Albino African Clawed Frog (Xenopus laevis)

The albino African clawed frog (Xenopus laevis) is the pale, pinkish-white form of this famously durable, fully aquatic amphibian. Its light colouring shows off the frog's broad, flattened body and constantly searching front limbs, and it brings a real talking point to a dedicated aquatic setup.

This is an easy-to-keep frog that lives a long time — potentially around 15 years — and grows to about 10 cm. It is entirely carnivorous, hunting by feel along the bottom of the tank, and should be fed meaty foods it can detect and swallow whole. It is classed as semi-aggressive, largely because anything small enough to fit in its mouth is treated as food.

Provide a secure aquarium of at least 75 litres with a tight-fitting lid, as these frogs are accomplished escape artists. They tolerate a wide pH and hardness range — pH 6.5 to 8.0 and 5 to 20 dGH — which makes water management refreshingly simple, and they sit comfortably at room-temperature warmth of 18 to 24°C without demanding tropical heat.

A question we hear often is how long these frogs live, and the figure surprises people: with good care an albino clawed frog can reach around fifteen years, making it a genuine long-haul pet. It will not tolerate small tankmates, however, so the rewarding way to keep it is in a calm, dedicated aquatic home where its quirky feeding behaviour can be enjoyed safely.

Care essentials

• Adult size around 10 cm; lifespan up to about 15 years
• Temperature 18–24°C, pH 6.5–8.0, hardness 5–20 dGH
• Minimum 75 litres with a secure lid; a bottom-dwelling amphibian
• Carnivore — feed meaty foods it can swallow
• Semi-aggressive; can become territorial when breeding

Housing and stocking

This is a species best kept on its own, or with other African clawed frogs of similar size in a spacious tank. Do not house it with small fish, shrimp, snails, small amphibians or any tankmate small enough to fit in its mouth, and avoid delicate or slow-moving fish. Each albino clawed frog is delivered by a licensed live-animal courier and covered by our live arrival guarantee.