery year
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Where this comes from
Every breed page shows where each fact comes from. If we got something wrong, sorry, we are pet people, not a science magazine. Tell us at [email protected] and we will fix it.
- Hymenochirus boettgeri - Wikipedia en.wikipedia.orgused for range, status, description, care, history
- Hymenochirus - Wikipedia en.wikipedia.orgused for size, lifespan, colours, behaviour, fun facts
Checked 2026-09-30. Text is written in our own words from these sources.