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Encyclopedia / Frogs & Newts / African dwarf frog
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African dwarf frog

Hymenochirus boettgeri · Dwarf frog, Frog, Adf, Congo dwarf frog, Dwarf clawed frog, Boulenger's dwarf frog, Hymenochirus, African dwarf frog congo

Peaceful, slow and nearly blind; struggles to compete for food.

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3.5 cmAdult size ✓
20–25 °CTemperature ✓
6.6–7.4pH ✓
UnknownSmallest tank ?
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Tank mates
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Not recommended
  • Tinfoil barb eats animals up to about 5 cm. African dwarf frog only grows to 3.5 cm.
Not recommended
  • Giant gourami eats animals up to about 10 cm. African dwarf frog only grows to 3.5 cm.
Not recommended
  • Angelfish eats animals up to about 4 cm. African dwarf frog only grows to 3.5 cm.
  • Only a narrow temperature range suits both: 24–25 °C.
With conditions
  • Only a narrow pH range suits both: 6.6–7.
With conditions
  • Only a narrow pH range suits both: 6.6–7.
Compatible
Compatible
Compatible
Compatible
Compatible

187 species in our list are a good match.

Facts checked against sources on 16 Oct 2026. ✓ means a source backs it; ? means no reliable source yet. See sources

Care and water

Hardness ?Unknown
Group size ?2 or more
Temperament ?Peaceful
Swims at ?Bottom
Care level ?Moderate
Diet Carnivore
Lifespan ✓5 years
Size in shops 2–3 cm
Growth Medium

Behavior

Peaceful, slow and nearly blind; struggles to compete for food.

Food

Frozen bloodworms and brine shrimp placed near them.

Tap a food to see what it is.

Male or female

Males have a small gland behind each front leg (post-axillary gland); females are larger with an oval body.

Health

Common problems. Tap one to see the signs. This is a guide, not a diagnosis.

Breeding

Egg-layer (substrate spawner) · Moderate

Males call (a soft croak/hum) underwater, usually at night, before mating; pairs mate in amplexus lasting hours.

Pairing

Buy 4-6 frogs. Males hum and have a gland behind each arm.

Setup

A 40 L tank with floating plants and a low water level. 24-28 C.

What starts it

A 2-3 cm water change with cooler water and rain-like drips.

Eggs

Spawns of about 25-100 eggs, buoyant when laid and soon sticky; tadpoles hatch in about 3-4 days.

Raising the fry

Fry eat infusoria, then baby brine shrimp. Remove adults.

Common mistakes
  • Leaving eggs with adults
  • Cold water
  • Not feeding fry fine foods
Full breeding guide, day-by-day plan and simulator →

Where it lives in the wild

RegionCentral Africa – Congo basin, Cameroon & Gabon
Rivers and lakesCongo basin
HabitatShallow, still forest waters
Native rangeAbout 1,500 km across
See it on the world map

The story of the african dwarf frog

Often confused with, and sometimes sold as, young African clawed frogs (Xenopus), which grow larger.

German zoologist Gustav Tornier described this frog in 1896, originally in the genus Xenopus. Unlike most frogs, it spends its whole life underwater, coming up only to gulp air. It became popular in the hobby as a small, peaceful frog for community tanks.

First described by Gustav Tornier in 1896. Named for Named after German zoologist Oskar Boettger.

  • It lives fully underwater.
  • Males make a soft buzzing call underwater.
  • Like other pipid frogs, it has no tongue.

Sources

12 facts checked with sources