Bloated?

[eRock79]

My little guy has only had 4 large crickets in 4 days but now he looks bloated; is that normal? A friend told me to check his belly around his hind legs for redness and I don't see any, just kinda pink. He went right in to a brand new habitat set up specially for him; new eco earth, a bit of moss (not much), and a half log. I've included pictures. I nervous about him now.

[GrifTheGreat]

My little guy has only had 4 large crickets in 4 days but now he looks bloated; is that normal? A friend told me to check his belly around his hind legs for redness and I don't see any, just kinda pink. He went right in to a brand new habitat set up specially for him; new eco earth, a bit of moss (not much), and a half log. I've included pictures. I nervous about him now.

First pic looks like he's puffed up to shed. Second pic looks fine with no bloating and only water weight. Do you de-chlorinate the frog's water for both water dish and substrate?

[eRock79]

Grif, I've been reading about de-chlorinating water, but haven't yet. I'll read through some posts and find out what to use for that. The second pic was taken just moments after I took the first pic. I just scooped him in to the deli cup and added a bit of water while I checked for redness. He's at 86% humidity right now and since he's kept in my bedroom with my snakes, his tank is at about 83-85 degrees without any additional heat source. Is that acceptable? Prior to purchasing him, I didn't ask the important questions that I've been reading about now. I didn't ask the last time he shed, pooped, ate, or other.

[KingCam]

Grif, I've been reading about de-chlorinating water, but haven't yet.

Uh, you NEED to ALWAYS be declorinating your frog's water. This is not something you just can put off. It has to be done each and every time. Chlorine is incredibly dangerously bad for amphibians.

This is like rule #1. How did you not know that? I'm sorry, I'm not trying to be overy rude, but come on. Have you read anything at all about your frog?

[eRock79]

Uh, you NEED to ALWAYS be declorinating your frog's water. This is not something you just can put off. It has to be done each and every time. Chlorine is incredibly dangerously bad for amphibians.

I understand that now, just didn't understand that when I brought him home. I also didn't know the right questions to ask when I bought him. He's going to get de-chlorinated water from now is what I was getting at. This is out of my comfort zone, so I'm learning as I go (unfortunately). Thank you for the response and the sense-of-urgency in your message.

[KingCam]

oh, and I would add to what Mike said about the crickets by feeding either earth worms or roaches instead. Crickets are the most popular feeder, followed closely by meal worms, both of which are not ideal for your animals. Roaches and earthworms are much high in nutrients. You can culture your own roaches at home and never pay for feeders again (except for occassional treats to mix the diet up a bit).

[mikesfrogs]

Erik where are you getting the crickets from? I had a problem with the crickets here in southern california. They killed about 80 pacman frogs. Its still being tested but the crickets from a supplier ate something that is killing only pacman frogs. I wouldnt feed crickets right now to be honest. Go with earthworms

[eRock79]

Erik where are you getting the crickets from? I had a problem with the crickets here in southern california. They killed about 80 pacman frogs. Its still being tested but the crickets from a supplier ate something that is killing only pacman frogs. I wouldnt feed crickets right now to be honest. Go with earthworms

I got my crickets at the NARBC in Anaheim and I haven't fed him any more since Monday. I have Nightcrawlers in the fridge right now, are those acceptable? Should I try to feed him tonight? I'm worried that if he does have a condition, I may make it worse by feeding him. Man, I worry a lot.

oh, and I would add to what Mike said about the crickets by feeding either earth worms or roaches instead. Crickets are the most popular feeder, followed closely by meal worms, both of which are not ideal for your animals. Roaches and earthworms are much high in nutrients. You can culture your own roaches at home and never pay for feeders again (except for occassional treats to mix the diet up a bit).

As for roaches, are dubias the ones you speak of? I live in a small apartment, so I don't know if culturing them is in the cards.

[KingCam]

As for roaches, are dubias the ones you speak of? I live in a small apartment, so I don't know if culturing them is in the cards.

Any roaches. Dubia are a good choice. Giant cave roaches, deathheads, blaberus hybrids, discoids, and many other larger species would also make good food items for a frog as big as a pacman.

As far as space is concerned, they only take up as much room as a plastic storage tote.

[lumpbump]

I got my crickets at the NARBC in Anaheim and I haven't fed him any more since Monday. I have Nightcrawlers in the fridge right now, are those acceptable? Should I try to feed him tonight? I'm worried that if he does have a condition, I may make it worse by feeding him. Man, I worry a lot.



As for roaches, are dubias the ones you speak of? I live in a small apartment, so I don't know if culturing them is in the cards.

You can culture dubia in a plastic tub. My culture is in a, hmm maybe 10 gallon plastic sterilite tub. I have it in a small walk in closet where i keep my a small freezer where i store frozen rodents. Works real well since the ambient temp in the walk in stays in the upper 80s. I too keep my pac in my snake room. Basically the same ambience as you listed earlier. My frog buddy is doing real good with that set up. Initially I had my enclosure too dry and he nearly went into frog hybernation. I added some water and hes doing real good. Don't forget your new frog is going to need his food dusted with calcium powder and vit d3 and some multi vitimins. Its important to provided ample calcium to help their bones grow. Theres a good pac man care guide somewhere on this site. Im not gonna give you grief as other may cause you obviously are trying to do whats right. Everyone makes mistakes and some people are just more pasionate than the next. You can get some water declorinator at petsmart or petco. I think mine actually has some calcium in it. Just 2 drops in each 8 ounces of water. Gotta use it if your putting tap water into the eco earth or you can use bottled spring water. Dont use distilled water cause it will suck the salts out of your frog. Keep looking for answers and try not to take to heart peoples responses that may come off as aggressive sounding.

[mikesfrogs]

No don't feed it til the swelling goes down. Worms are good and don't cause many if any problems. Don't feed crickets right now.

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[mikesfrogs]

Dubias are really good! They can't climb up tanks either. Don't get lobster roaches. I made the mistake of getting 2,000 of them. They climb up EVERYTHING lol

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[GrifTheGreat]

Excellent advice has been given to you Erik. I suggest that its followed.

[GeorgiaBulls]

Dubias are really good! They can't climb up tanks either. Don't get lobster roaches. I made the mistake of getting 2,000 of them. They climb up EVERYTHING lol

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Lmfao

[eRock79]

You guys are awesome! I picked up dechlorinater by Tetra. That'll work, right? I mixed up a whole batch of substrate for the little guy: should I dump it and use dechlorinated water? I do have a small amount of moss in his tank (5g tank), should I do my best to remove it all? I really, really appreciate the help! This is a lot different than taking care of my snakes.

[GrifTheGreat]

You guys are awesome! I picked up dechlorinater by Tetra. That'll work, right? I mixed up a whole batch of substrate for the little guy: should I dump it and use dechlorinated water? I do have a small amount of moss in his tank (5g tank), should I do my best to remove it all? I really, really appreciate the help! This is a lot different than taking care of my snakes.

Get rid of the moss. Prepare new substrate using the de-chlorinated water to expand it. Soak the frog in a Luke warm bath of de-chlorinated water to flush the chlorine out of its system. Soak for about 15 minutes and after the new substrate and water is placed in the enclosure put the frog back.

[DVirginiana]

This is a lot different than taking care of my snakes.

Just wondering... Are you using dechlorinated water for your snakes' drinking water as well? You really need to. They aren't quite as sensitive as amphibians, but if they get chlorinated water for long periods it can cause fatal problems. If you happen to have a particularly sensitive snake species it might not take that long. Generally, use dechlorinated water for anything that is cold-blooded.

[eRock79]

Get rid of the moss. Prepare new substrate using the de-chlorinated water to expand it. Soak the frog in a Luke warm bath of de-chlorinated water to flush the chlorine out of its system. Soak for about 15 minutes and after the new substrate and water is placed in the enclosure put the frog back.

Thank you Grif! I'll do that straight away.

DVirginiana, thank you for the advice. I haven't in 15 years of keeping snakes but I'll take it in to consideration. There's always room for change!

[DVirginiana]

Thank you Grif! I'll do that straight away.

DVirginiana, thank you for the advice. I haven't in 15 years of keeping snakes but I'll take it in to consideration. There's always room for change!

It's just a good idea. I've known people who keep snakes for their entire lives on untreated water or a potentially dangerous food source and never had a problem, but then others who do it for a month or two and end up with a dead or seriously ill snake. I'm just not willing to take the risk.

I usually just treat a gallon of water at a time and use it for all my reptiles. It doesn't take long and it keeps me from worrying.

[eRock79]

It's just a good idea. I've known people who keep snakes for their entire lives on untreated water or a potentially dangerous food source and never had a problem, but then others who do it for a month or two and end up with a dead or seriously ill snake. I'm just not willing to take the risk.

I usually just treat a gallon of water at a time and use it for all my reptiles. It doesn't take long and it keeps me from worrying.

How much treatment do you use for only a gallon? The bottle says 2 tsp (10ml) for every 10 gallons. Is there such a thing as "too much" treatment? I made up about a gallon yesterday to keep on hand at room temp and I just kinda squirted 5ml into the jug. I'd hate to poison my frog by using too much treatment chemical.