An aquarium can be a home for not just fish – there are many other exotic pets that you can keep in your tank.
Small amphibians are something that attracts the attention of many aquarists; they are certainly an interesting addition to your tank.
The amphibian pets display a different set of behaviors from fish; they also have a different set of requirements.
In this post, you’ll learn about how to care for small amphibian pets. We’ll also point you toward some of the best amphibian pets you can get for your aquarium including frogs, toads, and salamanders.
Let’s get started!
How to Care for Small Amphibian Pets
The definition of an amphibian is an animal that lives in both water and land. Therefore, depending on the pet you choose, your tank should have water as well as some dry areas.
Some amphibians are fully aquatic and may not need any dry area whatsoever – the axolotl is such an amphibian.
Some may need a dry basking area to warm their bodies; a heat lamp could be used, but it isn’t always necessary unless your environment is really cold.
As for tank size, you can have two amphibians per 10 gallons, depending on the species you choose. The minimum tank size is 5 gallons for small amphibians.
Also, it’s best for your amphibian fish tank to have gravel substrate; most amphibians spend their time at the bottom of the tank, and sand substrate can be disturbed easily.
As for the water, just like for fish, it should be dechlorinated; however, don’t use distilled or de-ionized water.
Another thing you should know about amphibians is that they are mostly nocturnal, so they wouldn’t be active during the day.
While some amphibians have gills, some don’t and need to resurface to take a breath, so make sure you don’t hinder their access to the surface. The water should be no more than 18 inches deep.
Feeding amphibians is not much different from feeding fish; they can eat fish food like bloodworms, brine shrimp, and food pellets. Since they dwell at the bottom, make sure the food reaches there – get sinking pellets for example.
It is possible to keep amphibians together with fish, depending on the types you have. Mollies, Platies, Gouramis, Swordtails, Danios, Tetras, and Rainbowfish can be kept with amphibians as long as there is no significant size difference. Bear in mind that some amphibians have toxic skin and may harm your fish.
One more thing: amphibians have legs and can live out of the water. Make sure you keep a secure well-ventilated lid on top of your tank so that none of your amphibian pets go missing.
Toads and Frogs for Your Aquarium
When we say amphibians, toads and frogs are the first things that come to mind. Some species are mostly aquatic and suited to underwater life.
First off, what is the difference between a toad and a frog? It is a bit tricky, since all toads are frogs, but not all frogs are toads.
In fact, there is no scientific distinction. However, there is one thing that distinguishes them.
Toads have thick dry skin, which helps them retain water, allowing them to live in a dry habitat. Frogs, on the other hand, have thin slimy skin with a layer of mucus – the thin permeable skin allows them to absorb water and oxygen through it.
So what do aquarium frogs eat? They eat most of what fish can eat. In addition, frogs love flying insects, although it will be hard to get them as food.
Here are some of the best amphibian pets you can get for your aquarium for toads and frogs:
African Dwarf Frog
This is a popular choice among aquarists. The African dwarf frog is fully aquatic, but lacks gills, so it needs to come to the surface to breathe.
They are commonly mistaken for African clawed frogs; the latter has two hind webbed feet, while the African dwarf frog has four webbed feet.
These small amphibians only grow to about 1 to 1.5 inches in length, making them suitable for a community tank.
It would be interesting to grow any frog as tadpoles, but they are at risk of being eaten by fish. You can feed the tadpoles algae wafers.
Fire Bellied Toads
These toads get their name from the color pattern on their underbelly, which is composed of red/yellow and black.
When threatened, they will arch back and display their colorful belly as a warning. This is not just a bluff, as their skin secretes a toxin that leaves a foul taste in the mouths of predators.
They are voracious eaters and can eat everything from moths, crickets, minnows, and blood worms to pinkie mice.
They can be aggressive towards each other, especially the males, so be careful when keeping too many of them in the same tank.
Surinam Toad
Also called the star-fingered toad, the Surinam toad is another fully aquatic frog species you can keep in your aquarium.
Their striking feature is their flat body, which, together with their natural colors, allows them to blend in with their environment.
As you’d expect, they are ambush predators, so you should be careful not to keep them together with small fish.
Keeping Salamanders in Aquarium
Salamanders are fascinating creatures you can get for your aquarium. However, their skin is porous and sensitive, so you need to maintain the water conditions carefully.
They produce a lot of waste in the form of ammonia, so you need to have a good filtration system and top it off with weekly water changes.
Here are some good candidates for your salamander aquarium.
Axolotl
Many aquarists keep axolotls without realizing they are salamanders. The axolotl is one of the most interesting-looking pets you can get.
They are fully aquatic, and can breathe underwater thanks to their mane of gills.
One thing about axolotl is they prefer cold water. They also can get quite big.
Siren
The siren may not look attractive to everyone, what with their slimy elongated body and just two front legs. But they are something different to look at.
They do have a mane of gills similar to the axolotl.
Sirens like to bury themselves in the ground, but this can make your tank messy – get gravel substrate to avoid this.
Conclusion
As you have seen, there’s no shortage of options when it comes to small amphibians for your aquarium.
Just make sure the existing tank conditions and inhabitants are suitable for your new amphibian pets.
If possible, set up a tank just for them so that you can control their environment more easily.
That’s it. Good luck on your foray into the world of small pet reptiles and amphibians. Experience the thrill of having exotic aquatic pets.
Thanks for reading.
