Product Details

Platinum African Dwarf Frog – Hymenochirus boettgeri

The Platinum African Dwarf Frog is a pale captive-bred form of the popular African Dwarf Frog, with a soft ivory, cream or platinum body colour and peaceful fully aquatic behaviour. Correctly listed as Hymenochirus boettgeri, this small amphibian lives underwater but must still come to the surface to breathe air. It is fascinating in a calm aquarium, but it needs gentle tank mates, safe décor, stable water and targeted feeding rather than being treated like a standard community fish.

Key Identification:

Common Name: Platinum African Dwarf Frog
Other Names: Platinum Dwarf African Frog, African Dwarf Frog, Dwarf Clawed Frog, Zaire Dwarf Clawed Frog, Congo Dwarf Clawed Frog
Scientific Name: Hymenochirus boettgeri
Colour Form: Platinum / pale captive-bred strain
Animal Type: Fully aquatic amphibian
Water Type: Freshwater

Natural Range & Habitat:

Hymenochirus boettgeri is native to central Africa, where African Dwarf Frogs occur in slow-moving or still freshwater habitats. These include creeks, ponds, shallow rivers, streams and flooded forest areas during the rainy season.

The Platinum form is a captive-bred colour strain rather than a wild colour form. In the aquarium, it should be kept in a mature, fully aquatic setup with gentle filtration, soft or smooth substrate, plants, caves, leaf cover and shaded resting areas. It does not need land, but it must always have clear access to the water surface.

Appearance & Adult Size:

Platinum African Dwarf Frogs have a small flattened body, delicate limbs, webbed feet and a pale cream, ivory, pinkish-white or platinum body colour. Their light colour makes them stand out well against darker substrate and planted backgrounds.

Adults usually reach around 3–4 cm in body length. They are much smaller and more delicate than African Clawed Frogs, which are sometimes confused with them but grow far larger and are much more predatory.

Aquarium Suitability:

This species is best suited to peaceful tropical aquariums, species-only frog setups or calm community tanks with gentle fish that will not harass or outcompete them. They are slow feeders, so care must be taken to ensure each frog receives food.

Platinum African Dwarf Frogs are not suitable for aggressive communities, predator tanks, fast boisterous fish setups, strong-flow aquariums, sharp gravel tanks or very deep aquariums where they struggle to reach the surface easily.

Recommended Aquarium Size:

A practical minimum is 40 litres for a small group, with 60 litres or more preferred for a stable community setup. Shallow to medium-depth aquariums are better than very tall tanks, as the frogs need to swim to the surface to breathe.

Keep singly, in pairs or in small groups. Groups of 2–5 work well in suitable aquariums, provided each frog can feed properly and has access to hiding places.

Water Conditions:

Temperature: 22–26°C
pH: 6.5–7.8
Hardness: Soft to moderately hard
Additional Notes: Use dechlorinated, filtered water and keep conditions stable. Avoid strong current, sudden temperature swings, high nitrate and poor water quality. African Dwarf Frogs have sensitive skin and should not be exposed to copper-based or harsh medications unless confirmed amphibian-safe.

Temperament & Tank Mates:

Aquarium Category: Community Fish

Platinum African Dwarf Frogs are peaceful and slow-moving. Suitable tank mates include small peaceful tetras, rasboras, endlers with care, small livebearers in compatible water, Otocinclus and other calm fish that will not nip, bully or steal all food.

Avoid large fish, aggressive cichlids, fin-nipping barbs, goldfish, crayfish, large shrimp, predatory catfish and any fish big enough to swallow the frog. Very fast feeders can also be a problem, as the frogs may miss out on food.

Feeding:

Platinum African Dwarf Frogs are carnivorous and need small sinking foods. Offer frozen or live bloodworm, daphnia, brineshrimp, mysis, mosquito larvae, blackworm and specialist aquatic frog foods. Some individuals will accept sinking carnivore pellets or soft prepared foods.

They often feed by smell rather than by fast visual hunting, so target feeding with tongs, a pipette or feeding dish can be useful. Do not rely on leftover fish food. Remove uneaten meaty foods promptly to avoid polluting the water.

Behaviour in the Aquarium:

This species spends much of its time resting on plants, sitting among décor or searching the substrate for food. It may float motionless near the surface or dart upwards quickly to breathe, which is normal behaviour.

African Dwarf Frogs are fully aquatic and do not need a land area. Males may make a quiet buzzing or singing sound underwater, and breeding behaviour can include amplexus, where the male clasps the female.

Care Notes:

Use a secure lid with all gaps covered, as African Dwarf Frogs can escape from aquariums. Keep the water depth manageable and provide resting points near the surface, such as broad leaves or smooth décor. Avoid sharp ornaments, rough gravel and exposed filter intakes that could trap delicate limbs.

Platinum frogs can show marks or stress more clearly because of their pale colour, so calm tank mates and smooth décor are especially important. Never release unwanted frogs into ponds, streams, rivers or wild waterways.

Recommended For:

Beginner to intermediate

Availability:

Common to occasional / Captive-bred colour form

Image Disclaimer:

All images are a visual representation of the frog you will receive, made to be as accurate as possible. Natural variation in size, platinum body colour, eye tone, skin texture, sex, age and markings can occur between individual frogs.