First off, hello Frog Forum. I've been a silent watcher of this forum for about a two years now, but my latest problem finally got me to register.

And now the problem:

My African Bullfrog came out of estivation two nights ago, a good 2-3 weeks earlier than normal. I usually allow him to sleep from November until around mid-March. Around the beginning of March I normally start simulating the coming of spring, and he pops right up without much help from me. But this year he popped up when his cage was bone dry (I live in Arizona) with temps around 60-64 F, no simulation of spring.

Normally I would be okay with this, but he hasn't eaten since waking up. Once I noticed he woke up, I went ahead and raised the temperatures (76-80 F day, 68-70 F night) as well as increased the humidity (~60%-70%). But so far nothing. He seems more or less alert (changes position around 3-4 times a day and reacts to my touch), but he just won't eat. Is this something I should be concerned about? Or should I just continue to ensure he has food available and hope he'll eat soon?


If you need some background:
Age: 4, almost 5.
Diet: Mostly crickets. Meal worms when crickets are unavailable. Occasional mouse, fish, or nightcrawlers. Not supplements beyond gut-loaded crickets.

I've never had a problem with him eating right after estivation before with the exception of the winter 2 years back. That winter was particularly cold (power was knocked out a few times), and he was very sluggish after waking up. He still ate, but I had to hand-feed him as he was just too sluggish to go after the food himself. Last winter he woke up and was fine. I attempted hand-feeding him this year, but he just seems uninterested. I also tried to gently pry open his jaw (which I had to do the cold winter), and he has enough strength to resist.

Visually he looks okay I think, albeit thinner and duller in color than he was back in November. Here is a picture I took this evening: