Edible frog (Pelophylax kl. esculentus)

Short answers

Edible frog: How big does the enclosure need to be?

A garden pond or a 120×60 cm aqua-terrarium.

Edible frog: What temperature does it need?

Daytime 15–25 °C, basking spot Basking spot on the bank, at night 8–16 °C.

Edible frog: Does it need UVB lighting?

UVB: Essential when kept indoors (UVB 5.0).

Edible frog: How long do they live?

Life expectancy: 8–12 years.

Edible frog: Is it suitable for beginners?

Rather not – it is considered an intermediate species (difficulty: Intermediate).

Climate

Daytime temperature

15–25 °C

Night temperature

8–16 °C

Basking spot

Basking spot on the bank

Humidity

Aqua-terrarium / garden pond

UVB

Essential when kept indoors (UVB 5.0)

Enclosure

Minimum size

a garden pond or a 120×60 cm aqua-terrarium

Substrate

A large water section, a shallow bank, reeds, a basking spot

Feeding

Food

Insects, earthworms, small fish

Feeding interval

3×/week

Key facts

Adult size

6–12 cm

Life expectancy

8–12 years

Origin

Central Europe – a hybrid of P. lessonae × P. ridibundus

Protection status

Specially protected (BArtSchV) - removal from the wild is banned. Regarding the EU Regulation: the two parent species (the marsh frog and the pool frog) will be added to Annex B on 5 June 2027. The edible frog itself is a hybrid and is not separately named there.

Brumation

A winter rest of 12–16 weeks on the pond bottom

Cohabitation

A group of animals of equal size, in a large garden pond or aquaterrarium. The animals live sociably in the wild and call in chorus groups. Provide enough space, hides and ways to get out of each other's way; feed separately when sizes differ, because water frogs also eat smaller amphibians.

Notes

The classic "water frog" of native garden ponds. Keeping it indoors is a lot of work – a planted garden pond suits it best. Very loud in the mating season.

Do you keep this species?

Add your animal to Reptoria – Reptoria reminds you about feeding and shedding. Add your animal for free →

Look for Edible frog (Pelophylax kl. esculentus) in the marketplace →

Related species

• Marsh frog (Pelophylax ridibundus) – Intermediate
• Carvalho's Surinam toad (Pipa carvalhoi) – Intermediate
• African clawed frog (Xenopus laevis) – Beginner
• Western clawed frog (Xenopus tropicalis) – Beginner
• Surinam toad (Pipa pipa) – Expert
• Dwarf Surinam toad (Pipa parva) – Intermediate
• Dwarf clawed frog (Hymenochirus boettgeri) – Beginner
• Italian crested newt (Triturus carnifex) – Intermediate

All species in the care wiki →

What you need to start

To keep Edible frog (Pelophylax kl. esculentus) you typically need: a suitable enclosure (a garden pond or a 120×60 cm aqua-terrarium), substrate (A large water section, a shallow bank, reeds, a basking spot), a heat source with a thermostat, UVB lighting, thermometer and hygrometer, a water dish and hides. You will find equipment in the Reptoria marketplace.