Home | Livestock | Shop | Care Sheets | Feeding | Health | Articles | Q&A | Gallery | Events Diary | Guest Book | Links | Forum

Care Sheet: Mottled Shovel-nosed Frog (Hemisus marmoratus)

Common Name: Mottled Shovel-nosed Frog, Marbled Snout-burrower, Pig-nosed Frog, Mottled Burrowing Frog, .

Scientific Name: Hemisus marmoratus.

Distribution: Subsaharan Africa.

Size: 2.5-5cm.

Colouration: Grey-brown with olive to yellow-brown marbling, some individuals show an olive to yellow-brown vertebral stripe.

Requirements: An 18x12x12” tank would be ideal for a group of 2-3 adults. They require a fosorial type set up with a deep (10-20cm) substrate of moist topsoil or coco humus. The tank can be furnished with a selection of logs, rocks & cork bark. These items should be arranged in such a way that they provide a number of additional hiding areas for the frogs. A shallow water bowl (no deeper than the frog's height at rest) should be provided with clean de-chlorinated or spring water which will need changing daily so as to avoid the risk of ammonia and bacteria building up in the water. The enclosure will need to be heated to a temperature of 25-26°C with a slight drop at night. This can be done using a heat-mat mounted on the side of the terrarium and controlled by a thermostat. Spot bulbs / heat lamps are not recommended for use with amphibians and so a fluorescent tube should be provided as a light source. The tank should be visually inspected daily and any soiled items should be removed, cleaned and replaced, if this is done at the same time as changing the water it will cause less disturbance to the frogs. Once every two-three weeks the tank and its contents should be completely cleaned and sterilised using an amphibian / reptile safe disinfectant.

Feeding: In the wild these frogs eat a staple of ants and it can be difficult to provide these as a diet in the UK, it may be possible to convert them onto fruitflies or hatchling crickets. They should be fed every two-three days and the insects dusted with calcium and vitamin supplements once a week.

All material on this site is Copyright © Andrew Tillson-Willis, the reproduction of any material is strictly prohibited unless express consent is given by the copyright holder.