A pacman frog burrows, so it needs floor space more than height and at least 3 to 4 inches of substrate. A vet clinic’s care sheet gives 10 to 20 gallons for an adult and 5 to 10 for a juvenile.
Pacman frog’s age
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Enclosure
The only care sheet we found for pacman frogs is from a US vet clinic, Yarmouth Veterinary Center. It covers the species usually kept as pets, Ceratophrys ornata, C. cranwelli and C. cornuta, and gives sizes in gallons only, with no length or width. Since floor space matters more than height, take the tank with the bigger floor when two share a label: Aqueon’s 20 Long has more floor than its 20 High. See why gallons don’t tell you the floor size.
Temperature and humidity
Keep it at 75–82 °F (about 24–28 °C) by day, letting it fall to 70–72 °F (about 21–22 °C) at night. Long spells over 85 °F can cause stress or death. Heat with a low wattage mat mounted on the side of the tank rather than the bottom, always on a thermostat, and keep the humidity at 60–80%.
Light
Yarmouth says a pacman frog needs no UVB, but that low level UVB of 2–5% may benefit its health if used carefully. Merck’s pet-owner manual says amphibians in general need UVB lighting, so a low level lamp covers both.
Substrate and water
Give it 3 to 4 inches or more of substrate to burrow in. Leave out gravel and bark chips, which can cause impaction. Use dechlorinated or treated water; Merck adds that distilled water shouldn’t be used for amphibians.
Everyday diet
Feed insects no wider than the frog’s head, daily or every other day for a juvenile and every 2–3 days for an adult. Dust them with calcium with D3 2–3 times a week, and with a multivitamin once a week.
Handling
Handle a pacman frog as little as you can, since they stress easily and have sensitive skin. If you have to touch one, wet your hands with dechlorinated water first.
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