Pacman Frog vs Pixie Frog

Are you looking at getting a frog as a pet? Are you a first-time frog owner? Maybe you cannot decide between the Pacman frog and the Pixie frog. Pacman frog vs Pixie frog. What are their similarities and difference?

While these two frogs have so much in common, there are some significant differences which set them apart, which can help you make an informed decision on which is the right frog for you as a pet.

Pacman frogs originate from South America and are part of the Horned Frog family, while Pixie frogs original from Africa and are better known as African bullfrogs.

Looks

Pacman frogs come with multiple morphs and colors

Pacman Frogs

The Pacman frog is green to brown in color and has yellow or brown blotches. They come in a variety of morphs, which come in yellows, reds, and oranges. They have a yellow belly.

Pixie Frogs

Pixie frogs tend to be a neutral olive-green color with a yellow belly.

Verdict

You will get a wider choice of color options when looking at the Pacman frogs.

Lifespan

Pacman Frogs

Pacman frogs have a good lifespan in captivity, which can range from between seven to ten years, as long as you ensure you provide them with an optimal habitat.

Pixie Frogs

Pixie frogs tend to live longer than the Pacman frog. You can expect to care for your Pixie frog for between fifteen to twenty years.

Verdict

The Pixie frog can live five to ten years longer than the Pacman frog. Ensure you have the time to dedicate to the care and well being of your pet.

Weight

Pacman Frogs

Pacman frogs can grow a decent size with fully grown adults weighing up to 1.1lbs (0.5kg).

Pixie Frogs

The Pixie frog is significantly heavier than the Pacman frog and a full-size adult can weigh up to a staggering 4lbs (1.81kg).

Verdict

The Pixie frog weighs considerably more than the Pacman frog, though their care requirements remain very much the same.

Size

Pixie frogs are bigger than Pacman frogs

Pacman Frog

Pacman frogs are not small frogs when fully grown. An adult Pacman can grow anywhere from four to seven inches, which is a decent size for a captive frog. The female tends to be larger than the male.

Related – Ways to identify the gender of a Pacman frog

Pixie Frogs

Pixie frogs are even bigger than the Pacman frog with full-sized adults being up to ten inches in size. Female Pixie frogs are smaller than the males and usually measure around five inches.

Verdict

There is a sizable difference between the Pacman and Pixie frog, with Pixie frogs growing up to three inches larger than the Pacman.

Active Time of Day

Pacman Frogs

Pacman frogs are nocturnal and prey at night and burrow and sleep during the day.

Pixie Frogs

The Pixie frog is a nocturnal frog that burrow and hides during the day.

Verdict

Both are nocturnal and don’t have sunlight requirements in the terrarium, though you will need to provide twelve hours of daylight and twelve hours of night to ensure that they have a steady routine.

Diet

Pacman Frogs

Pacman frogs enjoy a varied diet of crickets, roaches, worms, small fish, and small mice. The amount they are fed is determined by the size of the frog and the terrarium temperature.

Pixie Frog

Pixie frogs are enthusiastic eaters who also enjoy a varied diet including live crickets, worms, and roaches.

Verdict

Both the Pacman and the Pixie frog enjoy a similar diet, which is a varied mix of worms, roaches, and crickets.

Personality

Pixie frogs are more active

Pacman Frogs

Pacman frogs are simple creatures. They live on their own and are active at night. They love hiding under the damp substrate and ambush their predators.

They are lazy hunters that wait for food to come to them rather than hunting the food.

Pixie Frogs

Pixie frogs tend to be a bit more active than the Pacman frog and will move around more.

They are forgiving and can make great first-time frog pets. Pixies can even tolerate being handled from time to time, but they aren’t keen on it. Each will have its own unique personality.

Be careful they do have teeth and may mistake a finger for a worm.

Verdict

The Pixie frog will be more active if you are looking for a frog you can watch and be entertained by.

Aggression

Pacman Frogs

Pacman frogs have to be housed alone; you can only keep one frog per tank.

Even though these are not the most active of frogs and your frog may never venture further than the water bowl, they will become exceptionally aggressive and will eat anything that gets in their way, this includes other Pacman frogs.

Pixie Frogs

Pixie frogs can be very aggressive and territorial, which is why you can never house two males together in one terrarium. Females you can house in groups and there shouldn’t be any problems.

Verdict

Both Pacman and Pixie frogs can be territorial and aggressive and therefore it’s recommended to keep them alone and do not put them in with other frogs of their own species or another species.

Enclosure Requirements

Pacman Frogs

Seeing the Pacman frog doesn’t move around that much, they don’t need a large terrarium. You can house them comfortably in a ten or twenty-gallon terrarium with plenty of substrate for them to burrow.

Related –Best enclosure for a Pacman frog

Pixie Frogs

Pixie frogs grow bigger than the Pacman frog and then tend to move around their enclosures a lot more, therefore you should never consider housing them in anything smaller than a forty-gallon tank with plenty of substrate for them to burrow.

Verdict

The Pixie frog requires a larger enclosure than the Pacman frog. This is something to consider if you are limited on space on where to place your terrarium.

Temperature and Humidity

Both Pacman and Pixie frogs have the same temperature and humidity requirements

Pacman Frog

Pacman frogs have very specific temperature and humidity requirements to ensure that they remain happy and healthy.

They need a daytime temperature of between 74ºF and 82ºF with nighttime temperatures not less than 73ºF.

They require high humidity levels of between 60% and 80%.

Related – Learn ways to set up heating systems in a Pacman frog cage.

Pixie Frogs

Pixie frogs require temperatures of between 73ºF and 82ºF. They also love high humidity levels, which can range from between sixty to eighty percent.

Verdict

Both species have the same heating and humidity requirements.

Maintenance

Pacman Frogs

Pacman frogs are very easy to look after, especially seeing they spend most of their time burrowing in the moist substrate. These frogs do not swim and therefore you will find you spend less time cleaning and refilling their water bowls.

Pixie Frogs

Pixie frogs love to swim and therefore they take a little more care and maintenance. You will need to clean, disinfect and refill their water bowl regularly, ensuring the highest level of hygiene.

Verdict

Based on the fact that the Pixie frog is a swimmer and requires regular cleaning and filling of the water bowl, they require more care and maintenance than the Pacman frog.

Health

Pacman Frog

Pacman frogs are prone to bacterial and fungal infections of the eyes and skin, which is common for amphibians.

If the humidity levels are not properly maintained, your frog may develop a respiratory infection, where the frog will be lethargic, drool, and wheeze.

Pixie Frog

You will notice if your Pixie frog isn’t well, it will lose interest in food and water, you may notice weight loss or runny droppings, their eyes or mouth may have discharge. It’s important that you seek veterinary care.

Bear in mind your frog will hibernate in winter and will create a cocoon inside the substrate.

Verdict

Both frogs hibernate in winter and are both prone to the same infections. Regularly monitoring your frog, identifying strange behaviors, and seeking itinerary care will ensure the best outcome for your pet in the long run.

Beginner Pet

Both frogs are suitable for beginners

Pacman Frog

The Pacman frog is the perfect beginner pet. It’s easy to care for, doesn’t require a large enclosure, and doesn’t need handling or entertaining.

Pixie Frogs

Pixie frogs are also good beginner pets. These are bigger frogs that don’t enjoy being handled.

Verdict

With both frogs requiring very similar habitat requirements, they are both suitable for beginners.

Breeding

Pacman Frog

Due to the fact Pacman frogs are so territorial and aggressive, breeding in captivity is not an easy task.

They will require a sixty-day hibernation period in a cool and dry environment before they breed. Egg laying and hatching take place within days.

Pixie Frogs

Male Pixie frogs give a mating call when it’s time to breed. It’s important to note that if you do intend breeding, you will need a large enclosure.

The normal tank is not going to be big enough, these frogs require lots of space to breed and hatch.

Females can lay up to four thousand eggs at a time, which are born as tadpoles and change to frogs within nineteen days.

Verdict

If you do want to breed, then the Pixie frog is the easiest to breed in captivity, though you will require a large space to provide them the room they need to breed and hatch their eggs.

Pacman Frog vs Pixie Frog in Summary

Overall, both the Pixie and Pacman frogs are easy to care for and make great first-time pets.

Both will grow into large frogs. With the basic information on the differences between these two popular pet frogs, you can now make an informed decision based on what will be best for you in the long run.