The Basics:

Ornate Horned Frogs are eating machines, with mouths as wide as their heads and steel-trap jaws. There is little distinction between their broad heads and beefy bodies. Their legs and eyes are both relatively small. In nature, their green, white and yellow skin, touched with red and black, camouflage the frog when it lies on the forest floor. When a prey animal happens by, the frog moves forward and gobbles up the unfortunate victim. Usually, it will consume prey in only one or two gulps. Snakes, lizards, rodents, birds and other frogs are all on its menu in nature. Waiting for prey to
walk by the Ornate Horned Frog moves its body slightly forward by pushing with its thin, short legs, grabbing and killing its next meal. It takes only a gulp or two to swallow the
prey whole. The Ornate Horned Frog is a diurnal animal, which means that it is active during daylight hours.

Enclosure:
They Have Simple Requirements:

Since they are relatively inactive, except when
eating, Ornate Horned Frogs do not need a lot of space. A single adult can be housed in a standard 20 gallon aquarium tank. (More than one Ornate Horned Frog should not be
housed in the same tank, since they will eat each other.) Ornate Horned Frogs are not agile climbers, so placing a few climbing rocks in their enclosure will provide them with
ample climbing opportunities. The enclosure should offer plenty of hiding places. Plants, live or artificial, can be used to provide hide areas. Position plants over a dry area of the
tank, as well as over the water dish to increase the frog’s sense of security. Unlike with climbing treefrogs, the Ornate Horned Frog’s enclosure should not be vertically oriented.
The enclosure should be set up for easy cleaning.

Substrate:
Material They can Burrow Into Works Best:

Sphagnum moss, husk fiber and other material that the Ornate Horned Frog can burrow into are good substrates. The
substrate should be sprayed every day to maintain humidity levels. Aromatic wood substrates like cedar must also be avoided, since they can cause serious and even fatal
health risks. Substrates must be inspected daily, so soiled material can be removed. The Ornate Horned Frog will do fine with a paper substrate, which offers the advantage of
easy cleaning/replacement.

Temperature:
They Like It Warm:

Hailing from the tropics, Ornate Horned Frogs do best
when the temperature in their enclosure is warm, in the low to mid 80s Fahrenheit during the day, and slightly lower at night. An under tank heater can be used during the day to
provide this heat, as long as the tank is glass, not plastic. Follow manufacturer’s instructions when using a heater to protect from fire risks. A low wattage overhead bulb
can also be used to provide heat, during periods when the pad is not used. However, care should always be taken not to overheat the tank with external heat sources. In all cases,
the temperature much be monitored carefully to be sure it doesn't rise too much. Never guess the temperature. Position a thermometer about one inch over the substrate level to
monitor heat. An enclosure should never be positioned in direct sunlight. Important - see the Note About Day/Night Light Cycles and Heating below.

Lighting:
They Must Be Exposed to UVB Rays:

Ornate Horned Frogs are active during the day and must have daily exposure to ultraviolet rays. Ornate Horned Frogs should be exposed to supplemental UVB light using a fluorescent bulb designed for a frog terrarium.  Prolonged exposure to light can stress these frogs, which spend most of their time in nature burrowing under leaves. Total light exposure should never exceed nine hours for a one day period, and may be shorter depending on the frog. If the frog seems stressed by prolonged lighting exposure, reduce the amount of time that the light is left on. The fluorescent bulb should be replaced every six months. Glass blocks out UVB light, so overhead light sources should be kept behind a wire mesh cover, not a glass or acrylic tank top. Important - see the Note About Day/Night Light Cycles and Heating below.

Note About Day/Night Light Cycles and Heating:

All reptiles, including this pet, must have distinct day and night periods in their enclosure to maintain their biological rhythms. (See the lighting entry above for the specific length of this animal’s day/night cycle.) The day period must be light; and night must be dark. A timer should be used to set day/night periods. If a heat source is required to maintain correct nighttime temperatures, use heat mats or strips mounted below or on the side of the tank, infrared heat lamps, ceramic heat emitters, or a combination of these products. This will allow the enclosure to be heated while remaining dark. Follow directions carefully with all products. If ceramic heat emitters are used always choose fixtures with porcelain or ceramic sockets and to protect against fires do not place them by dry wood or flammable fabrics. Ceramic heat emitters must be kept out of the reach of children and all pets, including dogs and cats.

Diet:
Bigger Feeder Animals Are Needed With Them:

Adults can be fed once or twice a week. Young Ornate Horned Frogs can start out eating 4-6 gut loaded crickets that are dusted with a supplement a day, but as they grow, they will need bigger feeder animals, such as larger crickets, earthworms, frozen feeder mice and feeder guppies. (Fish can be placed in the frog’s water bowl.) No food should be larger than half the size of the Ornate Horned Frog’s body. Feeder goldfish should be avoided altogether because of their high fat content. Care should be taken to avoid overfeeding adults, because this frog is prone to obesity.  Do not offer food by hand, since the Ornate Horned Frog is liable to attack anything it sees when feeding. Important -- It is necessary to provide calcium and vitamin supplements as part of the diet. Please read the supplement section below:

Water & Humidity:

Ornate Horned Frogs need a 50-70% humidity level in their enclosure. This can be maintained by placing a large, but shallow, water bowl in the tank and misting the substrate daily. However, be careful not to over humidify the tank. Since
maintaining proper humidity levels is so important to the health of this frog, it is essential to use a hygrometer to measure them in its enclosure. Water used in their bowl and
misted on the substrate must be clean and fresh, and free of chlorine or heavy metal. The water level in the bowl should be relatively shallow, and a climbing rock should be placed in the bowl to make it easy for the frog to climb out of the water, since these frogs can drown.