With their grumpy little faces and unique vocalizations, desert rain frogs have recently shot to internet fame and become an increasingly popular exotic pet. If their adorable appearances have you considering bringing one of these tiny amphibians home, read on to learn everything you need to properly care for a desert rain frog.
In a nutshell: Desert rain frogs are small, low-maintenance amphibians that can thrive when kept in a simple setup with proper heat, humidity, diet, and habitat.
Desert Rain Frog Natural History and Facts
Physical Appearance and Size
The desert rain frog is one of the smallest frogs in the world, reaching only about 1 inch (2.5 cm) in length as an adult. These tiny amphibians have a rounded, flattened body and a triangular shaped head. Their skin is smooth and comes in various shades of brown, beige, and cream.
Prominent folds mark their hind legs. Their toes are quite long and spindly relative to their body size.
One of the desert rain frog’s most distinctive features is its eyes. They have strikingly large, jet-black eyes with horizontal pupils, an adaptation to see better at night. The desert rain frog’s huge eyes and sideways pupils give it an amusing and endearing facial expression.
Native Habitat and Range
As their common name suggests, desert rain frogs live in desert environments. They are native to the Namib Desert in Namibia and parts of South Africa. Their range extends from the Atlantic coast inland approximately 375 miles.
Desert rain frogs inhabit gravel plains, rocky areas, dry riverbeds, and sandy desert margins.
Desert rain frogs spend the hot daylight hours buried underground. They emerge at night to hunt for small invertebrates on the surface. Their small size enables them to take shelter in tiny crevices in rocks and burrow into loose sand when inactive.
Behaviors
The desert rain frog’s most fascinating behavior is its explosive breeding following rare desert rainstorms. Most of the year, these frogs remain underground in a dormant state. When one of the Namib Desert’s unusual rain showers occurs, male desert rain frogs emerge and begin calling loudly for potential mates.
Their calls sound like quiet snores.
Desert rain frogs breed in the ephemeral rain pools that form after storms. Tadpoles develop rapidly into froglets before the puddles dry up. The froglets then burrow into the sand and may not surface again for years until the next rainy season arrives.
Desert rain frogs are mostly solitary and territorial. They use their long hind legs to jump away from potential threats. True to their name, the arrival of desert rain frogs above ground is a good indicator that rain may soon fall.
Enclosure Setup and Habitat Requirements
Enclosure Type and Size
The ideal enclosure for a desert rain frog is a 10-20 gallon terrarium or enclosure with a secure screen top. The tank should be escape proof as these frogs are excellent jumpers and climbers. Provide plenty of floor space as desert rain frogs are terrestrial and like to hop around.
Substrate
A 3-4 inch layer of coconut fiber or organic topsoil makes an ideal substrate. Avoid sand, gravel, or wood shavings as these can cause impaction if ingested. The substrate should retain some moisture but not be soggy.
Spot clean the enclosure daily and completely replace the substrate every 2-3 months.
Decor and Hideouts
Desert rain frogs appreciate cluttered enclosures with plenty of places to explore and hide. Provide curved pieces of cork bark, inverted clay plant pots, log hides, and artificial foliage. Decor should be sturdy and securely mounted so it cannot fall and injure the frog.
Include a larger, humid hide box with sphagnum moss or coco fiber for shedding and hydration.
Heating and Lighting
Desert rain frogs do best at temperatures between 75-85°F during the day and 65-75°F at night. Monitor the temperature with a digital thermometer. Use an under tank heater regulated by a thermostat, ceramic heat emitter, or incandescent basking bulb to maintain proper temperatures.
Avoid hot rocks as these can cause thermal burns. The enclosure should also have a 12 hour day/night light cycle. Full spectrum lighting is not required but can be beneficial.
Humidity and Hydration
Humidity in the desert rain frog enclosure should be maintained between 40-60%. Use a hygrometer to monitor humidity levels. Lightly mist the enclosure 1-2 times per day avoiding spraying the frog directly. Provide a large, shallow water dish that the frog can soak in if desired.
Ensure the water is dechlorinated and fresh. For extra hydration, offer occasional soaks in a container with dechlorinated water. Careful attention to humidity and hydration is key for shedding success.
Desert Rain Frog Diet and Feeding
Insects and Invertebrates
In the wild, desert rain frogs are insectivores and will eat any small invertebrates they can fit in their mouths. Their diet consists primarily of ants, termites, beetles, crickets, flies, moths, caterpillars, and spiders.
They will also occasionally eat snails, worms, and other soft-bodied invertebrates.
When keeping desert rain frogs as pets, it’s best to replicate their natural diet as much as possible. Feeder insects like crickets, mealworms, waxworms, and roaches should make up the bulk of their diet. These can be purchased from pet stores or online retailers that specialize in feeder insects.
Be sure to gut-load the insects with nutritious foods like vegetables and grains for at least 24 hours before feeding them to your frog.
Desert rain frogs should be fed insects that are no wider than the space between their eyes. Overly large prey items can injure or even kill them. As a general rule, feeder insects for babies and juveniles should be 1/8” or smaller, while adults can handle 1/4” insects.
To add variety to their diet, you can also offer desert rain frogs other feeder insects like silkworms, hornworms, or phoenix worms. Live insects are ideal, but you can mix in some frozen or freeze-dried insects as well.
Supplements
In captivity, desert rain frogs require additional calcium, vitamin, and mineral supplements to stay healthy since feeder insects alone don’t provide optimal nutrition. Lightly dust insects with supplements specifically formulated for frogs and toads before feeding them to your pet.
For baby and juvenile frogs under 1 year old, supplements should be provided at every feeding. Adults over 1 year can be supplemented 2-3 times per week. Calcium supplements are crucial to prevent metabolic bone disease.
Some good all-in-one supplements to choose from include:
- Repashy Calcium Plus
- Zoo Med Repti Calcium
- Fluker’s Repta Boost
- Exo Terra Calcium + D3
You can alternate between a calcium supplement and a multivitamin supplement for variety. Always follow label directions carefully and do not over-supplement.
In addition to dusted insects, you can also gut-load insects with nutritious foods like fruits, vegetables, grains, and calcium-rich powders. This will provide your frog with extra vitamins and minerals.
With a varied diet of gut-loaded insects and proper supplements, you can ensure your desert rain frog stays happy and healthy in captivity!
Handling and Temperament
Handling Precautions
Desert rain frogs are quite small, ranging from just 0.6 to 1.25 inches in length, so they are delicate pets that require a gentle touch (source). When handling your frog, it’s important to move slowly and avoid sudden movements that could startle them.
Always support their body fully with both hands cupped together. Never pick up a desert rain frog by their legs or head. Their skin is thin and permeable, so it’s also best to make sure your hands are clean and free of chemicals.
These petite frogs tend to be quite skittish initially but may eventually recognize their owner and calm down with regular, careful interaction. However, they generally prefer not to be handled too frequently. Excessive stress from handling can compromise their health and immunity.
Vocalizations and Sounds
One of the desert rain frog’s most intriguing behaviors is their vocalizations. The male frogs make an unusual squeaking sound during breeding by passing air back and forth over their vocal cords (source).
It has been described as similar to an old gate opening slowly or the sound of rubbing a balloon. The purpose of these squeaks is to attract female frogs.
Desert rain frogs may also vocalize when handled or distressed. The sounds can range from softer squeaking to louder distress calls. Understanding their different vocalizations can provide helpful insight into whether your pet is content or upset with a situation.
In addition to squeaking noises, these tiny amphibians can produce clicking sounds by snapping their eyes back into their sockets. This movement likely helps keep their eyes moist in arid environments.
Health and Common Issues
Signs of Illness
It’s important for desert rain frog owners to regularly monitor their pet’s health and watch for any potential signs of illness. Common symptoms to look out for include lack of appetite, lethargy, weight loss, abnormal substrate eating, and improper shedding.
An ill frog may also exhibit reddened or swollen eyes, fluid discharge, labored breathing, or bloating. Skin abnormalities like lesions, ulcerations, or color changes can indicate infection or disease as well.
If a desert rain frog displays any of these warning signs, promptly seek veterinary examination.
Catching health issues early maximizes the chances of effective treatment and recovery. Routine wellness checks involving visual inspection, weighing, and behavior monitoring facilitate early illness detection.
Always quarantine and examine new frogs prior to introducing them to a current collection to prevent contagion spread. Establish a baseline level of typical energy, feeding response, and appearance for each animal.
Preventing Disease
The best protection against desert rain frog disease involves proactive preventative measures. Stress is a major contributing factor to illness susceptibility. Minimizing handling and disruption, providing adequate shade and cover, maintaining proper environmental conditions, and meeting nutritional needs limits stress.
Thoroughly washing hands before and after working with frogs reduces pathogen transmission risks. Frequently changing water, spot cleaning waste, and completely replacing substrate as needed keeps the habitat clean.
Annual fecal examinations detect parasitism early when treatment is most effective. Seek immediate veterinary guidance regarding any abnormalities noticed during quarantine or general observation. Stay informed on diseases posing potential concerns for desert rain frogs in captive settings.
Strictly adhere to proven biosecurity protocols, quarantine measures, safe handling procedures, and enclosure disinfection practices.
While illness cannot always be avoided, knowledgeable care focused on disease prevention fosters good health. Learn the usual signs exhibited by a healthy desert rain frog to better recognize symptoms of sickness requiring attention.
Maintain ideal environmental conditions suited to the species and monitor animals daily.
Conclusion
With their grumpy faces and plump bodies, desert rain frogs have stolen the hearts of amphibian enthusiasts. But these pets require more specialized care than the average frog. By setting up the proper enclosure, diet, lighting, and humidity, you can keep your desert rain frog healthy and thriving for years to come.
With their unique behaviors and sounds, these frogs make fascinating display pets. Just be sure to do your research before bringing one of these critters home!
