Are Pacman Frogs Poisonous? The Truth Will Surprise you

Last Updated on September 22, 2021 by cmoarz

Pacman frogs (Aka South American horned frog) are a very popular species of aquarium pet that’s only growing in popularity.

Because of this growth of popularity, Humans have started breeding them in captivity which means we get all sorts of amazing varieties, such as the strawberry Pacman frog, Albino Pacman frog, the blue Pacman frog, apricot, ornate pacman frog, purple, etc. Youg et the idea!

There are so many varieties to choose from, So it’s no surprise you might be interested in getting one. But one thing on your mind is this, Are Pacman frogs poisonous?

So is a Pacman Frog Poisonous?

Pacman frogs (horned frogs) are not poisonous. Neither the Pacman frog bite nor the secretion of the skin contains many toxins that you should be worried about. The bite, however, Is still very painful and can easily draw blood.

This makes Pacman frogs good pets to have. Both female Pacman frogs and male Pacman frogs are identical in the sense that neither produces toxins you have to be wary of.

Does a pacman frog bite hurt?

Yes, it absolutely does! Even though there is no poison, the sharp teeth (vomerine teeth as opposed to maxillary teeth) use a significant bite force. It can easily draw blood from human skin and sever dead insects. However, interestingly enough, These frogs don’t chew their food and prefer to swallow it whole. but if you do end up getting bit, It’s a painful bite, to say the least. Male frogs or female frog.

For the most part, These frogs are docile pets and won’t bite unless they feel threatened. By giving them their appropriate habitat of leaf litter, a humid environment, and plenty of space, a Pacman frog makes excellent pet amphibians.

Will a Pacman Frog Pollute the Tank?

Normally, these frogs are found in nature near polluted areas. For example, They have been known to be found near waterways heavily polluted with pesticides and even sewage leaks.

Even though they are not poisonous themselves, they will eat just about anything that moves or is dead. This can lead to them eating animals that are dangerous for humans. This includes things like fire ants, wasps, bees, etc. All of which are very poisonous when eaten and may be secreted.

Although it’s of little worry in captivity. In captivity, their diet will mostly consist of feeder fish, Dead insects, small reptiles, live insects, other small fish, and small prey. Generally, nothing you give them will be poison, to begin with.

So what does this mean if we keep Pacman frogs as pets? Well, it means we need to make sure we can provide all their needs and ensure there aren’t any harmful insects like wasps and hornets in their habitat.

What about the other pets in the tank?

If you go out to buy a Pacman frog, You will notice that they are all housed individually above tanks containing many fish species. This is to prevent any predators from being able to eat them.

They can easily become prey to larger species of fish and even some reptiles like turtles and aquatic snakes! That’s why we keep Pacman frogs separately so it doesn’t happen. So when moving Pacman frogs, always be mindful of this fact before putting them in your aquarium with other creatures.

That’s not to say the Pacman frog is completely helpless either. Small fish, small amphibians, and other common frog species are all easy bait for this voracious eater. No matter how well planted with live plants your tank is, Nothing is going to be safe if it’s small enough to fit in your Pacman frog’s gigantic mouth and belly.

With that said, Only very specific animals and fish and cohabitate with Pacman frogs. This doesn’t include other frogs, especially another south American horned frog. Multiple frogs in 1 enclosure are sure to end in disaster as the large Pacman frogs will try and each other.

So be prepared with a tank divider that keeps them away from each other if you plan on having more than one frog. This also includes baby frogs and growing frogs, as well as most frogs, really. They will eat anything too small and defenseless to escape their deadly mouth, regardless of whether it’s a Pacman frog or not.

Is the Pacman Frog Endangered?

Fortunately for us pet owners, This beautiful amphibian is NOT endangered at all and is actually quite common in many parts of South America. Even though they are still listed as Least Concern, They are more common than many other species of frogs.

The reason they’re not endangered is that they live in ponds and rivers away from too much human contact where pollution isn’t present. This ensures that the Pacman frog can thrive with little to no interference. This is a good thing given how they are very poor swimmers. They are such poor swimmers it’s a surprise Pacman frogs live at all sometimes.

Although they aren’t endangered or threatened, there’s always the possibility of over-collection for pets like this one due to their beauty and rarity in captivity. There’s also a great number of people who would love to have a pet amphibian! So if you plan on purchasing a South American horned frog, be sure it was raised in captivity by a responsible breeder to ensure that the animal doesn’t need rescuing in the future.

Luckily more and more domestic breeding is happening and giving birth to many neat varieties for us to choose from! And while you likely won’t find dark green colors anymore in captivity, as that’s more of their wild color, You will find more than enough cool substitutes!