How to Make a Bullfrog Tank

Bullfrogs are a semiaquatic species from the eastern United States. They have a flat head and a broad body, with gold or brown eyes. The frogs are range in color from green to brown, and can be spotted. Their natural habitat consists of vegetation around the edge of a large, freshwater lake with a slow-moving tide. Frogs require at least a 10-gallon tank, with preference given to a large floor area rather than depth. They need water, in which to submerge themselves, as well as dry land. Owners should keep only one bullfrog per tank to avoid cannibalism.

Things You'll Need

  • 10-gallon aquarium
  • Sheet of glass
  • Aquarium sealant
  • Rubber tubing
  • Gravel
  • Soil
  • Peat moss
  • Reptile bark substrate
  • Sphagnum moss
  • Incandescent light or ceramic heater
  • Low-intensity UVA or UVB lightbulb
  • Thermometer
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Instructions

    • 1

      Buy a 10-gallon aquarium with a large floor space. Divide the tank in half, creating terrestrial and water sides, using a piece of glass of about 4.5 inches in height. Take the glass to a hardware store to have it cut to the necessary dimensions for your aquarium.

    • 2

      Position the piece of glass in the middle of the tank. Waterproof the dry side of the tank by affixing the glass to the tank with aquarium sealant. If the glass has a sharp edge, cover it with rubber tubing.

    • 3

      Allow the frog access from one side of the tank to the other by creating a ramp of gravel. Alternatively, you can create the same effect by using a hard piece of driftwood.

    • 4

      Line the terrestrial side of the tank with soil and peat moss. Cover that layer with reptile bark substrate and sphagnum moss, creating a depth of 3 to 5 inches. Add a log or rock for basking.

    • 5

      Line the base of the aquatic side of the tank with smooth gravel. Fill it with dechlorinated water and change 50 percent of the water twice a week.

    • 6

      Keep the tank heated between 68 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit, using either an incandescent light or a ceramic heater. At night, drop the temperature to about 60 degrees F.

    • 7

      Light the tank for 10 hours, and keep it in darkness for the remaining 14 hours of the day. Use a fluorescent low-intensity UVA or UVB bulb, screened from the frog's access.

    • 8

      Place a lid over the tank to prevent the frog from escaping. Attach a thermometer to the tank to gauge temperature.