Homemade Frog Aquarium

Frogs are very versatile when it comes to their living environments. They can easily transition from a large outdoor pond to a large aquarium in your own home. Most commercial frog habitats, however, are overpriced and usually too small. You can create your own frog aquarium environment at home using a bit of creativity and research.

  1. Basic Aquarium Setup

    • Unless you are experienced in building aquariums, buy a basic 20-gallon aquarium from your local supplier - a tall hexagon tank is required for building an arboreal tank. An improperly built aquarium could fatally injure a frog. Provide appropriate lighting in the tank for your specific frog species. The most accepted artificial lighting for most frog species is fluorescent. Line the bottom of the tank with gravel, sand or soil if you plan to include live plants in your aquarium display.

    Terrestrial Tank

    • A terrestrial tank should be used for frog species that live in drier climates. Cover the bottom of the aquarium with gravel and provide a water source for the frog in a small bowl. Decorate the tank using plants and hiding spaces - such as logs and rocks - to match your frog's natural habitat.

    Aquatic Tank

    • The aquatic tank should be used for frogs that only live in water. The setup is the same as a freshwater fish tank. Place gravel, plants and hiding spaces at the bottom of the tank that resembles your frog's natural habitat. Also install an aquarium filter to clean the tank. Since frogs shed more than fish, the tank will also need to be cleaned thoroughly with a gravel vacuum.

    Aquatic/Terrestrial Tank

    • The most common frog aquarium is an aquatic/terrestrial hybrid tank. There are two ways to create this tank. One way is to fill 1/3 of the tank with water and place a large rock or other land mass in the tank. You can also purchase or create a special divider to create a land mass platform within the tank. The water still needs to be filtered and cleaned regularly.

    Aboreal Tank

    • Arboreal tanks are suited for tree-dwelling frogs. Since these frog species have a natural instinct to climb, a tall hexagonal tank is required. Fill the bottom of the tank with gravel and include tall plants for the frog to climb on. Provide a water source in a bowl and spray the tank with water daily to maintain a humid climate.