Aquariumfrog · freshwater
African Dwarf Frog: adult size, tank size & tankmates
The African Dwarf Frog (Hymenochirus boettgeri) grows to about 1.4 in (3.5 cm SL). It needs a tank at least about 10 gallons. Keep at least 2 together, at 74–77°F.
How big it really gets
Drawn to scale against common tank lengths. Green bars meet the minimum tank length from our sources.
Will it fit your tank?
Quick facts
- Adult size
- 1.4 in (3.5 cm SL)
- Minimum tank
- about 10 gallons
- Temperature
- 74–77°F
- pH
- 6.6–7.4
- Hardness
- not stated
- Group size
- 2+
- With other fish
- peaceful
- With its own kind
- peaceful
- Swims
- bottom of the tank
- Diet
- carnivore
- Care level
- intermediate
- Lifespan
- 5 years
Watch for: may eat baby shrimp · jumps, so keep a lid
African Dwarf Frog tankmates
Checked with the same rules as our tank builder: temperature overlap, pH and hardness, predation and mouth size, fin-nipping and temperament. Tank size is left out here; check it in the builder.
Good tankmates
- Neon TetraAdult ~1.4 in · 70–77°F
- Cardinal TetraAdult ~1.7 in · 73–84°F
- Harlequin RasboraAdult ~2.1 in · 70–82°F
- Ember TetraAdult ~0.9 in · 68–82°F
- Chili RasboraAdult ~0.9 in · 68–82°F
- Celestial Pearl DanioAdult ~1 in · 68–79°F
- Cherry BarbAdult ~2.4 in · 68–81°F
- Rummy-nose TetraAdult ~2.4 in · 73–79°F
- Black Neon TetraAdult ~1.7 in · 73–82°F
- Glowlight TetraAdult ~1.9 in · 75–82°F
Use caution
- Dwarf GouramiNeeds careDwarf Gourami can bully smaller, peaceful African Dwarf Frog.
- BettaNeeds careBetta can bully smaller, peaceful African Dwarf Frog.
- Cherry ShrimpAfrican Dwarf Frog may eat baby Cherry Shrimp. Adults are usually safe, but expect fewer shrimplets.
- Amano ShrimpAfrican Dwarf Frog may eat baby Amano Shrimp. Adults are usually safe, but expect fewer shrimplets.
- Nerite SnailAfrican Dwarf Frog (pH 6.6–7.4) and Nerite Snail (pH 8–8.4) prefer different pH.
- Mystery SnailAfrican Dwarf Frog (pH 6.6–7.4) and Mystery Snail (pH unknown) prefer different pH.
- Tiger BarbNeeds careTiger Barb can bully smaller, peaceful African Dwarf Frog.
- Assassin SnailAfrican Dwarf Frog (pH 6.6–7.4) and Assassin Snail (pH 7.5–8) prefer different pH.
Avoid
- German Blue RamNeeds careAfrican Dwarf Frog (74–77°F) and German Blue Ram (81–86°F) need different temperatures.
- AngelfishNeeds careAngelfish eats small fish, and African Dwarf Frog only grows to about 1.4 in.
- White Cloud Mountain MinnowNeeds careAfrican Dwarf Frog (74–77°F) and White Cloud Mountain Minnow (57–72°F) need different temperatures.
- Boesemani RainbowfishAfrican Dwarf Frog (74–77°F) and Boesemani Rainbowfish (81–86°F) need different temperatures.
- Bala SharkOutgrows tanksBala Shark eats small fish, and African Dwarf Frog only grows to about 1.4 in.
- Blood Parrot CichlidOutgrows tanksAfrican Dwarf Frog and Blood Parrot Cichlid only share 76–77°F. That's a tight window.
- Chinese Algae EaterOutgrows tanksChinese Algae Eater grows 10× longer than African Dwarf Frog and may treat it as food.
- Common / Comet GoldfishOutgrows tanksAfrican Dwarf Frog and Common / Comet Goldfish only share 74–75°F. That's a tight window.
All 105 species we checked against the African Dwarf Frog
| Species | Verdict | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Black Neon Tetra | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Bleeding Heart Tetra | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Bolivian Ram | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Bristlenose Pleco | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Bronze Cory | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Bumblebee Goby | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Cardinal Tetra | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Celestial Pearl Danio | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Cherry Barb | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Chili Rasbora | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Clown Killifish | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Clown Loach | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Clown Pleco | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Common Pleco | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Congo Tetra | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Denison Barb | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Diamond Tetra | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Dwarf Neon Rainbowfish | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Ember Tetra | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Endler's Livebearer | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Forktail Blue-eye | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Giant Danio | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Glass Catfish | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Glowlight Tetra | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Guppy | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Harlequin Rasbora | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Head-and-tail-light Tetra | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Honey Gourami | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Japanese Trapdoor Snail | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Julii Cory | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Kribensis | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Kuhli Loach | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Lambchop Rasbora | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Lemon Tetra | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Malaysian Trumpet Snail | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Marbled Hatchetfish | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Molly | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Neon Tetra | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Odessa Barb | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Otocinclus | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Panda Cory | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Pea Puffer | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Pearl Danio | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Pearl Gourami | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Penguin Tetra | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Peppered Cory | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Platy | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Pristella Tetra | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Pygmy Cory | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Ramshorn Snail | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Rummy-nose Tetra | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Scissortail Rasbora | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Serpae Tetra | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Siamese Algae Eater | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Silver Hatchetfish | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Silver Tip Tetra | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Sparkling Gourami | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Sterbai Cory | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Swordtail | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Upside-down Catfish | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Variatus Platy | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Zebra Danio | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Amano Shrimp | Caution | African Dwarf Frog may eat baby Amano Shrimp. Adults are usually safe, but expect fewer shrimplets. |
| Assassin Snail | Caution | African Dwarf Frog (pH 6.6–7.4) and Assassin Snail (pH 7.5–8) prefer different pH. |
| Bamboo Shrimp | Caution | African Dwarf Frog may eat baby Bamboo Shrimp. Adults are usually safe, but expect fewer shrimplets. |
| Betta | Caution | Betta can bully smaller, peaceful African Dwarf Frog. |
| Black Skirt Tetra | Caution | Black Skirt Tetra can bully smaller, peaceful African Dwarf Frog. |
| Buenos Aires Tetra | Caution | Buenos Aires Tetra can bully smaller, peaceful African Dwarf Frog. |
| Cherry Shrimp | Caution | African Dwarf Frog may eat baby Cherry Shrimp. Adults are usually safe, but expect fewer shrimplets. |
| Cockatoo Dwarf Cichlid | Caution | African Dwarf Frog (pH 6.6–7.4) and Cockatoo Dwarf Cichlid (pH 5–6) prefer different pH. |
| Crystal Red Shrimp | Caution | African Dwarf Frog may eat baby Crystal Red Shrimp. Adults are usually safe, but expect fewer shrimplets. |
| Dwarf Gourami | Caution | Dwarf Gourami can bully smaller, peaceful African Dwarf Frog. |
| Electric Yellow Lab | Caution | Electric Yellow Lab can bully smaller, peaceful African Dwarf Frog.; African Dwarf Frog (pH 6.6–7.4) and Electric Yellow Lab (pH 7.7–8.6) prefer different pH. |
| Ghost Shrimp | Caution | African Dwarf Frog may eat baby Ghost Shrimp. Adults are usually safe, but expect fewer shrimplets. |
| Gold Barb | Caution | African Dwarf Frog and Gold Barb only share 74–75°F. That's a tight window. |
| Hillstream Loach | Caution | African Dwarf Frog and Hillstream Loach only share 74–75°F. That's a tight window. |
| Kissing Gourami | Caution | Kissing Gourami grows 9× longer than African Dwarf Frog and may treat it as food.; Kissing Gourami can bully smaller, peaceful African Dwarf Frog. |
| Moonlight Gourami | Caution | African Dwarf Frog and Moonlight Gourami only share 77–77°F. That's a tight window. |
| Mystery Snail | Caution | African Dwarf Frog (pH 6.6–7.4) and Mystery Snail (pH unknown) prefer different pH. |
| Nerite Snail | Caution | African Dwarf Frog (pH 6.6–7.4) and Nerite Snail (pH 8–8.4) prefer different pH. |
| Rainbow Shark | Caution | Rainbow Shark grows 5× longer than African Dwarf Frog and may treat it as food.; Rainbow Shark can bully smaller, peaceful African Dwarf Frog. |
| Red-Tail Shark | Caution | Red-Tail Shark grows 4× longer than African Dwarf Frog and may treat it as food.; Red-Tail Shark can bully smaller, peaceful African Dwarf Frog. |
| Rosy Barb | Caution | African Dwarf Frog and Rosy Barb only share 74–75°F. That's a tight window. |
| Three-spot Gourami | Caution | Three-spot Gourami grows 5× longer than African Dwarf Frog and may treat it as food.; Three-spot Gourami can bully smaller, peaceful African Dwarf Frog. |
| Tiger Barb | Caution | Tiger Barb can bully smaller, peaceful African Dwarf Frog. |
| Weather Loach | Caution | African Dwarf Frog and Weather Loach only share 74–74°F. That's a tight window. |
| Yoyo Loach | Caution | Yoyo Loach grows 5× longer than African Dwarf Frog and may treat it as food.; Yoyo Loach can bully smaller, peaceful African Dwarf Frog. |
| Angelfish | Avoid | Angelfish eats small fish, and African Dwarf Frog only grows to about 1.4 in. |
| Bala Shark | Avoid | Bala Shark eats small fish, and African Dwarf Frog only grows to about 1.4 in. |
| Blood Parrot Cichlid | Avoid | African Dwarf Frog and Blood Parrot Cichlid only share 76–77°F. That's a tight window.; Blood Parrot Cichlid eats small fish, and African Dwarf Frog only grows to about 1.4 in. |
| Boesemani Rainbowfish | Avoid | African Dwarf Frog (74–77°F) and Boesemani Rainbowfish (81–86°F) need different temperatures. |
| Chinese Algae Eater | Avoid | Chinese Algae Eater grows 10× longer than African Dwarf Frog and may treat it as food.; Chinese Algae Eater is aggressive toward tankmates. African Dwarf Frog is peaceful. |
| Common / Comet Goldfish | Avoid | African Dwarf Frog and Common / Comet Goldfish only share 74–75°F. That's a tight window.; Common / Comet Goldfish eats small fish, and African Dwarf Frog only grows to about 1.4 in. |
| Convict Cichlid | Avoid | Convict Cichlid eats small fish, and African Dwarf Frog only grows to about 1.4 in.; Convict Cichlid is aggressive toward tankmates. African Dwarf Frog is peaceful. |
| Discus | Avoid | African Dwarf Frog (74–77°F) and Discus (79–86°F) need different temperatures. |
| Electric Blue Acara | Avoid | Electric Blue Acara eats small fish, and African Dwarf Frog only grows to about 1.4 in. |
| Fancy Goldfish | Avoid | African Dwarf Frog (74–77°F) and Fancy Goldfish (50–70°F) need different temperatures.; Fancy Goldfish eats small fish, and African Dwarf Frog only grows to about 1.4 in. |
| Firemouth Cichlid | Avoid | Firemouth Cichlid eats small fish, and African Dwarf Frog only grows to about 1.4 in. |
| German Blue Ram | Avoid | African Dwarf Frog (74–77°F) and German Blue Ram (81–86°F) need different temperatures. |
| Iridescent Shark | Avoid | Iridescent Shark eats small fish, and African Dwarf Frog only grows to about 1.4 in. |
| Oscar | Avoid | Oscar eats small fish, and African Dwarf Frog only grows to about 1.4 in. |
| Paradise Fish | Avoid | African Dwarf Frog (74–77°F) and Paradise Fish (50–72°F) need different temperatures.; Paradise Fish can bully smaller, peaceful African Dwarf Frog. |
| Pictus Catfish | Avoid | Pictus Catfish eats small fish, and African Dwarf Frog only grows to about 1.4 in. |
| Tinfoil Barb | Avoid | Tinfoil Barb eats small fish, and African Dwarf Frog only grows to about 1.4 in. |
| White Cloud Mountain Minnow | Avoid | African Dwarf Frog (74–77°F) and White Cloud Mountain Minnow (57–72°F) need different temperatures. |
Care notes
Needs: Fully aquatic but surfaces to breathe air, so needs easy surface access; slow feeders that lose food to fast or aggressive fish, so target-feed frozen/live meaty foods; tight lid (climbs/escapes); never release (disease risk to native frogs)
Group: Best kept with other dwarf frogs (PetSmart: 2 or more); not territorial; add volume per extra frog; may compete for food
Temperament: peaceful toward other fish, peaceful toward its own kind. Lives in the bottom of the tank.
Common questions
How big does a African Dwarf Frog get?
About 1.4 inches (3.5 cm SL) as an adult, according to amphibiaweb.org.
What size tank does a African Dwarf Frog need?
At least about 10 gallons. The smallest standard tank that meets that is a 10 gallon.
How many African Dwarf Frogs should be kept together?
At least 2. Best kept with other dwarf frogs (PetSmart: 2 or more); not territorial; add volume per extra frog; may compete for food
What fish can live with a African Dwarf Frog?
Species that passed every check include Neon Tetra, Cardinal Tetra, Harlequin Rasbora, Ember Tetra, Chili Rasbora, Celestial Pearl Danio.
Gear for a African Dwarf Frog setup
TankSmallest standard tank that meets its minimum: 10 gallon (20 in long).Find on Amazon →HeaterAbout 50 W for 10 gallons, holding 74–77°F.Find on Amazon →LidIt jumps. A full lid keeps it in the tank.Find on Amazon →FoodSinking food reaches the bottom before tankmates grab it.Find on Amazon →Test kitCheck ammonia, nitrite and pH. Cycle the tank before adding fish.Find on Amazon →
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Related guides
Sources
Values come from these pages, in our own words. Status: verified-practical. Last reviewed 2026-10-12.
- amphibiaweb.org /species/5238
- protocols.io /view/housing-and-care-for-hymenochirus-boettgeri-c5bvy2n6.html
- petsmart.com /learning-center/fish-care/African-dwarf-frog-care-guide
- fishkeepingworld.com /african-dwarf-frog/
- azeah.com /node/123
- vetverified.com /articles/a-comprehensive-guide-to-african-dwarf-frogs