lindsayshocking

I feel like Obdulia has been mocking me as of late.

Melix's death was especially hard on the both of us. He was one of the most special spadefoots out there, and his relationship with Obdulia really made me question how frogs choose their mates or furthermore, if it was possible for them to even recognize one another. They'd always burrow together, swim together, eat together and...yeah, that too. Hell, I think Obdulia and Melix had a more functional relationship than I've had with any human...but I digress.

Obdulia went through a mourning phase after his death where I had to force feed her in order to get her to consume any food. She wasn't sick--she just didn't want to eat. It took months to get her to eat on her own, and after I placed her with what I lovingly called my "mixed" spadefoots, she seemed to bounce back a bit.

Recently, I decided to try and get her a new mate. Although she does alright with the mixed spadefoots, I don't know that it's the right environment for her. First, Kaeru and Hat (the Plains) are much bigger than her. Nothing has come of it yet, but occasionally when feeding Kaeru will miss a cricket and get Obdulia's arm and that panics me. Second, she's taken on...male characteristics. Although I am 100% convinced she's a female, she will grip Kaeru in the water dish and that's not okay. So I wanted to find her a nice male spadefoot and keep them alone, like she was with Melix.

Every time I try and introduce her to one, she gets angry. She will kick them in the face, or release water on them. Sometimes she even emits her peanut butter smell. After a couple minutes I end up separating them, because its not going well and I'm clearly stressing her out.

Maybe it's best to leave her alone. I now have a cage full of male New Mexico spadefoots that will never have a female mate. I probably didn't think my cunning plan out too well. I just wanted her to be happy again.