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AmphibianFreshwaterSemi-aquaticIntermediate
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American bullfrog
Lithobates catesbeianus
A very large, hardy North American frog, known for its extreme voracity, territorial behavior, and deep bellowing call.
Class:Amphibia
Order:Anura
Family:Ranidae
Genus:Lithobates
Species:Lithobates catesbeianus
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Water Temperature
15 - 28 °C
pH Value
6.5 - 7.8
Environment
Freshwater / Semi-aquatic
Humidity
60 - 80 %
Day temperature
26 °C
Night temperature
20 °C
Ambient temperature
26 °C
Brumation temperature
4 - 8 °C
Minimum enclosure
>= 45 L
UVB
Medium
Species description
Geographical Origin and Habitat: The American bullfrog (Lithobates catesbeianus) is native to eastern North America, from southern Canada down through the eastern and central United States to the Gulf Coast. However, due to aquaculture escapes and intentional releases, it has become a highly successful invasive species globally, establishing breeding populations in Europe, Asia, and South America. It prefers large, permanent, warm bodies of water such as lakes, marshes, and slow-moving rivers with rich shoreline vegetation.
Taxonomy and Genetics: Belongs to the family Ranidae. Long known under the scientific name Rana catesbeiana, modern taxonomy places it in the genus Lithobates. It possesses a highly adaptable genetic structure and a resilient immune system, allowing it to act as a healthy carrier of deadly pathogens like the chytrid fungus (Bd), which devastates native amphibian populations.
Behavior and Habits: Diurnal and nocturnal, spending most of its life in or near water. They are typically found floating among aquatic plants or sitting on muddy banks. Males are highly territorial and aggressive, using physical wrestling and a deep, resonant, bull-like bellowing call ('jug-o-rum') to defend their territory. They are voracious predators.
Morphology: This is one of the largest frog species in the world, with adults reaching body lengths up to 20 cm and weights exceeding 600 grams. The skin is smooth, green to olive-brown with dark mottled patterns. They lack dorsolateral folds along the sides of the back. The tympanum (ear drum) is large; in males, it is noticeably larger than the eye, whereas in females, it is about the same size.
Care, breeding and tankmates
Terrarium Setup: Requires a very large paludarium of at least 150x60x60 cm for a single adult. The enclosure should feature a deep aquatic zone (20-30 cm deep) occupying 60% of the space, and a solid land area with smooth river rocks and large logs. Install a heavy-duty canister filter, as their waste production is substantial.
Lighting and Heating: Maintain ambient and water temperatures between 18 °C and 24 °C. Avoid high temperatures, as they prefer temperate conditions. Provide a basking spot of 28 °C on the land side. A 5.0% UVB lamp is required for 10-12 hours daily to support calcium metabolism and prevent skeletal deformities.
Humidity and Hydration: Keep relative humidity at 70-80% through daily misting. Pristine water quality is essential; perform 30-50% water changes twice a week using dechlorinated water. Keep pH neutral to slightly alkaline (7.0-7.8). Stagnant water will quickly cause skin infections.
Feeding and Supplementation: Carnivorous and highly opportunistic. They will consume anything they can fit into their mouths, including large crickets, roaches, earthworms, freshwater fish, and occasional pinky mice. Dust prey items with calcium and vitamin D3 twice a week for adults and at every feeding for growing juveniles.
Compatibility: Must be housed individually. Bullfrogs are highly cannibalistic and solitary. They will eat smaller conspecifics, other frog species, and any fish housed with them. Co-habitation with other animals is not possible.
Health and Common Diseases: Prone to red-leg disease (bacterial septicemia) if water quality is poor. Nutritional metabolic bone disease (MBD) occurs if calcium supplementation is neglected. Ensure the paludarium is well-ventilated with screen panels to prevent stagnant, humid air which breeds bacteria.
Geographic Origin and Distribution
The American bullfrog (Lithobates catesbeianus) is native to eastern North America, from southern Canada down through the eastern and central United States to the Gulf Coast. However, due to aquaculture escapes and intentional releases, it has become a highly successful invasive species globally, establishing breeding populations in Europe, Asia, and South America. It prefers large, permanent, warm bodies of water such as lakes, marshes, and slow-moving rivers with rich shoreline vegetation.
Origin
Cosmopolitan or introducedExtra-Amazon South AmericaCentral America and CaribbeanNorth AmericaEurope, Mediterranean, and West Asia
Amphibian profile
- Diet
- No verified data available
- Life expectancy
- No verified data available
- Adult size
- 20.3 cm
- Lifestyle/Microhabitat
- No verified data available
- Activity cycle
- No verified data available
- Sociality
- No verified data available
- Reproduction
- No verified data available
- Toxicity
- No verified data available
- Life stage
- No verified data available
- Handling tolerance
- No verified data available
- Brumation
- No verified data available
- Molting
- No verified data available
The catalog's scalar value is 20.3 cm. The AmphiBIO v1 source reports a maximum adult measurement of 20.3 cm for this species, recorded as snout–vent length (SVL). These figures are not interchangeable: the first is the profile's editorial reference, whereas the second is a published maximum under a specific measurement convention; differences among sources can reflect sex, population, life stage and measuring method.
Image gallery
Licensed images linked to the species or, when marked, to the closest representative taxon.
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