Being a giddy school girl!

[Tori Savage]

Ok so I'm really really confused........ I had talked to the pet store owner a few days ago, and she told me this...

She kept his day time temp at 78 deg.
she kept his night time temp at 72 deg.
She kept his humidity at 80%.
Every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, it was fed crickets. She would tear the back legs off and just drop them in the tank.
She never dusted the crickets.
All she fed it was crickets, 3 small ones a day.


Since I had increased his temps, and what not, he stopped burrowing. He still gets misted, but hasn't burrowed in almost a week. When I had to force feed him the worm almost a week ago, was when he stopped burrowing. He's refused any food I've offered since I've had him. I got him November 21. In 2 weeks timing, he actually lunged at one cricket, and successfully ate it. But I had to force feed twice just to get him to eat anything. The first time he accepted the food and ate it. About 2 nights ago, he spit the worm and the cricket out. I'm hoping that all of this is due to the colder outside temps we are getting right now. I have him in a medium sized critter keeper, with a soaking dish. He also has a Moon Glo light i think it is, above him for the day time temps. I also noticed night before last I think it was, looked like he had a little feces on his rear. So I had put him in a little warm water and it came right off. My iguana that I have has mites, and they are little silver/white looking things. She is being treated for this, but it seems like any thing I've tried, she isn't doing any better. Can hardly see the mites. When I seen the feces looked like it was stuck, I do believe I seen a mite in it. What am I doing so wrong?!

[GrifTheGreat]

The temps need to be 80 and humidity 70 to 80%. A frog that small needs to be fed daily. The food items need to be of appropriet size. Rule of thumb is no longer than the distance between the frogs eyes. Red wigglers are a different story though. They should be the right size. Do you have 3 sides of the enclosure covered with a background? How moist is the frogs substrate. It needs to be moist not mud. They won't burrow if its too wet. How many watts is the bulb you are using? Are you feeding the frog at night? The mites need to be gotten rid of. Best to change out the frogs substrate clean the enclosure. Make sure the mites aren't attacking the frog or on him/her then put new substrate in and place the frog back in the enclosure. I believe you're frog is stressed. You need to make hom her feel more secure. Use small crickets for food. 3 to 5 offered. Dust them beforehand. Don't have any bright lights on when feeding. They are nocturnal. Buy a infrared bulb they seem to work better and don't mess up the frogs day night cycle. No more than 50 watts no less then 25 watts. You can use this during the day and night. They need a 12 hour day night cycle. Don't force feed. Let the frog try on his/her own. Force feeding causes stress and should only be done when it is absolutely necissary. Keep us posted.

[GrifTheGreat]

A word of advice about pet stores and especially chain pet stores like Petsmart/Petco are natorious for not giving proper care to their reptiles and amphibians. The advice you're getting from us is solid and should be practiced. Everyone here has personal experience and there are a lot of breeders on here as well. Don't always fallow what a pet store tells you to do when it comes to the animals care. Most are wrong.

[Tori Savage]

Grif, thanks... I had gotten it a wider/larger container today. So I'm in the process of changing everything out, including the other frogs too. The store where I had gotten him from wasn't a chain store, it is a owner and worker that rebuilt after a fire gutted their orginal building. She moved location, and set up new shop. They have a pacman in the store, that is the "store pet" and she said she's had him since he was my pacs size. And this one is 9 yo and huge! The Moon Glo bulb I have is 50w I believe... It is fed at night, or attempted to feed at night. I had it in my bathroom with the heater on during the day, as well as the light on. It would all be turned off at night.

So this is my new approach......

Finish putting his new enclosure together. Use black construction paper on 3 sides. Move it to my room, less activity, and it stays warmish in there. Instead of the Forest Moss, I will be using Plantation Soil for all of my frogs. And go from there...

I had talked to another girl today and gave me a good idea... Put a thin layer of pebbles/gravel at the bottom. Then put a layer atleast 3 in deep of the plantation soil on one side, and make sure the gravel/pebbles is covered with water. Open the shade on my window, let him get a little sun light, but leave the Moon Glo light on. I do have mite spray, but it says not to be used with amphibians.

Also, here lately, the max day time temp has been 60 degrees at the most and is in the low 30's at night. Beings we are having this 2-3 week long cold snap, I think that may have something else to do with it.

Other than all of these issues, he is doing ok. When I put my hand in the keeper, he doesn't jump away or try to attack or anything. He just sits there. Even if I move my hand closer.

Once again, thanks for all the advice!!!

[GrifTheGreat]

No problem. That's what we're here for. Don't put any stones or pebbles in you frogs enclosure. They can be accidentally eaten and cause and impaction which can lead to death. Even if placed beneath the substrate there is always a chance of a few making it to the surface due to these frogs being burrowers if you want some sort of bottom to put beneath the substrate buy a zilla terrarium liner. Its made like outdoor carpet and also keeps the frogs from sitting in there own pee while burrowed. No rocks of any kind.

[Tori Savage]

Thanks!!! I am in the process of still building my other enclosure... So far, it's taken me over 4 hours! But my pac is ok with the Plantation Soil, right??? And as long as it isn't mud, but moist!

[GrifTheGreat]

Yes Plantation soil is coconut fiber based so it is just as good as Eco Earth.