The Pacman Frog has gained a lot of popularity as a classroom pet in recent times. For the most part, they are easy to care for and fun to keep. Pacman Frogs are ideal for being observed and appreciated in their habitat and they are super when it comes to life science and being utilized in STEM lessons. But as their skin is very sensitive, they are not very tolerant when it comes to being handling, so when keeping them as a pet, it is more like watching tropical fish in an aquarium. We recommend that children under 5 not be allowed to touch the frog and older children do so only with adult supervision and wearing vinyl gloves.

Pacman Frogs are known by a variety of names including Argentinian horned frogs and South America horned frogs. They originate from Argentina, Brazil, and Uruguay, where they live in shallow water puddles. By one year of age, Pacman males can achieve a size of 2½ inches to 4 inches in length. The female can reach lengths of 4 inches to 7 inches. The average lifespan in captivity is 6 to15 years. These large frogs are not very active and will happily spend a majority of their lives buried under moist substrate. Ideal substrates include coconut fiber, sterile potting soil, and sphagnum moss. The substrate should be 4-6 inches deep and should be sifted through daily to remove wastes, and completely changed weekly.

Pacman frogs have very large mouths compared to their overall body size. They do not actively hunt; instead, they hide and wait for their prey to wander by, when they jump out of hiding and grab it in their mouth. After capturing its prey with its powerful jaws, the frog then swallows it whole. Since they will eat almost anything that moves, Pacman frogs must be kept alone in captivity. They should be handled only when absolutely necessary, as their skin is very sensitive. Gently grasp the frog behind its front legs when picking it up and always wear disposable gloves.

Care:

• Water bowl should be cleaned daily, refilling it with dechlorinated water.
• Lightly mist the habitat at least twice during the day to maintain necessary humidity levels. Tank humidity should ideally stay between 60% and 80%.
• Check habitat’s ambient temperature to confirm it is within the acceptable range of 75°F to 85°F. Check heating pad to make sure it is operating properly.
• Spot clean soiled substrate, removing any frog waste/debris.
• Visually check your Pacman frog, making sure it is alert and its skin is moist. Consult your pet store or veterinarian if you notice a change in normal behavior or if it is not eating/loss of appetite.
• Change the habitat’s substrate weekly. You will need to remove your Pacman frog, gently picking it up and placing it in a suitable container; always wear disposable gloves.
• Pacman babies should primarily eat crickets that are gut-loaded with calcium/multivitamins, or earthworms and roaches. Adult Pacman frogs should be fed a variety of insects, including gut-loaded crickets, Dubia roaches dusted with calcium powder, and earthworms; occasionally mealworms and waxworms. Feeder fish and pinky mice can be fed every 7 to 12 days.
• Pacman frogs smaller than 3 inches in length should be fed daily and whatever they can consume under 30 minutes, generally 3-5 crickets. Feed juveniles daily or every other day. Adults should be fed 2-3 times a week.
• Ideal light cycles are 12 hours of daylight with 12 hours of darkness. This 12 hours on, 12 hours off light cycle best resembles the Pacman frog’s natural environment.

For more information on how to care for a Pacman frog, see our care sheet.  Ready for a Pacman frog for a class pet?  Visit our grant app page to see the options that are available from Pets in the Classroom for help with funding!