Scientific Name: Rana ridibunda.
Common Names: Marsh Frog, Lake Frog, & Laughing Frog.
Distribution: Southwest and eastern Europe, north Africa, Crimea, the Caucasus, Asia Minor, and central Asia. The species has also been introduced to Britain.
Size: 8-15cm
Sexing: Males can be heard calling during the breeding season, at this time they will also develop nuptial pads on the first two digits of the forelimbs. Males also show grey coloration to the vocal sacs.
Colouration: The dorsal surface is usually a shade of green, darker markings appear in the form of stripes on the limbs, and males of the species have grey vocal sacs.
Requirements: Marsh Frogs are mainly aquatic and require a large aquarium. A 20-gallon tank would be adequate for 2-4 adults. These Frogs can be maintained in a semi-aquatic set-up. The best method of doing this is with a large floating island or built in glass shelf covering 1/4 of the water surface for the Frogs to climb out on to. A base substrate of gravel is ideal with large pebbles and aquatic plants arranged to provide a number of hiding places. The water should be clean de-chlorinated or spring water at a depth of 25cm (10"). The water will need to be filtered using a submersible power filter to avoid the build up of ammonia and bacteria in the water, and partial water changes should be carried out at regular intervals. It is also a good idea to lightly oxygenate the water with the use of an air-stone. A water temperature of 15-25°C (59-77°F) should be maintained, and fluorescent UVB tube should be used as a light source.
Feeding: Juvenile Frogs should be fed daily with a mixture of suitably sized insects including small crickets and mini-mealworm. The food items should be dusted with a calcium and vitamin supplement two-three times a week. Adult Frogs should be fed every two-three days with a mixture of crickets, regular mealworms, earthworms, waxworms, and curly-flies. The food items should be dusted with a calcium and vitamin supplement once a week.
