🦎Pacman frog: gear and buying guides

The pacman frog is a nearly motionless ambush amphibian that spends its days buried, waiting for prey: a display animal that is surprisingly simple to keep. A modest 40 to 60 L terrarium, deep moist substrate, 24 to 28 °C and dechlorinated water are enough, but beware its outsized appetite and surprising bite.

Profile : 8 to 15 cm as an adult depending on sex, 6 to 10 years of lifespan, beginner level.

Pacman frog gear, family by family

• 🍖 Food

  A voracious carnivore: crickets, roaches and earthworms offered with tongs 2 to 3 times a week for adults, with calcium. Overfeeding is the classic trap, as obesity is common in this species.

• 🧴 Care & grooming

  Its skin absorbs everything: dechlorinated water is mandatory, hands must be rinsed and wet for any handling, and waste should be removed from the substrate quickly. In dry conditions it seals itself in a shed cocoon, a sign the setup needs fixing.

• 🎾 Toys & enrichment

  Its enrichment is ambush hunting: live prey presented with movement and deep substrate to bury into. Do not expect spectacular activity; stillness is its normal way of life.

• 🏠 Bedding & habitat

  A 40 to 60 L terrarium for an adult, 5 to 10 cm of moist coco fibre, a shallow water dish it can sit in, 24 to 28 °C and gentle lighting. Strictly individual housing, as cannibalism is real.

• 🧳 Travel & safety

  A pierced plastic box with very damp substrate or paper towel, protected from both cold and sun. Mind your fingers when handling: its jaws clamp down hard.

• 🧰 Accessories

  A side-mounted heat mat on a thermostat, a thermo-hygrometer, water conditioner, long tongs and plenty of coco fibre. One of the cheapest herps to equip: often 100 to 200 €.

Guides to read

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• 3D terrarium backgrounds and decor: polystyrene, cork or resin?Bedding & habitat

  3D background decor for terrariums: cork panels, carved polystyrene or resin, prices, installation and safety for geckos, bearded dragons and snakes.

• Branches, vines and climbing supports for terrariums: choosing wellToys & enrichment

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• Combined LED + UVB lighting: the two-in-one terrarium fixtureAccessories

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• Dimming thermostats and timers: regulating your terrarium smoothlyAccessories

  Dimming, on/off or pulse thermostats and day/night timers: how to regulate terrarium heating and lighting, with prices from 25 to 120 €.

• Temperature probes: where should you place them in the terrarium?Accessories

  Where to place temperature probes in a terrarium: height, basking spot, thermostat probe and control thermometer, plus mistakes to avoid.