Feeding problems

[ejh805]

This past week (3-4 days?), my frog has been on hunger strike. Unless I offer her "junk-food"...
She can't seem to catch crickets efficiently (even with back legs pinched off), and she WAS eating nightcrawlers, but has been turning her nose up to them.
The only thing I've been able to find that she downs with enthusiasm are super worms. I know they can cause impaction, so I'm hesitant when I feed them to her. But her bowel movements have been regular, so as of now I don't think there is any cause for alarm regarding that.

Is there anything I can do to make the super worms more nutritionally complete? Or any way I can make the night crawlers seem more enticing? When I cut them in halves or pieces they just stop moving and she completely ignores them. Whole, she shows more interest but they're huge compared to her.

Thank you

[Bruce]

This past week (3-4 days?), my frog has been on hunger strike. Unless I offer her "junk-food"...
She can't seem to catch crickets efficiently (even with back legs pinched off), and she WAS eating nightcrawlers, but has been turning her nose up to them.
The only thing I've been able to find that she downs with enthusiasm are super worms. I know they can cause impaction, so I'm hesitant when I feed them to her. But her bowel movements have been regular, so as of now I don't think there is any cause for alarm regarding that.

Is there anything I can do to make the super worms more nutritionally complete? Or any way I can make the night crawlers seem more enticing? When I cut them in halves or pieces they just stop moving and she completely ignores them. Whole, she shows more interest but they're huge compared to her.

Thank you

My adult female is the same way. Superworms aren't as much of a risk for impaction as mealworms, but you're right, the risk is still there. As for making them more nutritional, you could try gut loading them or dusting them with calcium and multivitamins.

If she's able to eat supers, she could probably eat a whole nightcrawler. If she's showing interest, I say let her go. Nightcrawlers have almost no risk of impaction. You can also try tong feeding or dusting the nightcrawlers...

Pics would help. Also, what is her enclosure like? Substrate, temps... Etc.

[ejh805]

How do you gutload super worms?
And I do dust every other one with either calcium or vitamins or calcium/d3. It gets alternated.


She can and has eaten whole night crawlers before, but has lost interest in them. She'll try to get them in her mouth about twice and then turns away.

Since I brought her home, it's come out that she's pretty darn shy, and I don't think she likes the tongs. When I dust the night crawlers, she spits it out and wipes the powder off her tongue.

I'll post pics when I get home.
As far as her enclosure, its a 40 gallon breeder 1/3rd water, 2/3rds land.
Substrate is eco earth, rehydrated brick coir stuff.
Temps stay between 77-83 during the day, and drop to mid-low 70s at night.
Humidity stays around 70-80 percent. Sometimes a little more or little less. I mist in the early morning and right after I turn her lights off at night.
Heat is supplied by a heat mat on the side of the tank and a light that I use to give her a day/night cycle. Her water area is unheated, and has a filter.
The entire backside and a bit more has large fake plants to provide cover.

Anything else?

[ejh805]

Here are those enclosure pictures you asked for.

[Maharg]

Why dont you try silkworms, or if he is big enough Hornworms? Most frogs find that to be the ultimate treat.

[ejh805]

Graham,

I'm trying to find something I can use as a staple.
And aren't silkworms and hormworms rather expensive?

[Jcalcagno]

Here are those enclosure pictures you asked for.

What a wonderful home you have provided for your frog!

[ejh805]

What a wonderful home you have provided for your frog!

Why thank you ^_^

[Bruce]

The roaches aren't THAT bad! I've had them for a few years now, I think they're great! You just have to mentally prepare yourself, they're a bit bigger than you initially think, but you get over it

[ejh805]

Haha, great. I'm sure your frog will like them.. if not, you'll just have a bunch of roaches to care for.

If my picky frog won't eat them, then I'll probably give them to a friend of mine who has geckos.

Curious how much did you pay?

100 for $20, including shipping.

The roaches aren't THAT bad! I've had them for a few years now, I think they're great! You just have to mentally prepare yourself, they're a bit bigger than you initially think, but you get over it

I sure hope I can get over it!!

[Wicked frogs]

What really freaks you out is when your in some ones house and you see some bad *** roaches (not feeders) just some big ole 3-4 inch nasty roaches crawling around in cabinets don't get me started on city/marsh rats those things are something to be scared of they are ruthless... People say roaches aint that bad but those are pure breed, roaches ahhhh straight up N a s t y but Aa i buy them off a guy the next city ova for my boo BIG LuiEe and he loves them and he be growing so quick since i started feeding them, why i asked is cause i pay $3 bucks for 16ish medium's )))

[ejh805]

Ugh this frog is difficult!!
She seems to be getting bored with superworms as well!!

Would it be safe for me to just STOP feeding her until the roaches come in next week to really spark her appetite, or would it be dangerous since she's still young?

[Maharg]

How many days will that be? Anything over 3 and id start to feel uncomfortable. These frogs grow at a fast rate and need the food to sustain it. My Dwarf Pixie is still eating daily, or at worst every second day. Its a long thread and I havnt looked back yet, but have you tried a pinkie mouse yet? That will do the trick.

[Maharg]

Also, your frog is still fairly small and its not going to take many superworms to impact him or her. Id cut that out right away. Ive completely taken them out of my amphibs food rotation. My toad gobbles full mice and even crayfish without issue, but the only time ive seen her come close to impaction was after superworms.

[Hoppity100]

I have the same thing with 1 frog out of 4 and he is skinny! I have tried crickets and several worms and he has eaten but when its feeding time he often just sits and stares at it. I tried dangled a worm in front of it and he ignores it. He probably had a cricket when I wasn't looking but the rest eat often. I hope he is okay and eats more. I wonder if its safe to offer a thin piece of plain cooked spagetti?

[ejh805]

Hoppity,

I don't see why that wouldn't be safe. But spaghetti won't have any nutritional value at all for the frog. And if it isn't moving, what makes you think that he would be more interested in it than a real moving worm? I'm just curious.

[Hoppity100]

If I have a picky frog and I dangle it he might take it. I am concerned about his weight. I can update later and am still going to try other worms first, by dangling. Frog won't know difference between spagetti and worm if its dangling. I question their eyesight and maybe they have a sense of smell. Thought this was worth a try.

[Pluke]

Don't give your frog Spaghetti.. -_-

It is in NO WAY beneficial to them. If anything, it will be bad for them. Just stick to trying worms. Frogs are carnivores and they need meat, anything else is unnatural and unnecessary.

[Maharg]

Yes very very very bad idea. Frogs, like cats are carnivorous. That's why cats will sometimes eat grass. Their systems aren't meant for it so it causes them to vomit. But for cats, this is a biological need they developed through evolution to rid their stomach of hair they collect from grooming. This obviously isn't required for frogs. It will make it very sick.

[Hoppity100]

Yep, it was just an idea, I never even cooked spagetti. I tried again and the skinny guy ate 2 wax worms. Yay! I have other worms for my frogs, too. Don't worry...he's not getting spagetti with or without meat sauce.