Popular Pacman Frog Morphs

September 17, 2015November 5, 2018 ~ BackwaterReptiles

Would you like to meet some of our Pacman frog morphs? Like many popular reptiles and amphibians, Pacman frogs have been bred to express a variety of different colors and designs, also called “morphs.” In this blog article, we’ll present to you the most popular and common morphs.

Green “Normal” Pacman Frog

As you probably surmised, the “normal,” “regular” or “green” Pacman is the standard coloration for these frogs in the pet industry. They are generally bright green with brown spots just like the one pictured.

But, did you know that in nature, their natural color is brown?

Proportionately, these hungry and hefty frogs start out small but grow to quite large sizes due to their voracious and seemingly unending appetites. They can reach the size of a softball in less than a year.

ceratophrys cranwelli — A happy little “Green” Pacman Frog.

Strawberry Pineapple Albino Pacman Frog

The Strawberry Pineapple Albino morph is named after the colors of the fruits it resembles. Standard strawberry morph Pacmans have much more pink tones to their skin, but because this little frog is an albino, the colors are duller from lack of pigmentation.

Like most albino animals, this frog also has red eyes. Due to the lack of pigment, there are no other colors to hide the blood vessels, which ultimately makes the eye appear red. You’re seeing the blood inside the eyes.

Albino Pacman Frog

This morph is similar to the strawberry albino described above, but there is no pink tint to the frog. Instead, the lack of pigment creates a yellow and orange skin tone. The frog still possesses red eyes.

Notice the red eyes on this albino morph. This is a very popular frog, originally created by The Frog Ranch in 1992.

Chocolate Mint Pacman Frog

We’re a fan of naming animals after foods, which is why we like this morph. Just like the strawberry pineapple, this frog is named for the colors of the food it resembles.

Chocolate sounds so much better than brown, doesn’t it?

Mint chocolate Pacmans are a paler green color than the standard Pacman with lighter, less harsh brown accent spots.

High Red Ornate Pacman Frog

All the Pacman frogs are in the same family of Horned Frogs (Ceratophryidae), but the High Red Ornate Pacman is actually a Ceratophrys ornata and not a Ceratophrys cranwelli like all its cousins described above.

If you noticed this morph’s coloration is very vibrant, that would explain where the morph gets the “high” title. Any reptile or amphibian morph with “high” in the name basically just means “super” or “a lot.”

So this particular morph is named high red ornate because it’s skin is a very vibrant and noticeable red. They are really stunning animals.

ornate pacman frog morph — Top view of a high red ornate Pacman Frog.

Summary

All of these Pacman Frog morphs are in the same family of horned frogs. The various morphs just reflect what captive breeding them has produced. Not only are the animals healthier, but they are uniquely colored.

best pacman frog morphs — A collage of Pacman morphs.

Backwater Reptiles currently offers a variety of Pacman frog morphs for sale, all of which are captive bred.

Don’t miss the most in-depth, detailed Pacman frog care sheet on the internet, written by the owner of The Frog Ranch.

What’s your favorite Pacman Frog morph?

What Do Pixie Frogs Eat?

July 27, 2015November 19, 2015 ~ BackwaterReptiles

Are you wondering what Pixie frogs eat? If you’ve ever seen a Pixie Frog (Pyxicephalus adspersus), we bet you couldn’t help but fall in love. These frogs are adorable when they’re babies and as they grow older and pudgier, they’re quite possibly even cuter!

Pixie Frogs are great pet amphibians because they are extremely hardy and they are pretty docile overall, which means they don’t mind being handled and held. Oh, and another thing we should mention that probably contributes to their popularity is that these frogs are fatties and will eat pretty much anything you allow them to, making feeding time fun for both frog and owner.

That brings us to the discussion of what you should actually feed your pet Pixie Frog. What do they eat in captivity?

Pixie frog pet — Pixie frogs eat just about anything that moves, so be careful because they do have teeth!

What we feed our Pixie frogs

At the Backwater facility, we feed our Pixies dusted, gut-loaded crickets on a regular basis and supplement with other types of insects such as wax worms, meal worms, and even roaches. It’s important to note that the size of insect you are feeding your Pixie should be appropriate to their body size. Mid-size Pixies should eat mid-size insects, babies should eat small insects, and full-grown frogs weighing from three and a half to five pounds can eat large insects (i.e.locusts, large night crawlers, and big beetles). Full-grown Pixies can also eat frozen/thawed mice in moderation. Overall, no matter what size your Pixie is, be sure that it has a varied diet as this helps to ensure it receives all the nutrients it requires to be a happy, healthy, amphibian.

https://youtu.be/tos1if8tLxQ

Because Pixies are prone to obesity (especially in captivity), you must be careful of how often you feed your froggie friend. Babies will of course need to eat more frequently than adults. It’s recommended to feed your baby frog twice a day and your adult frog once per day. Adult frogs also need their insects dusted less frequently than babies do.

Pyxicephalus adspersus — Here’s a fat Pixie frog, which was fed crickets and roaches.

Lots of Pixie parents have trained their frogs to eat from tongs. If this is the case, you can feed your frog canned insects too. This is helpful for some people who might have an aversion to live, wriggling feeder insects.

Backwater reptiles has both captive bred hatchling Pixie Frogs for sale as well as slightly larger frogs in the two to four inch range. You can also purchase a range of feeder insects of varying sizes for your own hungry Pixie.

Top Five Best Pet Frogs

June 8, 2015November 18, 2015 ~ BackwaterReptiles

What are the best pet frogs, you may be wondering? Backwater Reptiles offers many frogs for sale ranging from exotic, rare, and “specialty” frogs to more common “everyday” frogs. This list represents the top five frogs we think are best suited to be kept as pets, whether you’re a beginning hobbyist or an experienced herper.

#5 – Leopard Frog (Rana pipiens)

Leopard frogs are extremely common in America and have a wide habitat range. Although they are not as neon in color as some of their arboreal cousins, they are very easy to keep and make great beginner pets due to their minimal care requirements and hardy nature.

These frogs generally reach just over four inches in length when full-grown and are easy to breed in captivity. They are not picky eaters and can even live outdoors in a pond-like environment.

Leopard Frogs can be housed together, but make sure that the frogs are all of a similar size as Leopard frogs will strike at anything that moves and fits in their mouth, including smaller frogs.

Their life span is generally anywhere from four to six years.

Purchase your own Leopard frog today!

#4 – Clown Tree Frog (Hyla leucophyllata)

Clown tree frogs are certainly attractive pet frogs. With their orange feet and undersides and white spots, these mid-size frogs are vibrantly colored.

Clown tree frogs are arboreal and thus require a tank that is taller than it is wide. They should be provided with climbing branches, leaves, and moisture as they originate from a tropical environment.

Feeding Clown tree frogs is easy as they will consume any insect of an appropriate size. Just be sure that the insects are dusted regularly and gut-loading them is also advised.

Purchase your own Clown tree frog today!

#3 – Pacman Frog (Ceratophrys cranwelli)

Pacman Frogs come in a variety of morphs ranging from albino to ornate, which is one of the endearing characteristics of this species, and a major reason they are so utterly popular with amphibian hobbyists.

While they start out small (not much bigger than a quarter), Pacman Frogs grow rapidly and are actually one of the biggest frogs in the world. They can reach lengths of up to seven inches and they can (and will!) get fat if you let them due to the fact that they have voracious appetites and will eat anything they can fit in their mouth. Suffice it to say that feeding time is always amusing when you have a Pacman.

These frogs don’t require a large enclosure as they spend most of their time burrowed into their substrate…that is, when they’re not eating. Just be sure that their enclosure has a water source and that the temperature doesn’t surpass 85 degrees and they will live for up to fifteen years.

Purchase your own Pacman frog today!

#2 – Glass Tree Frog (Hyla sp.)

As their name suggests, Glass Tree Frogs have varying degrees of semi-transparent skin which allows you to see their innards. This is a unique feature and thus makes this group of frogs highly desirable.

Rarely reaching sizes larger than three inches, these frogs don’t need a large enclosure, however they are arboreal tropical frogs and will need a tank that is taller than it is wide. Their home should also be equipped with leafy branches because they like to climb but will also stick to the sides of their tank allowing you to see their gorgeous underbellies and their inner workings. Maintaining adequate humidity is key.

We have dedicated an entire blog entry to these fascinating little tree frogs, so click here if you want to learn more about them.

Purchase your own Glass tree frog today!

#1 – Whites Tree Frog (Litoria caerulea)

Also known as Dumpy Frogs, these funny guys are popular pets because of their flabby form which often makes them look squished, fat and incredibly cute.

Dumpies are easy-going and don’t mind being handled, but like all tree frogs, they are incredible jumpers, so be mindful of this when they are outside of their enclosure.

These frogs also come in a blue-phase coloration which simply means that their skin has more of a blue-tint. They have the same care requirements and temperaments as the traditional green “Dumpies.”

Feeding Dumpy frogs is also very easy. They eat crickets, meal worms, and other insects and will also accept baby mice. Keep in mind that they can overeat and become rather fat, so be sure that they eat a varied but controlled diet.

They thrive in a glass-sided terrarium that contains peat or sphagnum moss as a substrate (which helps retain moisture) at a depth of perhaps 2-3 inches, a couple climbing branches, a water dish, and a screen top for ventilation. If you add live plants, the frogs will thank you for it. As with all frogs, please remember to keep the humidity up.

Purchase your own White’s tree frog today.

What’s the Difference Between Amphibians and Reptiles?

June 3, 2015November 18, 2015 ~ BackwaterReptiles

The differences between reptiles and amphibians is stark. This week at Backwater Reptiles, we received a lot of new frogs, toads, and salamanders and that got us to thinking that maybe this blog article should discuss what makes an amphibian an amphibian and what makes a reptile a reptile. Although most reptile hobbyists know the differences between the two, some people have got to be curious as to what separates a salamander from a skink, right?

In general, it’s easy to just say that frogs, toads, newts, and salamanders are all classified as amphibians, but you can read on to learn why these animals are different than reptiles.

The main indicator that an animal is an amphibian is that it “lives two lives” or has two distinct life phases. Amphibians are born in water and breathe through gills, then undergo metamorphosis and become full-grown animals that survive on land. Take a frog for example – they come into this world as tadpoles swimming around in ponds or pools of water and eventually grow into mature frogs. Reptiles, however, will be born as miniature forms of themselves and, aside from possibly displaying different markings as juveniles, should look the same their entire life.

Reptiles don’t need to live near water, whereas amphibians need to live where water is present for two reasons. First, their skin needs to stay moist. Second, amphibians lay their eggs in or very near water.

Amphibians externally fertilize their eggs whereas reptiles internally fertilize. Amphibian eggs are usually found in a gelatinous clump in or near water, while reptile eggs are leathery, amniotic, and often buried for the gestation period.

Finally, there are also aesthetic differences you can observe if you are not familiar with the animal’s life cycle. Reptiles possess scales, whereas amphibians have moist, sometimes sticky skin. Reptiles have claws to defend themselves from threats, but an amphibian’s main defense mechanisms are irritating secretions from the skin or biting because they don’t have nails.

This entry is not all inclusive as we could easily write an entire essay dedicated to this topic. It’s simply meant to touch on the main differences between reptiles and amphibians and to provide the basics for beginners.

All animals pictured in this blog post are amphibians for sale on our website.

Transparent Glass Tree Frogs

May 25, 2015November 18, 2015 ~ BackwaterReptiles

There are many varieties and subspecies of Glass Frogs (Hyla sp.), but the thing most of them have in common is the transparent nature of their skin and the visibility of their organs due to this unique trait. This fascinating feature makes them interesting to look at as well as great topics of conversation.

transparent tree frog belly — The transparent belly of a Glass tree frog.

Backwater Reptiles received a shipment of Glass Tree Frogs, many of which are about the size of a dime. In general, these frogs stay very small, ranging in size from one to three inches in length, so the ones at Backwater will probably grow a bit larger, but should stay very small overall.

In addition to being arboreal, Glass Frogs are also nocturnal and are commonly found in streams in the wild. Overall, males hang out in vegetation around streams at night, while females have proven more elusive to scientists during non-breeding seasons. Typically, males and females can be hard to distinguish from one another, unless eggs are visible through the underbelly skin of the female.

In captivity, these frogs should be housed in a terrarium with plenty of climbing space and vegetation as well as plenty of water. The enclosure needs to be well-ventilated, but prevented from becoming too dry. Appropriate lighting is also necessary.

Glass frogs will eat small arthropods in the wild and their diet should include appropriately sized insects in captivity. These little guys have hearty appetites and will eat a lot if given the opportunity. Most species lunge at their prey to capture it and have very good aim.

If you’re interested in adding one of these beautiful and rare frog gems to your collection, Backwater Reptiles has Glass Tree Frogs for sale just like the one pictured in this blog.

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