Budgett's Frog Care Sheet

Species Scientific Name: Lepidobatrachus laevis


Common Name: Budgett's Frog


Similar Species: Dwarf Budgett's Frog (Lepidobatrachus llanensis); Freddy Kreuger Frog (Lepidobatrachus laevis x Lepidobatrachus llanensis); (Lepidobatrachus asper)

Enclosure size: 15-20 gallon or larger tank; (18-Cube Exoterra or larger)

Substrate:
Do not use aquarium pebbles. Do not use river stones that are are able to fit in the frogs mouth. The frog may eat pebbles or stones and can become impacted from this. A bare bottom tank is best with about 4-6 inches of dechlorinated tap water. A “turtle dock” or large stone can be provided if the frog decides to emerge.



Temps: 78-85 degrees


Humidity: N/A


Lighting: Incandescent and UVB fluorescent – optional.
Use a timer to provide a proper 12-hour day/night cycle.


Diet:
Juveniles feed daily, they will only eat if they are hungry, but offer them food anyways.
Adults 2-3 times a week. Feed a variety of insects (crickets, Dubai, wax worms, butter worms, night crawlers) and live bearing fish (Mollies and Platies make the best feeders – stay away from goldfish). Gut-loading and dusting prey is recommend (although dusting will be difficult due to the underwater feedings).

Live rodents may be offered twice a year as a treat only.


Water: Dechlorinate water with amphibian safe products such as “Prime”, “Reptisafe” and “AmQuel”. PH should be neutral (7.0). Be aware of new drift wood, it may make the water too acidic, so keep an eye on that if using real drift wood.


Lifespan: 10-20+years


Average Adult Sizes For Both Sexes:
Males 3 1/2 - 4 inches (9 cm) SVL
Females 4 1/2 - 6 inches (15cm) SVL


Supplements:
Calcium, Calcium with D3, Vitamin & Mineral Supplements


Sexing: Females of the species can grow to 4.5 to 6 inches SVL and will be the larger of the two sexes.
Males can grow 3 1/2 to 4 inches SVL (Snout to Vent Length) when mature. Males will also develop a darker colored throat with loose skin, which is caused by their calling.


Diurnal or Nocturnal:
Both


Tank Maintenance: A filter should be used and complete water changes should be done every week. Without a filter, water changes should be done daily, and after the frog has soiled the water. The tank should be taken apart and cleaned with hot water every month. Do not use soap or other chemicals.


Estivation:Estivation normally occurs between the months of October to February. Make sure that your Budgett's Frog is very well fed prior to estivation time. You also want to make sure that he has passed through all the food in his system before putting him down to estivate.
Budgett's Frogs can die if there is food left rotting in their gut during estivation.

The estivation set up can be a spare fish tank or a large bucket.
Be sure to allow for 8-12 inches of slightly moist coco-fiber substrate in the estivation chamber.
A water dish should be placed on top of the substrate in case your Budgett's Frog emerges from estivation early.

Remove the Budgett's frog from his water home and place him in the dry estivation tank. He will instinctively start to burrow down to the bottom of the container, and his skin will shed and form a protective cocoon encasing his body. Estivation will last for a couple of months, and can last as long as 9 months.

To awaken the Budgett's frog from his slumber, you will start to moisten the coco-fiber until it is very wet. At this point the Budgett's frog will leave his cocoon and emerge.

This process should be done every year.


Social Structure: These frogs should be kept singly. If kept in groups, all the frogs should be of the same size. These frogs are very cannibalistic so be careful!

Never mix different species of frogs in the same terrarium.

Handling: Frogs should never be handled unless absolutely necessary. Frogs are ornamental like fish. An appropriate sized fish net should be used when removing the Budgett's frog from his enclosure. Be careful of fingers near your Budgett's frog during feeding. A bite from and adult can be quite painful.

Shopping List

Home:

• A 15 to 20 gallon or larger (Or 18-Cube Exoterra or larger terrarium)
  
• Screen Top (for an aquarium)
  
• Terrarium Filter (ex: Tetrafauna Decorative ReptoFilter)
  
• Appropriate Live plants (aquatic or semi aquatic)
  
  
• Thermometer
  
• Water Dechlorinator (Prime, AmQuel, or Reptisafe)
  
• A water siphon
  
  
• A “Turtle Dock”, should the frog need to emerge
  

Estivation Home:

• Large bucket (4-5 gallon) or spare aquarium
  
• Coco-fiber, Moist, not too wet, very well wrung out so it is only slightly damp
  
  
• Water Dish
  

Heating & Lighting:

• Submersible aquarium heater (if needed)
  
• Fluorescent tube and fixture and/or UVB bulb and fixture
  

Food:

• Appropriate sized live Crickets, Wax Worms, Butter Worms, Dubai Roaches, Red Wrigglers, Night-crawlers
  
• Appropriate sized live feeder fish, Mollies, Platties or guppies (no goldfish)
  
• Appropriate sized live rodents (only twice a year!)
  
• Cricket keeper
  
• Cricket food and water gel
  
• Calcium Dusting Powder
  
• Calcium with D3 Dusting Powder
  
• Vitamin & Mineral Dusting Powder
  

Extras:

• Find an exotics vet that can see your frog
  
• Frog Books or Magazines
  
• Join a Frog Forum:
  
  
  
  • http://talkto.thefrog.org/
    
  • http://www.frogfreaks.com/index.php
    
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thanks!


this is a great caresheet
I enjoyed reading it! and I learnt about estivation, which I never knew about.. is it like hibernation but for frogs? I'm going to google it!

Yep, some frogs need to go though the estivation (hibernation) process every year. Others do not. Pyxie Frogs for instance, can go down for as long as 2 years!