True Goliath Frogs

PAULSCHUMANN · #1 (**permalink**) 09-08-2005, 03:10 AM

Can anyone give me some info on the "true" Goliath Frog Conraua goliath.

What is their current status as far as wild populations go?
Are there any in captivity?
Have they been bred in captivity?
Just how big do they get?

MJ · #2 (**permalink**) 09-08-2005, 03:17 AM

They get huge! i know of one person in the UK who brought in a few last summer but have yet to see them sate side. i dont belive there has been any captive breeding

KeroKero · #3 (**permalink**) 09-08-2005, 03:18 AM

If you are talking about the African one... they are suppose to be from a rather remote spot in the african congo that would be very dangerous to get to. As far as I know only a few have been exported to zoos where they did not live very long, much less reproduce.

KeroKero · #4 (**permalink**) 09-08-2005, 03:27 AM

Paul might be right, my info is a bit outdated, so I looked up some more:

http://cres.sandiegozoo.org/projects/sp ... frogs.html

Supposidly the reason the imported adults did so badly is due to the frogs size. They can hop a great long distance, but only once, then are exhausted. If they are stressed to the point of hopping too much they could use up all their reserves and die from this.

I wonder if raising them from tadpoles, if possible, would produce animals that would not be stressed to this degree and would survive in captivity?

AJ · #5 (**permalink**) 09-08-2005, 03:37 AM

I don't think that they've been imported in a while now. The last I remember was maybe 7 years ago, and I'm not sure if it was C. goliath or another frog in the genus. I have a video of a frog collector in the US who turned an entire room in his house into a habitat for them (goliaths). Judging from the film grain and colors, it looks to have been shot in the late 80's or early 90's.

There was also a special on TV a couple years ago called "Giant Amphibians" or something like that, which I think may have aired on the Discovery Channel. A segment was dedicated to filming goliath frogs in their natural habitat, and researchers attempting to catch them at night. Maybe you can find more information on the show if you look on Google.

Laxman · #6 (**permalink**) 09-08-2005, 04:05 AM

I have a picture of one that is laying right next to a baby deer and the frog is around half the size of the baby deer. If i can find it I will try and post it though it may take quite a long time since I dont really know how to post photos on this site and I dont have a scanner so I will have to take a picture of the picture then put it on the computer through my digi camera. It may still take a long time to post (my first reason).

*GREASER* · #7 (**permalink**) 09-08-2005, 04:15 AM

There arent that many left in the wild from what I know and the native people also eat them so that doesnt help . And they havent been able to get them to reproduce in captivity. As far as I knew they couldnt be exported but I swear they were posted on kingsnake not to long ago. And as for how big they get check this out http://michael-friedman.com/archives/im ... thfrog.jpg

sports_doc · #8 (**permalink**) 09-08-2005, 12:16 PM

remove the [url][url] at the end of the above link and it will work. Looks like good eatin' .....

sph

Laxman · #9 (**permalink**) 09-08-2005, 01:29 PM

I think that the pic I have is like a toad then I will try to find it. The frog is huge like around half the size of the baby deer.

Laxman · #10 (**permalink**) 09-08-2005, 01:45 PM

here is a link that I think will work but im not sure Ive never posted a pic on this before.
C:\Documents and Settings\Owner\My Documents\My Pictures\brad