Meal Worm Diet?

[LizardMama]

So as of late I been noticing that my Pacman frog has been slowing up on his crickets, I have been giving him Wax Worms as treats (2 each) but I've been noticing that when he poos he passes an undigested Waxie which is not good. I tried Meal Worms yesterday, he ate 2 (they were dusted). Would it be okay to give him Meal Worms this week then try again with Crickets next week?

[Bruce]

Meal worms pose a serious risk for impaction, which can kill your frog! Try using nightcrawlers instead. Cut them to appropriate pieces starting from their tail. They have no hard parts, so there is no risk for impaction. Also, they are one of the best staples you can offer, far more nutritious than crickets.

[Namio]

So as of late I been noticing that my Pacman frog has been slowing up on his crickets, I have been giving him Wax Worms as treats (2 each) but I've been noticing that when he poos he passes an undigested Waxie which is not good. I tried Meal Worms yesterday, he ate 2 (they were dusted). Would it be okay to give him Meal Worms this week then try again with Crickets next week?

I would skip meal worms from now on. Feed your frog large nightcrawler pieces instead. Earthworms are more nutritious and healthier as a staple diet. The exoskeleton of meal worms can potentially cause impaction so I would definitely avoid it. Save the meal worms for the reptiles if you have them.

[GrifTheGreat]

Bruce has given excellent advice.

[LizardMama]

Thank you! I'll change from Meal Worms to the Nightcrawlers. How easy are they to get during the fall/winter months? Any other ways to get my Pacman back to being interested in Crickets? He does chase them when they are in his cage

[Namio]

Thank you! I'll change from Meal Worms to the Nightcrawlers. How easy are they to get during the fall/winter months? Any other ways to get my Pacman back to being interested in Crickets? He does chase them when they are in his cage

Local pet stores that carry nightcrawlers will have them all year. You're best buy may lies in the hands of WalMart. In California, I get them for 3.25 +tax for 20 large there (compare to $4+tax for a dozen at local pet shops). Make sure you purchase the undyed nightcrawler at Walmart, though.

I am not sure why your frog lost its interest in crickets. Perhaps that was just a temporary thing? Or you frog had outgrown even the largest crickets around?

[Ra]

Great advice on nightcrawlers. I would suggest superworms when the frog is older, as they contain far less chitin but I would suggest that you feed more crickets and nightcrawlers than superworms.
Tong feeding could be an option with crickets.

[GrifTheGreat]

They do get bored with food items occasionally so you have to switch it up to keep them interested and its very beneficial for the frog to have a varied diet.

Bruce Namio , and Ra have you covered.

[Bruce]

They do get bored with food items occasionally so you have to switch it up to keep them interested and its very beneficial for the frog to have a varied diet.

Bruce Namio , and Ra have you covered.

Learned from the best!

[LizardMama]

When should I give a Pinkie mouse? I checked the size of my frog (usually he stays hidden behind the flowers in his cage) and he is big! I got him in August and I'd say he's around 2.5 inches all around

[Bruce]

I'd say it would be ok to give him one. No more than one a month though, that may cause some issues as mammalian tissue is hard for them to break down.

[Ra]

If by mammalian tissues you mean hair, yes. But pinkies don't have hair. The concern with mice is that they are high in fat, and over feeding them has been linked to lipid opacity in Horned Frogs. Another concern is that their high vitamin A content may cause problems with metabolizing calcium. Dip the pinky in calcium supplement prior to feeding.
I would would say a couple a month for a juvenile would be fine.

[Namio]

If by mammalian tissues you mean hair, yes. But pinkies don't have hair. The concern with mice is that they are high in fat, and over feeding them has been linked to lipid opacity in Horned Frogs. Another concern is that their high vitamin A content may cause problems with metabolizing calcium. Dip the pinky in calcium supplement prior to feeding.
I would would say a couple a month for a juvenile would be fine.

Ra had pretty much covered everything. I would just like to add that dipping the pinky rump first will be a more humanely way to go. I would recommend not dipping it head first cuz the fine powder will get into the respiratory sinus and make the pinky suffer unnecessarily.

[Bruce]

If by mammalian tissues you mean hair, yes. But pinkies don't have hair. The concern with mice is that they are high in fat, and over feeding them has been linked to lipid opacity in Horned Frogs. Another concern is that their high vitamin A content may cause problems with metabolizing calcium. Dip the pinky in calcium supplement prior to feeding.
I would would say a couple a month for a juvenile would be fine.

I alway thought the skin, begin tougher then insect innards, was harder for them to digest. I know a lot of insect parts don't even get digested and are passed through. I know that can't digest hair, and personally because of the high lipid content I stick to once a month, considering pinkies and other rodents aren't even necessary.