Ornate horned frog (Ceratophrys ornata)

Short answers

Ornate horned frog: How big does the enclosure need to be?

80 × 40 × 40 cm for 1 adult animal (ground-oriented, little height needed); smaller for juveniles.

Ornate horned frog: What temperature does it need?

Daytime 22–28 °C, at night 20–22 °C.

Ornate horned frog: Does it need UVB lighting?

UVB: UVB not essential (ground-dwelling/nocturnal); weak UVB optional.

Ornate horned frog: How long do they live?

Life expectancy: approx. 10–15 years.

Ornate horned frog: Is it suitable for beginners?

Yes – it is considered suitable for beginners (difficulty: Beginner).

Climate

Daytime temperature

22–28 °C

Night temperature

20–22 °C

Basking spot

—

Humidity

70–90 %

UVB

UVB not essential (ground-dwelling/nocturnal); weak UVB optional

Enclosure

Minimum size

80 × 40 × 40 cm for 1 adult animal (ground-oriented, little height needed); smaller for juveniles

Substrate

Moist, diggable coco fibre or terrarium soil, 10–20 cm deep (at least one and a half times the animal's body height), partly covered with moss and leaf litter; plus a shallow water dish

Feeding

Food

Insects (crickets, house crickets, roaches), earthworms; occasionally young mice or fish

Feeding interval

adults approx. 1×/week (do not overfeed), juveniles every 2–3 days

Key facts

Adult size

females approx. 12–17 cm, males approx. 8–11 cm

Life expectancy

approx. 10–15 years

Origin

South America – the pampas: Argentina, Uruguay, southern Brazil (Rio Grande do Sul)

Protection status

No CITES protection; captive-bred animals are freely tradable

Brumation

An optional dry or winter rest (about December to February: lower the temperature, let the substrate dry out, a cocoon); not essential, but it encourages breeding

Cohabitation

Keep them singly – essential. Aggressive and markedly cannibalistic (it eats others of its kind up to its own size). Never keep them in pairs or groups.

Notes

Common mistakes: overfeeding (obesity and fatty organs), conditions that are too dry or too cold, and attempts to house it with others. A sedentary ambush hunter, and bitey. Watch that the substrate is clean and damp (skin infections).

Do you keep this species?

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

Ornate horned frog (Ceratophrys ornata) currently offered

• Schmuckhorn – Berlin · 100 €

See all listings in the marketplace →

Related species

• Amazonian horned frog (Ceratophrys cornuta) – Intermediate
• Brazilian horned frog (Ceratophrys aurita) – Intermediate
• Caatinga horned frog (Ceratophrys joazeirensis) – Intermediate
• Cranwell's horned frog (Ceratophrys cranwelli) – Beginner
• African bullfrog (Pyxicephalus adspersus) – Beginner to intermediate
• Budgett's frog (Lepidobatrachus laevis) – Intermediate
• Chaco dwarf frog (Chacophrys pierottii) – Intermediate
• Edible bullfrog (Pyxicephalus edulis) – Beginner

All species in the care wiki →

What you need to start

To keep Ornate horned frog (Ceratophrys ornata) you typically need: a suitable enclosure (80 × 40 × 40 cm for 1 adult animal (ground-oriented, little height needed); smaller for juveniles), substrate (Moist, diggable coco fibre or terrarium soil, 10–20 cm deep (at least one and a half times the animal's body height), partly covered with moss and leaf litter; plus a shallow water dish), a heat source with a thermostat, UVB lighting, thermometer and hygrometer, a water dish and hides. You will find equipment in the Reptoria marketplace.