FB appetite, behavior, eco earth, health questions

[Hoppity100]

Oh, I just looked at my driftwood, white dots are like sprinkled on it again. I don't think these are eggs but either from water or moisture. Tank is getting cleaned tomorrow, I will rinse wood now. White dots are not in the water, but thanks for describing what eggs look like. Like you said, I'll know when anything is spawning. Your stupid chirping sound is funny except mine do it at night and I for some reason, don't mind it. They don't chirp all night. Here's something: some people describe crickets and worms as stupid. I used to think so until I watched the crickets in the tank...they are on high alert. They're not as stupid as I thought. The worms must not have eyes, but they slither away not knowing they're right in front of a frog's mouth (laughing). The worms need glasses but if they don't have eyes they wouldn't wear glasses anyway LOL

[FrogFriend]

If you have a PetSmart in your home town, you should have moss. This is where I got my moss from. If your store doesn't carry it then you can either order from the website or the links that you were sent. As for eating, I know everyone says that FBTs eat ALL the time, but mine will get full and not hunt when they are done. I remove anything that is not eaten but I try to make sure I don't put more in there then what they can eat. Especially after putting the Calcium powder on, the crickets wont last long after that. As for not eating for extended periods of time and being ok with it, gotta remember that some animals, especially ones that hunt or hibernate, are built in a way that if the food is not there then they can go with out, or maybe they just can't catch anything that night...this is how the wild works. Now, me personally, I wouldn't push it with my toads. I feed them every 2-3 days. When I first got them they seemed like they had to eat ALL the time and whatever and however much was put in their tank was eaten. But they were younger, it was going into the Spring and who knows how often they were really fed at the places I got them from. I used to be very particular about feeding them. I had my tongs and ensured that each toad got at least one cricket. There were a couple of problems with this! 1) They started to get bad at hunting 2) They were getting a bit chubby and lazy and 3) I realized in the wild some toads are quicker to the food then others and this made the one that maybe didn't get as many more driven to hunt at the next feeding. I did however always ensure that if I hadn't seen one get any food in a couple of feedings that I would offer a cricket specifically to that one...and it was always this one in particular. His hunting abilities have gotten a LOT better and I don't have to worry so much anymore. Anyway, it's all a learning process. I wish I had known about this forum when I first got my toads, it would have helped! But I don't know everything and this is my first winter with them, so I am glad I am here now and can ask questions.

[Hoppity100]

Thanks for writing: my skinny frog came from the store like this, I just got 2 more FB's several days ago. I thought he needed to be in ICU with an IV. Because he is thin, I offer him more worms and he is eating them. My other FB's look chubby, and also their bodies are relaxed in their semi-humid environment and the first 2 look a little bigger. I know animals adapt to going without food under certain conditions (like weather or no food available). They have to adapt, they don't have a choice. Cracks me up when some owners go days without feeding them. What does that accomplish? Days are different than weeks. Yes a frog can go a few days without food, but not a few weeks like I read. Yes they might appear chubby from prolonged sitting, caused by boredom. But like you said, it is a learning process. Glad you are type of owner who pays attention. The cricket thing: I just add crickets to tank, keeping them separate worked for a while but those suckers escape. Now I have to determine how to get FB's to eat an earthworm. When I cut worm into pieces it does not wiggle long enough, so they don't go for it. I can see why they don't, the worm is too long! Frogs realize they have no way of biting a large worm. I will try dangling piece of earthworm to each frog.

Getting back to your toad: toads love mud. They love mud like I love pecan pie. They feel safe, maybe warm, they like moisture. Yes they can go a few days without food. Yes my frogs want to eat but not all the time. I have noticed they eat when they are hungry. I have offered a worm that was refused, frog didn't want it. Worm went back into container. They might eat because they don't know when their next meal is. They are in captivity and still have no way of knowing when they will see food next. So, as an owner, its good to watch their habits, you will see eventually when they like to eat. But the cricket thing, I solved that by putting crickets in the tank, they have so many places to go and they last longer. Hope all this helps. Sounds like you really care about your pet.