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Care Sheet: Edible Frog (Rana esculenta)

Common Name: Edible Frog.

Scientific Name: Rana esculenta.

Distribution: Most of central Europe and northern Italy, but absent from Iberia and the Balkans.

Size: 13cm (5")

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.

Colouration: The dorsal surface can range anywhere between green, brown and beige, darker markings appear in the form of stripes on the limbs, and a light dorsal stripe may also be present.

Requirements: Edible 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.

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