Introduction to My Wood Frog Vocalization Experiment

[frogluver]

Wow! That is a lot of information to process. You have got me interested in this experiment now; I'm curious to find out what type of behavior they will display during phonotaxis. I predict the males will only vocalize in test A like you, but that's just my opinion and we'll soon find out right ? Since they're secretive and the males don't display territorial dominance, wouldn't it be logical they only vocalize during breeding season in the right weather conditions? That's weird if they do vocalize in Test C for the different type of genres of music though.

I really think you should write up a care sheet proposal on these guys, not only was your introduction concise and legible... It also got me interested in the project even though I'm not very fond of these frogs. Even though they're not very popular in the pet trade and not readily available; I still think it would be a cool care sheet to read over and get information on this secretive species. There's always room for more, right? Like for another pacman maybe for you to do a vocalization experiment with them.

Anyways, good job... Ready to hear the results.

Thank you Mark! Hehe, I tend to have a contagious effect on others when I get to talking about experiments and frogs .

That's I thought! I know and I would really like to carry out Test C, I just have to check a couple things with the local ADF&G (Alaska Department of Fish&Game) office about my permit submission, before I carry it out. Music seemingly has a weird effect on frogs, other than the fact that it can make them vocalize. Just the other day, my Wood frogs' activity levels increased greatly due to an change in the tank's humidity. They were so active, that I was afraid they would hurt themselves by continuously hopping into the terrarium glass too many times. My sister was joking and said that maybe if she put on some soft piano music, that they would calm down. When she played the music, can you guess what happened.......they all settled down and one of them even croaked !

Yup, there's always room for one more! Actually, I have had several users on here suggest that I write up a proposal and I'm currently working on one .

I'll definitely let you know the results!! Thanks again!

[Sublime]

Haha, that's crazy that the piano music actually worked; I would of bet money that wouldn't work. Now you know another way to calm them down besides when there is artificial environment fluctuations. Thank your sister on that . So I'll be looking forward to two 'projects' coming from you. It gets better and better, lol. No problem, by the way showing interest in your research.

[GrifTheGreat]

It's definitely an interesting study. I don't know much about wood frogs, but I've heard several pacman keepers say that their frogs respond in various ways to different types of music. Although I have never had any vocalization from music, I have definitely witnessed how music can calm my frogs down. My pacman Grif LOVES when I sing to him. A couple of months ago he got sick, refused to eat, and we had to force feed him every night for a while to keep him alive. (He's fully recovered now.) Pacmans are not meant to be handled often and get stressed out easily, so I was very worried that force feeding him was adding to his stress. One night while we were feeding him in an effort to calm him down, I started singing. He calmed right down and just sat and listened to me (even though I'm not that great of a singer, trust me!). When I was singing he was much more cooperative about being fed and seemed to be less stressed. So we got a new routine. Every night when we fed him, I would sing. I found that he responded more to certain songs, particularly slower songs in higher octaves. His favorite songs are "Lean on me" and "Phantom of the Opera" (Don't ask. He just loves it.) My other pacman also seems to be calmed by singing, but not nearly as enraptured by it. I have heard from other people as well that they respond more to female voices than males, probably because of the higher pitch. A couple of other notes: If I get too off key or sing a song he doesn't like will hope away or hunch down in a defensive position; if he likes it he hops toward me. Also, music of any sort played from a stereo barely gets any response, if any, from either frog. It's live music or bust. Of course, this is just my personal experience. Not anything scientific.

Speaking of piano music, I also play the piano and I have been wondering for quite a while if live piano music would have similar effects on my frogs. Your study made me think about it more. Unfortunately, my piano and my frogs are in completely different rooms, so there are some logistical problems. Haha.

Perhaps a follow-up study elaborating on Test C is in the future? I'd be interested to here more.

[frogluver]

It's definitely an interesting study. I don't know much about wood frogs, but I've heard several pacman keepers say that their frogs respond in various ways to different types of music. Although I have never had any vocalization from music, I have definitely witnessed how music can calm my frogs down. My pacman Grif LOVES when I sing to him. A couple of months ago he got sick, refused to eat, and we had to force feed him every night for a while to keep him alive. (He's fully recovered now.) Pacmans are not meant to be handled often and get stressed out easily, so I was very worried that force feeding him was adding to his stress. One night while we were feeding him in an effort to calm him down, I started singing. He calmed right down and just sat and listened to me (even though I'm not that great of a singer, trust me!). When I was singing he was much more cooperative about being fed and seemed to be less stressed. So we got a new routine. Every night when we fed him, I would sing. I found that he responded more to certain songs, particularly slower songs in higher octaves. His favorite songs are "Lean on me" and "Phantom of the Opera" (Don't ask. He just loves it.) My other pacman also seems to be calmed by singing, but not nearly as enraptured by it. I have heard from other people as well that they respond more to female voices than males, probably because of the higher pitch. A couple of other notes: If I get too off key or sing a song he doesn't like will hope away or hunch down in a defensive position; if he likes it he hops toward me. Also, music of any sort played from a stereo barely gets any response, if any, from either frog. It's live music or bust. Of course, this is just my personal experience. Not anything scientific.

Speaking of piano music, I also play the piano and I have been wondering for quite a while if live piano music would have similar effects on my frogs. Your study made me think about it more. Unfortunately, my piano and my frogs are in completely different rooms, so there are some logistical problems. Haha.

Perhaps a follow-up study elaborating on Test C is in the future? I'd be interested to here more.

Music is amazing in how it can soothe the mind, body, and spirit.....not just for us, but for animals as well.That's neat that you've witnessed similar effects music can have with your pacman frogs . That's good to hear that Grif is doing better and that is a very interesting observation/experience that you've had with your Grif (you guys are trully connected)!! I shall keep your observations in mind when doing my experiment.

With my frogs, I get the most response with the classical piece "Moonlight" and several others. But perhaps the most soothing type of music for my frogs is Brazilian samba (particularly the love songs, go figure lol).

We have a keyboard in the same room as my frogs, though I don't play, my sister does . When she plays soft music, I get responses from my Woodies and when she plays random loud music, I get more of a response from my WTF. I can't wait to study musical effects on frog in more depth .

Yup, an eloboration on Test C is in the future.......

[Badger]

WOW, very informative and well organized. I will definitely be checking on this daily haha. Great idea, and looks like you have put in a lot of time and effort into this. Great job, well written, and interesting as all hell. Keep us posted

[frogluver]

WOW, very informative and well organized. I will definitely be checking on this daily haha. Great idea, and looks like you have put in a lot of time and effort into this. Great job, well written, and interesting as all hell. Keep us posted

Thank you Dalton!! Will definetly keep you posted (though it might be more of a weekly update lol :P).

[Badger]

lol no problem. Looking foward to the results :P

[frogluver]

Haha, that's crazy that the piano music actually worked; I would of bet money that wouldn't work. Now you know another way to calm them down besides when there is artificial environment fluctuations. Thank your sister on that . So I'll be looking forward to two 'projects' coming from you. It gets better and better, lol. No problem, by the way showing interest in your research.

Haha, I know right !! Already thanked her, twice hehe!
Yup, I'll probably have as much fun sharing the results as carrying out the experiments themselves !