African Clawed Frog (Xenopus laevis)

Few amphibians are as watchable, or as genuinely durable, as the African clawed frog (Xenopus laevis). Fully aquatic and endlessly busy, it spends its time sweeping the bottom of the tank with sensitive front limbs in search of food, and has long been a staple of dedicated aquatic frog keeping.

Size depends on sex: females reach roughly 10–13 cm while males stay smaller at about 5–7 cm. Either way these are long-lived animals, often living around 15 years. They are carnivores that locate prey by touch, so they need meaty foods delivered where they can find them. This standard form is rated as peaceful, but its appetite still dictates careful stocking.

Allow at least 75 litres for a single adult and considerably more for a group, always with a secure lid. A broad tolerance of pH and hardness — 6.5 to 8.0 and 5 to 20 dGH — makes the water side of fishkeeping straightforward, and a cool-to-temperate 18 to 24°C suits it without any need for tropical heating.

One of the most common questions is whether it can share a tank with fish, and the honest answer is that a species-only home is by far the safest, because anything small enough to swallow is at risk. Kept that way it is an exceptionally rewarding animal, often living for around fifteen years and remaining endlessly entertaining as it forages across the bottom.

Care summary

• Females about 10–13 cm, males about 5–7 cm; lifespan up to 15 years
• Temperature 18–24°C, pH 6.5–8.0, hardness 5–20 dGH
• From 75 litres for one adult, more for a group; keep the lid secure
• Carnivore — feed meaty foods at the bottom
• Peaceful by temperament, but eats anything that fits in its mouth

Tankmate guidance

A species-only setup is the safe choice, or keep it with other African clawed frogs of similar size in a spacious tank. Avoid small fish, shrimp, snails, delicate amphibians, anything small enough to be eaten, and aggressive or fin-nipping fish. Although it is peaceful by temperament, that easy-going nature does not extend to potential prey, so the simplest and kindest setup is one built around the frog alone. Each African clawed frog ships with a licensed live-animal courier and is backed by our live arrival guarantee.