10 Gallon Tank Contemplating an ADF, suggestions?

Contemplating setting up a tank for an ADF. Our water here is fairly hard and I suspect that may play a part in my past experiences. We tried an ADF a few years ago (from Petco too) but it didn’t live more than a few weeks. This experience has left me with a trepidation regarding more fragile species like them and bettas. Our betta has been doing well since we got that (an almost two year long thought process lol) so I’m starting to think about an ADF again.
Like the betta, this will be for my son. I would like to keep it with the betta (5gal, planted tank with two mystery snails that can be moved) but have seen a lot of mixed experiences.

The alternative is in the new tank I’m setting up. This will be a simple ten gal tank that will have 5-7 gal in it and a sponge filter. I’m setting this up to grow out Endler and Cory fry. I understand the ADF will probably eat some fry and that’s fine. The concern here is more not turning it into a fat frog lol I’m undecided if this will be bare floor or sand substrate, but I’m leaning sand for the cories.

This is still early thinking, just wanted to get thoughts. Fish we’re pretty good on, but amphibians still keep me on my toes. We raised tadpoles this year into frogs (and one salamander lol) so we’re s bit more comfortable, but still learning.

 

Hi
You'll really enjoy having African dwarf frogs however, imo, they should be a fore thought, not an after thought.

IME they are social and do better in a species only tank with a few frogs. You'll see more of their personality come out.
With a betta in the tank, you'd have to be concerned about the betta becoming aggressive and/or territorial especially in such a small space or the frog mistaking a betta tail for food, take lunge and nip a bit off.
You'd have to take special care that the frog is getting it's fair share of food.

As you know, there's a possibility they will eat something if it fits in their mouth like cory fry.
Cories, as you know have kind of an armor and spines. (don't know how old they develop these) It would be a concern for me if they tried to eat one and it got stuck in the frog's mouth0.

I'm sorry I don't know your son's age bit if he is wanting an active exciting tank, mellow adf's are just not it haha

 

Ya know, I forgot about the dorsal spike. I don’t mind the snacking, but injury wouldn’t be good.

The kiddo is actually a huge fan of the frogs because they’re very chill. He’s on the spectrum and finds them to be very relaxing. Those, then bettas lol Maybe I’ll set the ten gallon up in his room, divide it and make a betta / adf setup with the betta on the cables/airlines/filtration side to help with escape options. Couple frogs and a betta in a divided ten doable? Plants down the middle to minimize visibility / contact between the occupants.

just kind of thinking and typing lol

Or I can flip the ten on it’s side, add glass and have a tall 5gal paludarium with climbing space…. lol AKA the original purchase plan for the tank in question lol

 

Or I can flip the ten on it’s side, add glass and have a tall 5gal paludarium with climbing space…. lol AKA the original purchase plan for the tank in question lol

If you wanted to that it would probably work. Dwarf frogs don't need climbing room just air at the surface.

 

Great to get the kids involved!

I'd agree that ADF and Betta is a case by case basis and more than likely won't work out. Especially if both are in a 5g.

But some things can work, maybe female Betta so hopefully not as much aggression? But a 10g minimum so they don't always get up in eachothers space.

A 10g ADF tank would be very enjoyable though! Have you thought of maybe running a indoor pond/tub for the ADF 's?

If you have the space of course

 

Have you thought of maybe running a indoor pond/tub for the ADF 's?

They would try to escape and probably die. They need a tight fitting lid with no gaps

 

You need to get at least 3 frogs, and at least a ten gallon. You need about 3 gallons for each frogs. A calm betta betta may be able tio live with the frogs, but i strongly recomend a short finned male or a female. So that you dont com home to a frog hanging from a bettas tail.

There may be issues feeding the frogs, the betta will want their food. you may end up having to feed them with a turkey baster or drop their food down a one-inch PVC pipe so the betta doesn't see it. I worry that the frogs might go into the small tank inside a tank, and not figure out how to get out in time to get to the water surface to breathe I could see them trying to shove themselves through o corner in the glass. Also like others said, It wouldn't hurt to have less water in the tank, but ADFs are fully aquatic, they only need access to the water surface to take a breath now and then.

 

They would try to escape and probably die. They need a tight fitting lid with no gaps

You do know a tight fitting lid would drastically limit access to oxygen right?

They don't like having to travel too much to the surface. So a shallow under 12" is perfect.
And not sure how your water parameters are if that's your experience with ADF's. That may be why they where jumping out on you, ammonia or nitrates too high?

 

Let's not get into side discussions about why some one's frog might be acting a certain way. It takes the focus off the OP.

A tight fitting lid, no gaps is a must with ADF. There is a chance will try to escape even if the water is perfect

 

Let's not get into side discussions about why some one's frog might be acting a certain way. It takes the focus off the OP.

A tight fitting lid, no gaps is a must with ADF. There is a chance will try to escape even if the water is perfect

Again, a tight fitting lid would drastically limit access to surface oxygen. They are not going to want to naturally escape lol because they are fully aquatic. So a tight fitting lid is optional. The moment they are out of water they feel threatened and only want to return to their aquatic worlds.

Hi
You'll really enjoy having African dwarf frogs however, imo, they should be a fore thought, not an after thought.

IME they are social and do better in a species only tank with a few frogs. You'll see more of their personality come out.
With a betta in the tank, you'd have to be concerned about the betta becoming aggressive and/or territorial especially in such a small space or the frog mistaking a betta tail for food, take lunge and nip a bit off.
You'd have to take special care that the frog is getting it's fair share of food.

As you know, there's a possibility they will eat something if it fits in their mouth like cory fry.
Cories, as you know have kind of an armor and spines. (don't know how old they develop these) It would be a concern for me if they tried to eat one and it got stuck in the frog's mouth0.

I'm sorry I don't know your son's age bit if he is wanting an active exciting tank, mellow adf's are just not it haha

Also ADF tanks are anything but boring. Not sure why you would slam the idea down as not exciting.Your a moderator?

 

Also ADF tanks are anything but boring. Not sure why you would slam the idea down as not exciting.Your a moderator?

No expert for sure, but some experience.
Besides, my being a moderator has zero is do with zero of this conversation.

I'm not slamming it but ADF's are mellow, super cute and fun but can't be compared to fish where there is constant movement.

Not sure why you're starting an argument.
Like I said, let's keep this to the OP not side discussion.

Edit:
"Tight fitting" does not mean airtight. Just that the gaps should be small enough that an adf cannot squeeze through

 

No argument, but am quite boggled by someone saying ADF's are on the boring side. Especially a moderator in a forum such as this. Webreed them, not always but here and there. Running tub/ponds for them as they love to skip the surface when spawning. Or frogging like we like to say lol. They are however known (usually newly purchased) to succumb to a ton of diseases and difficulties. Such as the inability to shed, or the Chytits (i know that's spelled wrong lol) which is pretty much 99% fatal. We do not keep them with anything as they seem to not appreciate tub mates

Water line is about 9" and there's a good 5" gap between surface and edge. No jumpers! Floating plants help a lot. But ensuring the surface has decent open air access is a must or they tend to get frantic.

Imo nobody is an expert as this hobby continues to surprise and throw curve balls no matter the level of experience. But I'd never talk down a species because the way the act for us may just be that much different for someone else.
Also a slower flow (sponge filtration is great for this) is more appreciated by them.

I honestly hope anything Ihave shared has helped anyone reading this thread

 

I believe I used the word mellow, not boring.

 

It was a thought being that the tank is suited to one, but setting up another tank plus more is just a bit much. As always, the best place for info.