Lepidobatrachus laevis

Alternative Names

 * Budgett's frog, ,

Origin

 * Budgett's frog is a large Leptodactylid found in Argentina, Bolivia and Paraguay.

Sexing

 * Mature males have a dark blue/black throat. It is is easy to breed in captivity.

Breeding

 * The procedure for breeding this species is to first replace its pool of water with dry sand, into which it will burrow, forming a cocoon. After two and a half months, the sand should be heavily saturated with water to awaken the estivating frogs. Amplexus occurs at shallow water accompanied by the deposit of as many as 2000 eggs, which attach to aquatic plants. The eggs should be transferred to a large aquarium filled with warm water and numerous aquatic plants.

Tank Compatibility

 * Must be kept in a species tank with part water/part land.

Diet

 * Should be fed a meaty diet of mealworms, earthworms, waxworms and other insects, it's best these are dusted with calcium and vitamin supplements two to three times a week.

Feeding Regime

 * Juveniles should be fed daily, adults can be fed every three to four days.

Environment Specifics

 * Provide this frog with a spacious tank with seasonally-changing decor. All water must be well filtered and kept clean. From March to September they are primarily aquatic and need water and land which slopes into the water, the depth ranging from 2" to 12". In October to March they will become primarily terrestrial and need deep soft dry substrate to burrow in.

Behaviour

 * A large heavy and aggressive frog.

Identification

 * This frog is almost cartoonist in appearance, with a fat, fleshy body which is olive-green in colour, and a wide mouth.