a dwarf African frog site

Since the vast majority of our visitors at this site are from the U.S., all the references to water volume are made in gallons, and the water temperatures are given in Fahrenheit.  To convert these to liters/centigrade, please see this link.

I've noted that at least twice a year, the subject of the biOrb (click on this link) comes up on the Dwarf African Frogs email list.  I have experience with keeping frogs in this tank, so I can give some advice.

First, let's deal with the three sizes of biOrbs:

4 gallon -- You can keep two DAFs in a cycled biOrb of this size (see the aquarium cycling page for a definition of a cycled aquarium).

8 gallon (the original biOrb) -- You can keep up to four DAFs in a cycled biOrb of this size.

16 gallon -- You can keep up to eight DAFs in a cycled biOrb of this size.

I'm sure that the biUbe 9 gallon is also a good home for DAFs, since it works the same way as the round tanks.  I'd keep up to four DAFs in this tank.  The biOrb Life tanks -- 8 gallons (four frogs), 12 gallons (six frogs), and 16 gallons (eight frogs) -- also seem like they would be good homes for DAFs; these operate on the same principle as the original biOrb as well.

Do not keep goldfish with your frogs; in fact, if you have DAFs in a biOrb, the best bet is to keep them alone, with no fish at all in the tank.  There's just not enough room for all the creatures, especially because the bottom of the tank, where the frogs reside, is very small and crowded as it is -- which may result in the frogs swimming around more often than they would normally.  If you really need to have something swimming in the water column all the time, though, stick with having a few neons.

Try to find a medium-sized, flat stone to serve your frogs' food on, or else use the filter cover.   Some frogs can be trained to eat from the surface of the water, but don't count on this.

I suggest not using the substrate enclosed with the tank kit.  I did use it successfully with my frogs, but it has been pointed out to me that the biOrb substrate has some sharp edges that can harm frogs.  Instead, I'd like to see you use smooth, medium sized aquarium pebbles (yes, these will host beneficial bacteria -- don't worry about those dire warnings in the biOrb owner's manual).  Don't use sand or regular gravel -- it's too small and will mess up the filter.  Any substrate used in a biOrb must be medium to (fairly) large in size and have lots of spaces between the pieces of substrate to allow water and waste to flow through.

Do take your frogs out of the biOrb before you change the filter media.  The reason for this is that the filter is on the bottom of the tank, and cleaning it makes a mess of the water.  Because the water will be murky, you won't be able to see if you're about to crush a frog while putting the filter back in.

You need only change the filter media 3 to 4 times a year, unless something has gone very wrong in the tank (such as illness).

Do not set up your biOrb near a window, or against any wall that receives sunlight.  This is crucial with all aquariums, but particularly with the biOrb since its shape concentrates light and may even cause a fire if the concentrated sunbeam is directed at something flammable.  Besides, sunlight causes algae growth, and that's particularly hard to get rid of in a biOrb (the manufacturer of this tank does make a filter medium that destroys algae, however, and this is safe to use with DAFs; it's also quite effective).  During the summer or in warm-weather areas, sunlight can also cause the water temperature in a biOrb to rise uncontrollably.

You can grow the following plants in the biOrb -- but only under the standard halogen lighting; nothing will grow under the LED lighting -- java fern, anubias nana, freshwater seaweed, java moss.  If you have LED lighting, use only plastic plants.

Do purchase a screen cap for the bubble tube.  I had a frog somehow get stuck in the bottom of the tube once!  The screen will prevent this from happening.  The manufacturer of this tank makes this screen, and it is inexpensive.

This page is a rough draft; I'll be adding more thoughts when they occur.  Enjoy your biOrb as a froggie home!  I'm now experimenting with using a marine biOrb as a home for dwarf seahorses; you can read about that here.