Frogs are endlessly fascinating creatures. Watching them hunt, sing, and perform other frog activities can provide you with years of entertainment.
While most frogs are pretty small, they still need space! But how much?
What if you only have space for a 10-gallon vivarium?
There are many species of frogs that can live in a 10-gallon tank, including American green and red-eyed treefrogs, tomato and chubby frogs, rain frogs, mantellas, poison dart frogs, fire-bellied toads, leopard frogs, African dwarf frogs, and Asian floating frogs. Bumblebee walking toads, American toads, and oak toads can also live in a 10-gallon tank.
The number of frogs you can keep in a 10 gallon tank varies according to species. Furthermore, not all 10 gallons are created equal! Some species need vertical tanks, while others prefer horizontal ones.
Before we dive into our list of frogs that can live in a 10 gallon tank, let’s talk a little bit about why tank size is important, and how to know what tank configuration is best for your frog.
Why Does Tank Size Matter?
Frogs need room to hop, swim, climb, or burrow. This is especially true if you are keeping more than one frog in an enclosure.
Frogs need space to display natural social behaviors – and get away from each other if they need to! Too many frogs in too small of a space can result in stress, fighting, and even death.
The cleanliness of their environment will suffer if there are too many frogs in a tank! More frogs means additional waste, which can contribute to bacterial infections and other health issues.
What Size Tank Is Good For A Frog?
Most pet frogs can be kept in a 10 or a 20 gallon tank. Some frogs, like African dwarf frogs, can even be kept in a 5 gallon!
When it comes to frog tank size, bigger is almost always better!
However, if you have a young frog, or a frog that relies on ambushing its prey, a smaller space may make it easier for the frog to find its food.
Do Frogs Need Horizontal Or Vertical Tanks?
There are lots of frogs that can live in a 10 gallon tank, but the layout of the tank is important! To know whether your frog needs a long tank or a tall tank, you have to understand your frog’s natural behavior.
Treefrogs are arboreal – they live in trees. Tank height is more important than floor space. Other frogs, like the tomato frog, are terrestrial and like to burrow. They need a long tank with plenty of horizontal space to explore.
Aquatic frogs, like African dwarf frogs, must be able to easily reach the surface to breathe, so a vertical tank wouldn’t be ideal.
Some frogs, like fire-bellied toads, are semi-aquatic and benefit from a horizontal paludarium, which has both land and water areas.
Conduct thorough research on the frog you plan to keep ensuring that your vivarium will meet all its needs!
14 Frogs That Can Live In A 10 Gallon Tank
There are many pet frogs that can live in a 10 gallon tank. This list isn’t exhaustive, but it’s a great place to start.
Whether you are an experienced keeper of anurans or first-time frog owner, there is a 10-gallon frog for you. Let’s jump into our list of frogs that can live in a 10 gallon tank!
Treefrogs
Treefrogs have sticky feet and love to climb! Here are some tree-dwelling frogs that can live in a 10 gallon tank.
1. American Green Treefrog
American green treefrogs are widely available and great for beginners! These adorable little frogs only get to be about 2.5 inches long. As the video above mentions, a 10-gallon tall tank is the perfect size for a single adult tree frog.
Their beautiful bright green coloration and luminous, expressive eyes make the American green treefrog an eye-catching addition to your 10 gallon vivarium.
However, they can be a little shy, so make sure the enclosure is well-furnished with plants and climbable clutter like sticks, branches, and vines.
2. Red-eyed Treefrog
Perhaps the most iconic treefrog, the red-eyed treefrog is only 2-3 inches long, with females getting larger than males. One adult frog can live comfortably in a 10-gallon tank. If you want to keep multiple frogs, a larger tank is required.
As you could see in the video above, red-eyed treefrogs aren’t particularly difficult to care for. However, they can be pretty sensitive, so they are recommended for more-experienced frog keepers.
Terrestrial Frogs
These species are land-dwelling frogs that can live in a 10 gallon tank. Horizontal space is important for these frogs – a long tank is better than a tall one!
3. Tomato Frog
Adorably round and red, tomato frogs get their name from their resemblance to a certain fruit! Male tomato frogs get to be 2.5 inches long, while females can be up to 4 inches long.
A 10 gallon tank is the perfect size to keep one frog. They can sometimes be a little territorial, so a larger tank is required to house additional frogs.
Tomato frogs are fully terrestrial and love to burrow. During the day, your tomato frog is likely to be hidden away, buried in the substrate.
4. Chubby Frog
The chubby frog is also known as the Asian bullfrog or banded bullfrog. However, the “chubby” moniker is very fitting, so that’s what we’ll use here!
These chunky little frogs only get to be 2-3 inches long and also love to burrow! We recommend keeping only one frog in a 10 gallon tank. While they might not make use of an entire 10 gallon tank, it’s important to give your frog the opportunity to stretch its legs.
5. Rain Frogs
There are several species of rain frogs – including desert, black, and common rain frogs – and none of these species get larger than 2.5 inches.
Rain frogs are very round with little legs. These frogs don’t hop or jump – they walk! That isn’t the only thing strange about rain frogs. Watch the video above to learn more about them!
A 10 gallon tank provides enough space for one frog. However, they require a very specific environment to thrive, so their care is best left to experienced frog keepers.
6. Mantellas
Mantellas are another example of terrestrial frogs that can live in a 10 gallon tank. While these frogs only get about an inch long, a 10-gallon tank is only enough space for 1-2 frogs. Adult females may fight during the breeding season, and we don’t want that!
However, if they have enough space, these frogs do well in groups.
Unlike most of the other frogs on this list, mantellas are diurnal – they are active during the day! While they aren’t arboreal and will do well in a 10-gallon long, they do seem to enjoy climbing, so make sure your vivarium has places for them to do so.
7. Poison Dart Frogs
Poison dart frogs, despite their name, are harmless in captivity. Like Mantella frogs, they are brightly colored and active during the daytime. Dart frogs are terrestrial or semi-arboreal and need an enclosure with logs, plants, rocks, and other fun clutter to climb on.
Nearly all pet poison dart frogs can live in a 10 gallon tank. However, the number of frogs that can live comfortably in a vivarium of that size depends on species.
For example, a 10-gallon tank can house 2-3 mimic of Zimmerman’s poison frogs, but only one dyeing, golden, green-and-black, or strawberry poison dart frog.
Many dart frogs do well in pairs or groups, but that is only if they have enough space! Make sure you can provide enough room for the frogs you want to house to avoid stress and fighting.
Semi-Aquatic Frogs
The next group of frogs that can live in a 10 gallon tank are semi-aquatic. These frogs need both land and water areas, and they would love a horizontal paludarium!
8. Fire-bellied Toad
The fire-bellied toad is one of the most iconic pet frogs. Bold, diurnal, and easy to care for, these frogs make great pets!
Despite their name, they aren’t toads, just frogs with bumpy skin. The other half of their name comes from their bright orange-and-black undersides – which they will display if they feel threatened.
These frogs only get to be 1-2 inches long, with males and females being about the same size. These frogs do great in groups, and you can comfortably house 2-3 in a 10 gallon tank.
9. Leopard Frog
Leopard frogs are also easy to care for, but they get larger than other frogs on our list. They get up to 5 inches long, so you can only house one adult frog in a 10-gallon tank.
The video above features a set-up for juvenile leopard frogs. Check it out!
If you desire more than one frog, you need to increase the size of your tank by 10 gallons for each additional frog.
Fully Aquatic Frogs
Do you have experience with aquariums but are looking for something a bit different? Check out these fully aquatic frogs that can live in a 10 gallon tank!
10. African Dwarf Frog
One of the most popular beginner frogs, African dwarf frogs are very easy to care for! Since they need to be able to reach the surface easily, they need a tank that is longer than it is tall.
These little frogs get to be 2.5-3 inches long. They are peaceful and like to live in groups. A standard 10 gallon tank can comfortably house 4 frogs! Furthermore, African dwarf frogs can live with small, nonaggressive fish.
While they aren’t territorial, it is important to not overstock your tank. Too many frogs in your aquarium can cause problems with water quality, which will lead to health issues.
11. Asian Floating Frog
While they aren’t as common as African dwarf frogs, Asian floating frogs are another great example of fully aquatic frogs that can live in a 10 gallon tank. They are only 2 inches long, and a 10-gallon aquarium can comfortably house 2-3 frogs.
While they are considered fully aquatic, Asian floating frogs can come out of the water! As you can see in the video above, the frogs came ashore to hunt some crickets.
While your enclosure doesn’t have to be a paludarium like in the video, Asian floating frogs benefit from having something to rest on, whether it is a rock, plant, or floating object.
Toads
Next on our list of frogs that can live in a 10 gallon tank are three species of toads!
12. Bumblebee Walking Toad
These adorable little toads get their name from their black-and-yellow coloration and their creeping walk, which you can see for yourself in the video above.
They are small and low-maintenance, and you can keep a group of them in a 10-gallon tank.
Female bumblebee toads get to be only 1.5 inches long, while the males typically stay under an inch long! You can keep 4-6 toads in a 10 gallon tank comfortably.
Since they are terrestrial, a longer tank is better than a tall one. However, they still like to climb, so provide them with plenty of clutter and enrichment in their vivarium.
13. American Toad
American toads are commonly found in the midwestern and eastern United States. They also make great pets!
They are incredibly easy to care for, and you can learn more about their care in the video above. In captivity, these toads can live for 10 years or more, and there are reports of some individuals reaching 30!
These amphibians can reach a length of 3.5 inches, with females being larger than males. A 10-gallon tank can house one American toad.
They can live peacefully in groups as long as you have enough space! In general, provide 10 gallons per toad.
14. Oak Toad
Last on our list of frogs that can live in a 10 gallon tank, the oak toad is another easy-to-care-for amphibian. Oak toads are easily identifiable by the yellowish stripe running down their spine, which you can see on the juveniles in the video above.
This species also happens to be the smallest toad in North America! These toads only get about 2 inches long, and they live for only 2-3 years on average.
While they are small, oak toads are solitary, so you should keep only one toad in a 10 gallon tank.
Conclusion
We’ve covered quite a few frogs in this article. If you are looking for frogs that can live in a 10 gallon tank, you have a lot to think about!
Whether you are new to frogs or have years of experience under your belt, or if you looking for a diurnal amphibian or a frog to keep you company during sleepless nights, as long as you have a 10-gallon tank, there is a frog for you!
Remember: 10 gallons is the minimum for most species covered in this list. If you have the ability to get a bigger tank, you absolutely should.
Always research the species you intend to keep so that you can provide your froggy friend with the best care possible!
