Meet the Strawberry Pineapple Pacman Frog!

What is a Strawberry Pineapple Pacman Frog?

The Strawberry Pineapple Pacman frog (Ceratophrys cranwelli) is a “Pacman” frog or South American horned frog from the Ceratophryidae family. This Pacman has the additional name “strawberry pineapple” due to its unique morph color. Strawberry Pineapple Pacman’s have varying shades of yellow, orange, and red color, with a creamy white belly and orange to red spots. The number of spots and intensity of the color can vary quite a bit. They are also known to have “albino” features, thus they have bright red eyes.

 

Pacman Frogs are nocturnal and usually sleep or rest with their eyelids open. When they find themselves in extremely hot temperatures, they will enter a period of estivation (go dormant) and develop a thick layer of protective skin to trap moisture and aid in respiration. When estivation is complete, this Pacman uses its front and hind legs to help shed the protective layer. In many cases, the frog uses its jaws to help pull the skin over its back, often eating its own skin in the process.

 

Did You Know? Because of their large, round-shaped mouths, these horned frogs earned the name “Pacman” due to their similar appearance to the Pac-Man character in the video game!

How Big Do Strawberry Pacman Frogs Get?

Adult Pacman frogs grow anywhere in the range of 3 to 5 inches in length and can weigh up to 1 pound. Males tend to be a little smaller than females.

What Do Strawberry Pacman Frogs Eat? 

Pacman frogs are carnivorous, so they love their meat! They’ll typically dine on anything from insects, spiders, crickets, roaches, and other smaller frogs. They are capable of eating animals almost half their size, however, due to a row of teeth along their upper jaw, they are unable to release prey from their mouth causing them to potentially die by choking.

How Long Do Strawberry Pacman Frogs Live? 

Pacman frogs can survive in the wild for between 1 to 4 years, though with proper care and diet, they can live up to 6 to 10 years in captivity.

Where Do Strawberry Pacman Frogs Live?

The Pacman Frog is native to its namesake, South America. They are endemic to some dry regions in Argentina, Bolivia, Paraguay, and Brazil. Strawberry Pacman frogs are terrestrial frogs, so they live their lives on the ground versus in trees or in the water. They spend most of their days burrowed in leaf piles and under rocks. 

Colors of Pacman Frogs:

The Strawberry Pineapple Pacman frog is just one of many different colors or “morphs” of the horned Pacman. Here are just a few others:

• Green Pacman Frog
• Albino Pacman Frog
• Chocolate Mint Pacman Frog
• Samurai Blue Line Ornate Pacman Frog
• High Red Ornate Pacman Frog
• Purple Pacman Frog

Where Can I Buy A Strawberry Pacman Frog?

Pacman frogs are very common and popular in the pet trade world. Generally speaking, you can purchase a Pacman frog for anywhere between $15-$30 dollars, depending on the color or morph. If you decided to have a Strawberry Pacman frog as a pet, it will take a bit of financial investment. It's essential to provide them with a terrarium that replicates their natural habitat.  The terrarium should have a layer of soil for the frog to burrow in and plenty of hiding places. A water dish is also essential, as these frogs will drink from it and may even soak in it from time to time.

 

While Pacman frogs can make for easy pet care, they should not be handled very often unless absolutely necessary. Touching and holding them is bad for the frog's sensitive skin and they may try to bite one of your fingers, as a method of self-defense if they feel threatened. Make sure to create a proper and consistent routine for feeding and caring for them. 

 

Check out this YouTube video featuring a Strawberry Pacman Frog!