If you’ve been looking for frogs that you can keep in smaller than a 10 gallon terrarium, you’ve probably been having a bit of a hard time.
Luckily, there are a few options that may just work for you.
Frogs are really happier in a 10 gallon tank, so if you can swing the small upgrade, your frogs will definitely thank you. Alternatively, there are quite a few geckos that a 5 gallon tank is more than enough space for.
Failing that, here are the frogs you can keep in a 5 gallon tank (even if it will be a bit cramped).
African Dwarf Frog
The African dwarf frog is the only completely aquatic frog on this list. Before we get into describing them, you should know that there are multiple species that are commonly sold with nearly the same name.
African clawed frogs are the big ones and are too big for this size of tank. African Dwarf Frogs are the ones you want to look for.
In a tank this small, you can keep 1 – 2 African Dwarf Frogs. They like a PH between 6.5-7.5 and temperature between 64-77F.
Fire-Bellied Toad
Fire-bellied toads are a great display pet for aquariums. These amphibians are diurnal, meaning they are active during the day. This makes them an excellent choice for beginners, as they are easy to observe and can make great pets for kids and adults.
Fire-bellied toads prefer an environment with high humidity – between 50-70%. The temperature should be kept between 72 and 78 degrees Fahrenheit or 22 and 26 Celsius. This is around the temperature most houses are kept at, so you don’t really need a heater. Temperatures can safely dip into the 60s during the evenings as well.
The diet of these toads consists of invertebrates such as crickets, waxworms, red wigglers, and other bugs. (Waxworms as a treat only, since they have a lot of fat. Once a week, you can feed them a few to supplement their primary diet.)
Clown Tree Frog
Care for clown tree frogs is similar to that of other tree frogs. Clown tree frogs live in a tropical habitat, so they prefer a habitat with foliage, artificial or live vines and multiple hides.
In the wild, these animals eat insects. In captivity, the primary feeder for them is usually crickets, which are a great source of nutrition. In their terrarium, you should provide them with a bowl of water that is about twice the size of their body, and you should keep the temperature in the tank between 70 and 80 degrees F.
This means that they typically don’t need heat lamps to raise the temperature in their enclosure, since the temperatures they need are around what is normal for most houses.
In addition to providing a clean tank, the terrarium should be a humid environment – between 75 and 80%. During the breeding season, the water temperature should be 70 degrees Fahrenheit and the humidity level should be above 80 percent.
As much as possible, set the terrarium up where they have more vertical space than horizontal space. Ideally they would get 30″, but that’s not really going to be possible in a 5 gallon.
Oak Toad
The care of oak toads is easy and inexpensive. Though they prefer a 10-gallon tank, they are small enough that they can live in smaller terrariums as well.
Feeding is pretty simple as well. You should feed crickets or dubia roaches to them 2-3x per week. The feeder insects should be dusted with calcium every time and a multi-vitamin supplement once per week.
It is best to avoid keeping toads in empty containers (or ones with just a thin layer of bedding). They prefer to burrow, so they need a deep layer of moist substrate to live in. Coconut husk fiber is perfect for a toad’s habitat because it allows them to burrow and is easily available.
Their terrarium should be kept between 75 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit and between 50-60% humidity.
Conclusion
While any of these frogs can live in a 5 gallon tank, I would encourage you to try to swing a larger sized tank for them if you can. If you have a spare 5 gallon tank and want to put it to good use, you can also go for a gecko, an arachnid, or a mantis.
If you are set on a frog, though, you’ll want to make sure you’re on top of every other aspect of their care, especially keeping their substrate clean. Keep on top of it, and you can still give whatever you decide to get a happy, healthy life.
