Tank-Raised African Clawed Frog (Xenopus laevis)

Xenopus laevis has no tongue and no real teeth, so it tears prey apart using the claws on its hind feet — hence the name — stuffing the pieces into its mouth with its front hands like a tiny, waterlogged raccoon. This species has an odd claim to fame in medical history: for decades it was the standard human pregnancy test, since injecting a woman's urine into a female African clawed frog would trigger egg-laying within hours if hCG was present. Tank-raised specimens are just as food-motivated as their wild counterparts, so stick to tankmates too large to fit in that gape.

Care level: Easy · Temperament: Predatory to small tankmates · Max size: ~4-5" · Min tank: 10 gal (single) · Diet: Carnivore, sinking pellets/frozen foods