Oops, Worm Confusion!

[ikissedafrog]

So, being the proud new owner of an ADORABLE baby pixie frog, I desire to give him the best foods I can. I figured earthworms and roaches would be his staple foods, with a nice variety of other squirmy things thrown into the mix. So, silly me, I picked up a small container of 'red worms' thinking that worms were worms and they were just a smaller version of nightcrawlers. Apparently this is not the case.

First question: Will this little frog a) eat them in the first place and b) have any sort of bad reaction to them if he does not like the taste?...supposedly the release some sort of foul-tasting chemical when bitten?? The last thing I want him to do is associate worms with 'icky tasting' if you know what I mean. I do have a turtle who I'm sure wouldn't mind finishing off an entire cup of worms all alone, if they are not suitable for the pixie, lol!

Secondly, was talking to a friend about what would be the easiest way to cut up worms into smaller pieces and he suggested soaking them for a few seconds in water mixed with a bit of aquarium salt which apparently removes their slimy coating, then cutting them with a knife...this is how he feeds worms to his FISH. I just wonder if this is a safe practice for frogs?

Thanks in advance for helping to clear up some confusion!

[Hoppity100]

I am a new owner, too, FBT's. I have the same questions you have about worms. I bought wax worms, came home, they were all dead, exchanged them. Tried crickets (which frogs love) but they are hard to catch and one ended up in my car. I bought earthworms from walmart but they're so big I have to cut them (yuck) and they don't move long after doing this. They also have a way of slipping right thru pebbles in land area. So, I got mealworms. Now these worms are just plain boring: they lay there until you poke them, then they suddenly move. They also die if in water a little too long. I've gone thru many while the frogs think about whether they want them or not. Our pet stores don't sell roaches (I have not found any) and they sell another type of worm but told me these were not what frogs want, forgot their name. So, I rotate between different worms and crickets.

About mealworms: some say frogs can't digest them because of their shell and to cut heads off first. And others say (like the store) to give them mealworms. So, now I'm thinking there must be something else I can offer. I wonder if they'd eat canned dog food if I could dangle it? But how would I dangle that, it would fall apart. Maybe plain cooked spagetti? it might look like a worm to them. Yep, maybe I'll try that. If that doesn't work, there's always Arby's (LOL). Wanted you to know someone else has the same questions you have.

[ikissedafrog]

Lol, thanks Hoppity!

I have a suggestion you may want to try if you offer food in their enclosure, place things like mealworms and such into some sort of dish (I use a jar lid) on the land area and they won't get lost in the substrate! I pull my frog out of his enclosure to feed, because he's in a planted terrarium which offers plenty of hiding spots for clever 'food' to hide in, lol, but even in his feeding tub I place wax worms and squirmy things in the lid to keep them more contained.

[Hoppity100]

Thanks, I did try this and they seemed afraid of the small flat round lid I put mealworms on, there was a 3mm edge, so that couldn't have stopped them. But, I will try that again and in fact, am leaving now to go to pet store for more worms. I can let you know if this attempt again, works.

[UncleChester]

First question: Will this little frog a) eat them in the first place and b) have any sort of bad reaction to them if he does not like the taste?...supposedly the release some sort of foul-tasting chemical when bitten?? The last thing I want him to do is associate worms with 'icky tasting' if you know what I mean.!

I can't speak for pixies, but one of my Gray Treefrogs doesn't like the taste of earthworms and just spits them out. He's never had any sort of reaction that I've noticed to the secretions except for a dislike of the taste. My other Gray and my American Green Treefrog will gobble them down and have never had any problems. As far as I know, the secretions are just foul tasting to some frogs and not harmful in any way.

I've never heard of the salt water washing thing.

So, I got mealworms. Now these worms are just plain boring: they lay there until you poke them, then they suddenly move.

Store bought mealworms tend to be prety docile. I've found mealworms I've bred myself are much more active and lively.

About mealworms: some say frogs can't digest them because of their shell and to cut heads off first. And others say (like the store) to give them mealworms. So, now I'm thinking there must be something else I can offer.

Mealworms are poor nutritionally and can bung up your frog if feed in large quantities, but fine as the occasional treat. The utter ease in which mealworms can be kept and bred makes having them around for the odd feeding a simple thing to do.

I wonder if they'd eat canned dog food if I could dangle it? But how would I dangle that, it would fall apart. Maybe plain cooked spagetti? it might look like a worm to them. Yep, maybe I'll try that. If that doesn't work, there's always Arby's (LOL). Wanted you to know someone else has the same questions you have.

I'm hoping you're kidding, but in case you aren't please don't feed your frog dog food, spaghetti or other human food. They're made to eat live insects, not pasta. I wouldn't even feed Arby's to my worst human enemy.

[Hoppity100]

Thanks, I can try it again. Just got back from pet store and sure enough their wax worms were dead again! Finally found live ones that were not black. Why is this you ask? Well, no one there checks them and their fridge might be too cool. The first answer is right, no one checks them and other people most likely went home like I did before with dead ones. Just read about how to keep these worms alive, the fridge butter holder must be too cold. I can store mine in garage or basement, might check temp there first. I got new mealworms: will try keeping them differently, too. I need a break from crickets for a while.

[ikissedafrog]

Thanks for the input Brian...I offered my little guy one of the red worms today, and he gobbled it right up, so perhaps I was worrying for nothing! I think it just comes down to every frog having individual tastes!

And Hoppity...have you ever considered ordering feeders online? I do, mostly because I live in a very rural area and it's the only practical way for me to get decent live foods! I order roaches regularly, and from a different site, I have recently got a shipment of seemingly very healthy feeders (wax worms, phoenix worms, meal worms, and the red worms were all ordered) and am quite pleased with it all. I'm keeping an eye on yet another site for them to restock silkworms, small ones, as I've heard that frogs and toads go simply nuts for them! Up until now, I've never had to keep things like this on hand, I'm attempting to keep them in a cool closet...so far so good. I think the fridge is indeed too cold to keep most feeder insects alive for long! Best of luck with yours!

[Hoppity100]

I have, but for 2 frogs I thought buying worms at the store (5 min. away) would be better and maybe worms would be fresher. Just bought new containers of wax worms and mealworms today, made sure all were alive first, found at least 6 containers of dead wax worms. Store will not check them, I don't understand why, but, my guys each had a wax worm already.