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Care Sheet: Carvalho's Surinam Toad (Pipa carvalhoi)

Common Name: Carvalho's Surinam Toad, Dwarf Surinam Toad, Three Clawed Toad, Star-fingered Toad.

Scientific Name: Pipa carvalhoi.

Distribution: Brazil.

Size: 5-8cm.

Sexing: Males can be heard making a "metallic" trilling call. Females are larger and have visibly swollen papillae when in breeding condition. Scars on their backs from previous spawning may identify older females.

Colouration: Dark grey - brown dorsum marked with black spots. The ventral surface is white with dark patches.

Requirements: These aquatic frogs and can be maintained in a fairly small aquarium, a 10-gallon tank would be adequate for 2-3 adults. They require a totally aquatic set-up with a substrate of gravel or sand. Furnishings such as pebbles, rocks, drift wood and aquatic plants can be arranged to provide a number of hiding places. The water should be clean de-chlorinated or spring water at a depth of 20 - 30cm. The water will need to be filtered using a small 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. They require a water temperature of 24-25°C, and a low wattage fluorescent tube can be used as a light source.

Feeding: Pipa carvalhoi should be fed daily with a mixture of suitably sized insects including Tubifex, whiteworm, Daphnia, Earthworms and pellets.