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Budgett's Frog

Lepidobatrachus laevis · also called Hippo frog, Escuerzo de agua

IntermediateFamily Ceratophryidae

A flat, aquatic, perpetually-grumpy "hippo frog" with a big personality (and a bite).

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✅ We have a full, fact-checked care sheet for the Budgett's Frog.

Open the Budgett's Frog care sheet →

📋 At a glance

Tank
Aquatic 20 gal / 18×18×12 (1 only — cannibal)
Temp
Warm 75–82°F (a gentle heater)
Water
2–3 in dechlorinated over a sloped land area, gentle filter
Food
Worms, pellets, the odd fish — do NOT overfeed
Lifespan
5+ years (sometimes longer)

✅ Simple, shallow-water care and loads of personality — a real conversation-piece frog.

🛒 Before you buy

  • A shallow aquatic tank with a heater + gentle filtration (they are messy)
  • To house it ALONE — they eat each other
  • The knowledge it grows to ~4–5 in and will bite
  • A varied diet with strict portion control (they overeat)

A healthy one: Wide, flat and well-muscled (not an obese dome) · clear eyes on top · alert · strong feeding response.

🚨 See a vet / act now if…

  • Obesity — the #1 problem, from overfeeding
  • Bloating or "dropsy"
  • Not eating, or weight loss
  • Red skin, or a mouth injury/infection

⛔ Never

  • Housing two together (cannibalism)
  • Overfeeding (obesity)
  • Cold or filthy water

Common budgett's frog questions

How hard are Budgett's Frogs to keep — are they good for beginners?

Intermediate. A grumpy aquatic 'hippo frog' — simple care, but a solitary, hungry, bitey loner.

What do Budgett's Frogs eat?

Worms, pellets, the odd fish — do NOT overfeed

What size tank do Budgett's Frogs need?

Aquatic 20 gal / 18×18×12 (1 only — cannibal)

What temperature do Budgett's Frogs need?

Warm 75–82°F (a gentle heater)

What water setup do Budgett's Frogs need?

2–3 in dechlorinated over a sloped land area, gentle filter

How long do Budgett's Frogs live?

5+ years (sometimes longer)

What are the signs Budgett's Frogs are sick?

See an exotics vet if you notice: Obesity — the #1 problem, from overfeeding; Bloating or "dropsy"; Not eating, or weight loss; Red skin, or a mouth injury/infection.

Free tools for the budgett's frog

Calm, honest help — each one knows when to say "see a vet."

Symptom checkerTriage a worrying sign and know when to see a vet.Aquatic setup plannerTank, water, filtration & drowning-prevention.Water interpreterMake sense of your water-test numbers.Common questionsReal questions keepers ask — answered straight.

📚 More frogs guides

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