🐟 AquaticCare difficulty: AdvancedLegal complexity: Low
Surinam Toad
Pipa pipa · also called Star-fingered toad, Common Surinam toad
The Surinam toad is a bizarre, flattened, fully aquatic frog famous for the females brooding eggs in pockets of skin on their back until fully formed toadlets emerge. It is a fascinating display species but demanding to feed and not handleable.
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Quick facts
| Size | Females reach 10-20 cm (4-8 in); males somewhat smaller. One of the largest fully aquatic frogs. |
| Lifespan | 6–15 years |
| Social needs | solo |
| Native region | Amazon Basin of northern South America (Suriname, Guyana, Brazil, Peru, Ecuador, Bolivia, Colombia, Venezuela, Trinidad) |
| Origin | New World |
| Climate | 🌴 Tropical |
| Water type | 💧 Freshwater |
| Family | Pipidae |
| Genus | Pipa |
Part of the Aquatic amphibians
Fully or largely aquatic amphibians kept in cycled, well-filtered freshwater aquariums. They surface to breathe, prefer gentle current and hiding spots, and are not handling animals.
Habitat & space requirements
From the minimum an animal needs to be kept humanely, up to the ideal setup. Bigger is almost always better — minimums are floors, not targets.
Life & growth stages
How this animal changes through its life — each stage often has its own care, diet and space needs.
Habitat & enclosure
Keep singly or in compatible groups in a large, well-filtered aquarium of at least 90-120 L (24-30+ gal) for a single adult; bigger is far better for these large frogs. They are entirely aquatic and rarely leave the water, only surfacing to breathe. Provide water depth of 25-40 cm with plenty of horizontal swimming room rather than height. Soft, slightly acidic to neutral water suits them best (pH ~6.5-7.5, soft to moderately hard, temperature 22-26 C / 72-79 F). Use a secure lid; they can be surprisingly capable of wedging out. Dim, tannin-stained "blackwater" conditions and plenty of cover (driftwood, leaf litter, broad plants) reduce stress in this shy, ambush-style species.
Substrate
Use fine sand or a bare bottom; large gravel can be accidentally swallowed during suction feeding and cause impaction. A thin sand layer with leaf litter (Indian almond/oak leaves) mimics their tannin-rich natural habitat and helps them feel secure.
Equipment & setup
Strong but gentle filtration (canister or sponge-buffered flow), a heater to hold 22-26 C, a secure lid, and a water-testing kit are core. Subdued lighting is preferred; no UVB is required for this fully aquatic species. Dechlorinator and regular partial water changes keep nitrogenous waste low.
Diet
Carnivorous suction-feeders and scavengers. They lack tongues and instead lunge and vacuum prey into the mouth, using sensitive star-tipped front fingers to detect food. Offer earthworms, blackworms, bloodworms, small fish, cut fish/shrimp, and prepared frozen meaty foods. Many learn to take tong-fed or sinking foods. Feed juveniles several times weekly; adults 2-3 times weekly. Tank mates small enough to fit in the mouth will be eaten, so house only with fish too large to swallow or keep them species-only.
Behavior & temperament
Slow, secretive ambush predators that spend most of the day motionless on the bottom blending in. They are not aggressive toward people but are not a handling species; like all amphibians their skin is sensitive and they should be netted or cup-transferred, not picked up. The legendary reproductive behavior, where eggs become embedded in the female's spongy back and develop in individual pockets before fully formed toadlets emerge, is one of the most remarkable sights in amphibian keeping.
Health
Sensitive to poor water quality, ammonia/nitrite spikes, and chlorine/chloramine, so robust filtration and dechlorinated water are essential. Watch for bloating, skin lesions/redness (bacterial infection), fungal patches, and cloudy eyes. Obesity from overfeeding fatty foods is common in captivity. As with all amphibians, never use copper-based medications or handle with bare, lotioned, or unwashed hands.
Tips, DIY & hacks
Reduce flow rate, as they dislike strong currents. Tannins from botanicals (leaves, alder cones) calm them and may encourage natural behavior. Feed in low light when they are most active. Quarantine new wild-caught specimens (most are wild-collected) and treat for parasites under a vet's guidance. Avoid mixing with nippy or fin-eating fish.
Sources
- AmphibiaWeb: Pipa pipa (reference)
- Animal Diversity Web: Pipa pipa (reference)
- Wikipedia: Surinam Toad (wiki)