Encyclopaedia
AmphibianTerrestrialAdvanced
©AI Generated·Proprietary
Red-banded Rubber Frog
Phrynomantis bifasciatus
The Banded Rubber Frog is a beautiful African terrestrial species distinguished by glossy black skin and vivid pinkish-red stripes. Instead of hopping, it prefers a deliberate walking and crawling gait.
Class:Amphibia
Order:Anura
Family:Microhylidae
Subfamily:Phrynomerinae
Genus:Phrynomantis
Species:Phrynomantis bifasciatus
Share
Check out Red-banded Rubber Frog on Atlarium
Environment
Terrestrial
Humidity
50 - 70 %
Day temperature
25 - 28 °C
Night temperature
21 °C
Ambient temperature
25 - 28 °C
Minimum enclosure
>= 45 L
UVB
Low
Species description
Geographical Origin and Habitat: Widely distributed across eastern and southern Africa. They inhabit dry savannas, grasslands, and rocky shrublands, sheltering in termite mounds, rock crevices, or hollow logs to survive dry periods.
Taxonomy and Genetics: Belonging to the family Microhylidae. Commonly known as the Banded Rubber Frog or Red-banded Rubber Frog. Its skin secretions contain highly irritating chemicals as a chemical defense mechanism.
Behavior and Habits: Strictly nocturnal and terrestrial. They rarely hop; instead, they crawl or walk with slow, deliberate steps. They are proficient burrowers, spending the day hidden in damp substrate.
Morphology: Reaches 5–6.5 cm in length. Females are larger and heavier than males. Males are identified by a dark, wrinkled throat area (vocal sac) and territorial calling.
Care, breeding and tankmates
Terrarium Setup: A horizontal terrarium (minimum 60x45x30 cm) is suitable. Provide a deep, damp burrowing substrate (8–10 cm) of coco fiber and soil. Furnish with flat cork bark hides, smooth rocks, and a shallow water bowl.
Lighting and Heating: Keep daytime temperatures at 25–28°C, dropping to 20–22°C at night. Provide gentle, indirect lighting. A low-output (2%) UVB source can be beneficial.
Humidity and Hydration: Maintain moderate humidity between 60% and 80%. Mist the enclosure daily with dechlorinated water to keep the substrate damp but not soggy. Keep the water bowl clean.
Feeding and Supplementation: Feed on appropriately sized insects, such as crickets, small roaches, and termites. Dust insects with calcium and vitamin D3 twice a week.
Compatibility: Peaceful with conspecifics. Can be kept in small groups of similarly sized individuals. Never house with other species due to its toxic skin secretions.
Health and Common Diseases: Their skin secretions are toxic to other amphibians and highly irritating to human eyes and mucous membranes. Always wash hands thoroughly after maintenance and wear gloves when handling.
Geographic Origin and Distribution
Widely distributed across eastern and southern Africa. They inhabit dry savannas, grasslands, and rocky shrublands, sheltering in termite mounds, rock crevices, or hollow logs to survive dry periods.
Origin
Africa and MadagascarEurope, Mediterranean, and West Asia
Amphibian profile
- Diet
- No verified data available
- Life expectancy
- No verified data available
- Adult size
- 7.5 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 7.5 cm. The AmphiBIO v1 source reports a maximum adult measurement of 7.5 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.
Related species
Recommendations grouped by close relatives, companion choices, and similar care.
