Description
- Common Name: Surinam Horned Frog / Amazonian Horned Frog
- Scientific Name: Ceratophrys cornuta
- Locality/Morph: Wild type – Red
- Sex: Unknown
- Age: 2025
- Source: Captive bred (wild parentage from South America)
- Native Range: Northern South America – Guyana, Suriname, Venezuela, Colombia, Peru, Brazil
- Natural Habitat: Tropical rainforest floor, leaf litter, and flooded forest margins
- Diet: Carnivorous – invertebrates, small vertebrates, other frogs
- Basking Temperature: Not required – prefers ambient warmth
- Ambient Temperature: 24–28°C (night drop to ~22°C)
- Average Adult Size: 12–16 cm (occasionally larger females)
The Surinam Horned Frog (Ceratophrys cornuta) is one of the most distinctive members of the Pacman Frog group, instantly recognisable for its elongated “horns” above the eyes, which give it its scientific name. Native to the Amazon basin and surrounding rainforests, these frogs are sit-and-wait ambush predators, burying themselves in substrate with only their eyes and horns protruding, ready to lunge at unsuspecting prey.
In captivity, C. cornuta requires a moist but well-aerated environment as they struggle with stagnant air or mould. A substrate of coco fibre, sphagnum moss, or soil should be kept damp but not waterlogged, as this species is prone to skin issues if kept too wet. A shallow water dish should always be available for soaking. Unlike arboreal frogs, height is unnecessary; instead, floor space with deep substrate is ideal.
They thrive in ambient temperatures of 24–28°C, with a slight night-time drop. A basking spot is not required, but stable warmth and humidity are essential. While UVB is not strictly necessary for survival, low-level UVB can be beneficial for long-term health and calcium metabolism.
Diet consists of gut-loaded insects such as crickets, roaches, and locusts, alongside earthworms and occasional vertebrate prey like pinkie mice or small fish. They are aggressive feeders with powerful jaws, and care should be taken to prevent injury during feeding. Overfeeding can quickly lead to obesity, so portion control is key.
Surinam Horned Frogs are less commonly available than Cranwell’s or Ornate Pacman Frogs, and are valued for their unusual appearance and impressive size. With proper care, they can live for 10–15 years in captivity, making them a long-term commitment. They are display animals rather than pets to be handled, due to their sensitive skin and powerful bite.
Livestock Delivery:
Livestock is delivered in our own heated reptile courier vans. Delivery time from ordering will depend on your location and when we next have a van in your area, this will usually be a maximum of 2 weeks. You will receive a date and time slot by phone or email, so please ensure you enter these correctly at checkout. Delivery fee for livestock depends on location, prices start at £45. Livestock orders over £500 (+VAT) are delivered free of charge.
Livestock Sale Terms:
If multiple animals are in stock then not all will be pictured, so the photo above may not be exact animal available.
All prices are per individual unless otherwise stated. All livestock is subject to availability, whilst we try to keep the website as up to date as possible errors may happen, in this situation you will be contacted to arrange a refund/alternative.
Errors can happen with sexing and morph identification. Should this be discovered before leaving us you are entitled to a refund. After the animal leaves us it is the customers responsibility to inform us within 48 hours of the animals arrival. Failing to do so may lose the customers eligibility for a refund.
It is the customers responsibility to have the correct setup available and ready for the animal, if you need any advice please do get in touch. We have the right to request proof of setup at any time, failure to provide an image of an appropriate setup or any image at all, may result in a full order cancellation and refund.
Guarantee for all inverts & amphibians is 24 hours. All other livestock is 48 hours. If issues/concerns are notified upon delivery, then this may be extended. All health related queries will be subject to a full investigation should an issue arise. Failing to provide us with the information we request may void any form of guarantee. If we find reason from the information that its injury or death was caused by negligence or incorrect husbandry then the guarantee may be void. Should death or abnormalities occur then you must inform us as soon as possible. In the unlikely event that an animal passes away please photograph the dead body and freeze until you have heard from us. If death or illness occurs after 7 days, and no health issues were reported, then Ridgeway will not be held responsible.
We have the right to refuse any sale, refund or guarantee at any time if we feel it is necessary.
Livestock sales are for customers aged 18+, if under this age you must have prior parent permission. If we have any reason to suspect this is not the case we will contact you before the animal is released.
When purchasing an animal from us you automatically agree to these terms of sale.
