How to Breed Leopard Frogs in Captivity

Leopard frogs, more commonly called spotted frogs, are frogs which are in the Rana pipiens family. They can be identified by their moist, spotted skin and by a line that runs down their dorsal fin. Leopard frogs can be bred in captivity, but only if you have a terrarium for them to live in. If you are a frog enthusiast who would like to breed these spotted frogs, you can't force the breeding process. What you can do is provide the right environment to facilitate breeding and imitate aestivation---a period of warm weather during which frogs breed.

Things You'll Need

  • Main tank setup
  • Male and female leopard frogs
  • Insects
  • Rain chamber
  • Tadpole nursery tanks
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Instructions

    • 1

      Lower the water level in the frog's tank to about 6 inches, and turn down the temperature of the tank to between 65 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit.

    • 2

      Stop feeding the frogs for a period of about 70 days, and make sure they have lots of rocks and hiding places to stay in during this time. Cover the tank with a sheet and disturb the frogs only every few days to replace evaporated water in the tank and to remove frogs that do not make it through the process.

    • 3

      Begin feeding the frogs a few bugs each night after the 70-day period is up. Work up to their regular food intake over a period of two weeks. During this two-week period, you should also raise the temperature of the tank back to its normal setting.

    • 4

      Check the females---they should be round and ripe with eggs in preparation for what they think will be the upcoming aestivation period.

    • 5

      Prepare the rain chamber so that the water level is about 8 or 12 inches high. The temperature in the chamber should also be higher than the regular tank, at 75 to 78 degrees Fahrenheit. Provide the females with places to lay their eggs by inserting rocks and plastic plants.

    • 6

      Put the females who look ready to lay eggs along with about two to three males into the rain chamber. The frogs will mate at their own rate. You will likely hear them croaking during the night, which is a good sign.

    • 7

      Check the tank regularly until you can see masses of eggs. When the egg masses appear, remove the frogs and place them back in their regular tank. Move the egg masses and divide them up. The eggs should be placed in tadpole nursery tanks where they will grow into tadpoles, and eventually become adult leopard frogs.