How to Care for a Striped Marsh Frog

Striped marsh frogs are a species of small frog from Australia that are commonly kept as pets. They are easy to care for and can live for about 5 years in captivity, making them a great “beginner” species of pet frog. The frogs themselves are green in color and have white spots spread out across their back. To care for a marsh frog, you’ll need to provide an adequate tank, substrate, and water. The frogs exclusively eat live insects, which you’ll need to dust with a vitamin coating before giving them to your frog. You can purchase all of the necessary housing and feeding supplies at a local pet store.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Setting up the Tank

1
Select a glass tank with a divided base for your marsh frog. A 30 × 12 × 12 in (76 × 30 × 30 cm) aquarium will easily hold up to 4 of these frogs. If you’re only keeping 1 marsh frog, you can use a smaller tank that’s about 24 × 13 × 13 in (61 × 33 × 33 cm). The enclosure must be waterproof, escape-proof, and non-toxic.^{[1]XResearch source}
- Make sure that the tank has 1 elevated side to create 2 sections: a higher section for substrate and a lower section for water. These 2 sections are typically the same size, with the substrate half elevated by 2–3 inches (5.1–7.6 cm). In most divided tanks, the substrate will taper down as it approaches the low side of the tank.
- A 30 × 12 × 12 in (76 × 30 × 30 cm) long tank is a standard medium-sized aquarium. The size is referred to as a “30 long,” and pet-store owners will know what you’re referring to if you use that term.
- To keep frogs from getting out (and unwanted insects from getting in), pick up a steel or aluminum flyscreen to rest on top of the tank. Striped marsh frogs can jump quite high. To prevent frog escapes, tape down any loose, non-locking lids.
- Although striped marsh frogs get along well with other frogs of the same species, it's unwise to keep them in the same tank as frogs of different species. Also avoid keeping fish in the water half of the frog tank, since the frogs will eat them.
2
Cover half the bottom of the tank in 3 in (7.6 cm) of substrate. On the elevated side of the bottom of the tank, lay down a layer of well-draining substrate like peat or rain forest bedding to provide a moist land area for your frog. Lay the substrate only on the elevated side of the divided cage. This will more or less replicate the type of soil they'd be walking on in their natural environment. The land area should be well-drained and kept moist.^{[2]XResearch source}
- Purchase palm peat at your local pet store, or in large, dried-out blocks from the gardening section of a plant nursery.
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3
Plant 3–4 humidity-tolerant plants in the substrate. Plants will improve the look of the tank and will help your marsh frog feel comfortable and at home. Visit a nursery or pet store and search for plants that are native to humid regions and do well with relatively low light. Plants that typically thrive in these conditions include orchids, bromeliads, ficus, Mondo grass, and types of moss.^{[3]XResearch source}
- Avoid planting calla lilies or oleander, as these plants are poisonous to frogs.^{[4]XResearch source}
- If you prefer not to have to care for and water the plants in the frog terrarium, purchase plastic plants from a pet store instead.
4
Provide dechlorinated water so the frog can swim in its tank. Frogs are amphibious animals and need constant access to a body of water. Fill the lower side of the divided tank with room-temperature, dechlorinated water. The water should be at least 2 in (5.1 cm) deep. Change this water at least twice a week by siphoning out old water and adding new water. Replace 100% of the water each time you change it.^{[5]XResearch source}
- Striped marsh frogs do not like currents in the water that they lay in, so don’t install a water filter.
- Set 3-4 stones and other resting places in the water and a ramp up to the land area of the tank. You can purchase plastic resting decorations and a plastic ramp at any large pet store.
5
Install 3-6 small hiding places for your frog to conceal itself behind. Frogs like hiding places, so set half a dozen small rocks, leaf litter, and logs across the substrate. Purchase objects in a variety of sizes so your frog can hide near those it likes best. For example, choose a 2 in × 4 in (5.1 cm × 10.2 cm) log and a 5 in × 5 in (13 cm × 13 cm) rock.
- These objects will help recreate the frog’s natural habitat and will give it places to sleep, digest its food, and get out of the light if it begins to overheat.
- You can purchase plastic versions of all of these objects at a large pet store. They'll most likely be in the aquarium section.
6
Locate the frog tank in a cool part of your home. Marsh frogs can tolerate a range of temperatures and, in most cases, don’t need to be heated. The temperature in the tank should not drop below 46 °F (8 °C) and not go above 77 °F (25 °C). Ideally, the temperature in the tank should hover around 59–68 °F (15–20 °C).^{[6]XResearch source}
- If the temperature in the tank slips below 46 °F (8 °C) in the winter, clip a heat lamp on to the side of the tank. Direct the heat towards a patch of substrate so the frog can lie there and warm up.
- It's unlikely that the water will reach a temperature that's too high or too low for the frogs, even when the tank is heated. However, to avoid the risk of overheating, don't set the tank in an area that receives direct sunlight for more than 1-2 hours.
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Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Maintaining the Frog Tank

1
Light the frog tank for at least 6–8 hours a day. When setting up the tank, purchase a fluorescent light that either clips on to the top of the tank or rests over the enclosure as part of an add-on roof. Keep the fluorescent light on for at least 6–8 hours of the day. If you’d rather not have to remember to regularly turn the light on and off, purchase a timer and set it so that the light is on during regular daylight hours.^{[7]XResearch source}
- Unlike various other types of frogs and amphibians kept in captivity, striped marsh frogs do not need special UV lighting.
2
Rinse the substrate 2-3 times per week to keep it clean and moist. If the substrate is left for too long, unhealthy bacteria will build up. To keep the substrate clean, pour 1 litre (0.26 US gal) of water over it 2-3 times a week. You don't need to remove the substrate from the tank in order to do this, since the water will drain through the substrate.^{[8]XResearch source}
- If you maintain the substrate, you won’t need to replace it more than 2 times a year. Plan to change the substrate, for example, once in spring and once in fall, even if you don't note any visual differences at these times.
3
Spray the plants and substrate with water 3–4 times weekly. In order to keep the humidity high in the frog’s tank and to prevent the soil from drying out, spray water over the interior of the tank using an ordinary spray bottle.^{[9]XResearch source} Spritz the substrate and plants half a dozen times with dechlorinated water, but avoid spraying water directly onto the frog.
- Also take the time to spray the substrate in your tank each time that you change out the water.
4
Clean the tank twice each month with warm tap water. Remove all of the items from your frog’s tank—including any plastic plants and objects, stones, etc.—and run them under warm tap water. Scrub the items with a sponge to remove bacteria and residue. Then use the same sponge to wipe down the inner walls of the frog’s tank. Avoid using cleaning products—even mild ones—as they can irritate the frog’s sensitive skin.^{[10]XResearch source}
- If you’re concerned that your frog may try to escape as you clean its tank, place it into a smaller backup tank (without substrate and water). The frog will be fine in this tank during the 20-30 minutes it'll take you to clean the main tank.
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Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Feeding Marsh Frogs

1
Dust insects with a vitamin mixture before feeding your frog. When kept in captivity, frogs aren’t able to produce calcium and other healthy compounds on their own. So, before feeding your frog each day, place 5–10 insects in a plastic bag. Dump in 1 small spoonful each of multivitamin powder and calcium powder. Then, shake the bag for 30 seconds until the insects are fully coated.^{[11]XResearch source}
- Purchase live insects, calcium powder, and multivitamin powder at a local pet store. Most pet stores sell mixtures of vitamins that have been specifically designed to provide the nutrients that frogs need, since their dietary needs may be different than those of reptiles and other amphibians.
- If you’d rather not dust the insects yourself, most pet stores will have a bin of live insects that have already been dusted with a powder containing calcium and other vitamins and nutrients.
2
Keep food constantly available for juvenile marsh frogs. Juvenile marsh frogs eat frequently and have large appetites since their bodies are still growing. So, keep insects constantly available for a juvenile frog to eat. Check the tank 4–5 times daily to make sure that there are insects inside from the previous feeding and, if there are not, deposit 6-7 insects on the substrate. Suitable foods for young frogs include small insects like crickets, house flies, and fruit flies.^{[12]XResearch source}
- Marsh frogs are considered juvenile until they reach sexual maturity at 5 months of age.
- Make sure to always dust the insects with calcium and vitamin powders before feeding your juvenile frogs!
3
Feed a mature marsh frog insects 2 or 3 times a week. Frogs older than 5 months will eat large meals every 3 or 4 days. So, each time you feed your marsh frog, give it 12-15 insects and adjust the amount you feed once you get a sense of the frog’s appetite. Do this 2–3 times a week. Older frogs have a habit of eating anything they can fit in their mouths, so you can give them fairly large insects (e.g., grasshoppers or cockroaches) to eat.^{[13]XResearch source}
- You can purchase live insects and other frog-friendly foods at a local pet store.
- At the end of each day, remember to remove all dead food from the tank! Otherwise, it will begin to decay or may attract unwanted insects.
4
Use a pair of tweezers to feed insects to a mature frog. To feed a mature marsh frog, pick up each individual insect with a pair of tweezers. Take the top off of the frog enclosure, and lower the insect towards the waiting frog. Try placing each insect directly into the frog’s mouth or onto the ground 1–2 inches (2.5–5.1 cm) away.^{[14]XResearch source} Since they’ll be preoccupied with eating the insects, your marsh frogs shouldn’t try to escape the tank while you’re feeding them.
- You can try to feed your juvenile frogs in the same way. However, since they need a constant food supply, it may be more practical to deposit 6-7 insects in the tank all at once.
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What can I feed new tadpoles in my freshly cleaned pond?
Community Answer
Give them a small diet of blood worms, spinach and fish flakes.
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Can I feed it aquatic frog pellets?
Cathrin Mahaffey
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If it eats them, yes. If not, no. It really is that simple. Frogs have different preferences, so it is trial and error to some extent.
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Do striped marsh frogs carry salmonella? If so, how will this affect me as their owner?
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Yes, they do. If you wash your hands before and after touching your frogs, then it won't be a problem.
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Things You'll Need

30 × 12 × 12 in (76 × 30 × 30 cm) glass aquarium tank
well-draining substrate
3-4 humidity-tolerant plants
dechlorinated water
small rocks
leaf litter
small logs
fluorescent light
plastic spray bottle
sponge
vitamin mixture
insects

Tips

Always purchase your marsh frog from a reputable breeder. Do not collect your frog from the wild.
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Warnings

Don’t feed your frog strips of bacon or other protein-rich meat. This practice is harmful to the frog’s digestive system and can cause kidney damage and other health problems.^{[15]XResearch source}
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Striped marsh frogs may be illegal where you live if you're in a region that's part of the species' native habitat. Check up on your local and state laws to see what species you are allowed to keep! In some cases, you may be able to keep an otherwise-prohibited species of frog if you obtain a license.^{[16]XResearch source}
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