Brazilian Horned Frog
A large Brazilian horned frog with ornate coloration, powerful jaws and a stocky build.
Overview
Brazilian Horned Frog (Ceratophrys aurita) is a horned frog native to Brazil. A large Brazilian horned frog with ornate coloration, powerful jaws and a stocky build.
Care level: Intermediate. Toxicity: Low.
History & Origin
The Ceratophryidae (Horned Frogs) is naturally distributed across Brazil, where it occupies the typical habitats of its family. It has been kept by specialist and hobbyist keepers both in the wild and in captivity.
Appearance & Size
Brazilian Horned Frog is a 12–16 cm horned frog.
Temperament
Horned frogs are ambush predators with enormous mouths and a famously aggressive, 'sit-and-wait' temperament; they strike at anything that moves and should be housed alone.
Care & Husbandry
A horned frog needs a warm, humid terrestrial terrarium with a shallow water dish and a soft substrate it can burrow into. Provide a temperature gradient of about 24–28 °C and feed a varied diet of insects, with occasional appropriately sized vertebrates for adults. Avoid overfeeding — these frogs will eat to excess.
This species is generally rated Intermediate in difficulty for keepers.
Health & Lifespan
In captivity Brazilian Horned Frog typically lives 5–8 years. With correct husbandry horned frogs commonly live 6–10 years. Watch for obesity, mouth rot and impaction from substrate; quarantine feeder insects and avoid housing them together.
Popularity & Recognition
The 'Pacman frog' is one of the most recognisable pet amphibians thanks to its round body and enormous gape, and it remains a favourite beginner oddity worldwide.
