Can Pacman Frogs Swim? 4 Facts to Consider

Pacman frogs are good at hiding and lashing out for their prey. They are also pretty good at being mostly inactive throughout the day. However, they are not very good at swimming. When they get in water, they can manage to keep their head above it for a while.

Pacman frogs are mostly flailing with their legs which demonstrates pretty well that they are not well-developed for swimming. While it is recommended to have some standing water in the tank, it should not be deeper than a few inches.

Keep in mind that Pacman frogs can even drown if the water is too deep. If you are not familiar with their relationship with water, then keep on reading. We are going to answer the most important questions when it comes to Pacman frogs interacting with water.

Do Pacman Frogs Like Being Wet?

All Pacman frogs love to spend time in wet environments with humid air. Wet substrate and damp leaf litter are two of their favorites to cover themselves with. They sometimes even go in the water but it has to be shallow.

Adding some shallow water to the tank is a great idea because that is basically how they hydrate themselves. They basically just stand in the water and soak it, absorbing the amount of moisture they need. You can put a shallow bowl in the terrarium that is shaped in a way so that your pet can easily get in.

Keep in mind that there should not be any chlorine in the water because it can be harmful for them to soak it. With Pacman frogs, pretty much everything has to be wet in the tank. With some misting, you can ensure that the substrate is wet too.

Can Pacman Frogs Drown?

Since swimming is not one of their strongest skills, Pacman frogs can easily drown if the water is too deep. This is why it is recommended to let them soak in water that does not cover them to face height. The maximum water depth is about 5 inches for Pacman frogs.

Unfortunately, it is a common misconception that Pacmans are aquatic frogs. They are the type of frogs that you can’t keep only in water. Every species that falls under the Ceratophrys family is strictly terrestrial and will spend most of its time sitting on the substrate.

In fact, you don’t even have to put a water bowl in the tank. Wet substrate is good enough if you do your best at misting it every day. If it is wet enough, they can soak enough water from the substrate while standing in one place.

For How Long Can Pacman Frog be Under Water?

Since Pacman frogs are terrestrial, they need to breathe in fresh air just like us. They can drown in a few minutes if they can’t get out of the water they got themselves in. With their swimming ability, they simply can’t manage to keep their head above the water for long.

Their legs need to touch the ground while they are in water so that there is no need to swim. It can’t even be called swimming, as they are mostly just flailing with their legs, barely managing to float in the water. But if the water doesn’t go past the frog’s chin, there is nothing to worry about.

Pacman frogs can stand in water like that for a long time without anything bad happening. Besides, it is an easy way for them to get hydrated.

Does a Pacman Frog Swim on Its Back?

Pacman frogs do not know how to intentionally swim upside down. If you notice that your frog is swimming upside down, then something is not right. Pacman frogs won’t swim upside down unless they are suffering. More likely than not, it is a sign of a serious health problem.

It is also called as flipping and usually happens when your Pacman frog is stressed. This can also be a sign that the temperature is not right. During the day, the temperature has to be between 80-85 degrees Fahrenheit for adults and 75-80 during the night.

Stress in amphibians can lead to serious health problems that can be lethal.

Wrapping Up

As you can see, Pacman frogs are not good swimmers at all. This is why it is important to learn more about them so that you know what to avoid. With these pets, only shallow water is acceptable. Pacman frogs need to be able to comfortably stand in water.

When they go into the water, they do so because they want to hydrate. They don’t do it because they feel like swimming. In fact, you can set up a Pacman frog tank without even adding water to it. You just need to make sure the substrate is damp enough at all times.