lighting for albinos

[Burra]

Hi everyone!

I'm a new member but have been lurking for months. I had a regular brown/green in the past, but just purchased a strawberry pineapple. I want to give him/her a light, but I'm not sure what would be safe since he/she is technically an albino. I read the enclosure set up and I'm still confused.

Some background info: I currently have a 10 gallon tank, eco earth substrate, a UTH on the side of the tank, and a water bowl. The top is a regular metal cover so I have it partially covered to keep the humidity up. He is doing great, eating like a champ from day 1, and pooping normal. I am using a calcium plus D3 supplement 4 feedings per week, and a vitamin once a week (he's still growing). I have 2 bearded dragons as well, so I breed dubia and superworms. I also have hornworms, silkworms, butterworms at various times. And of course now earthworms too exclusively for the frog!

I would also like to tong feed him but he's not cooperating. I watched 2 recommended youtube videos on tong feeding but they didn't help. He doesn't eat when I am watching, ever. He puffs up at the tongs and closes his eyes sometimes when I put food by his mouth. Is it ok to not feed him for 2 days and then try the tongs? He's about an inch and a half SVL. I don't want to starve him if it's not a good idea at his size.

Thanks!!! And I love this board!! You have so much great info that I didn't need to join to ask anything until now!

[GrifTheGreat]

Hi everyone!

I'm a new member but have been lurking for months. I had a regular brown/green in the past, but just purchased a strawberry pineapple. I want to give him/her a light, but I'm not sure what would be safe since he/she is technically an albino. I read the enclosure set up and I'm still confused.

Some background info: I currently have a 10 gallon tank, eco earth substrate, a UTH on the side of the tank, and a water bowl. The top is a regular metal cover so I have it partially covered to keep the humidity up. He is doing great, eating like a champ from day 1, and pooping normal. I am using a calcium plus D3 supplement 4 feedings per week, and a vitamin once a week (he's still growing). I have 2 bearded dragons as well, so I breed dubia and superworms. I also have hornworms, silkworms, butterworms at various times. And of course now earthworms too exclusively for the frog!

I would also like to tong feed him but he's not cooperating. I watched 2 recommended youtube videos on tong feeding but they didn't help. He doesn't eat when I am watching, ever. He puffs up at the tongs and closes his eyes sometimes when I put food by his mouth. Is it ok to not feed him for 2 days and then try the tongs? He's about an inch and a half SVL. I don't want to starve him if it's not a good idea at his size.

Thanks!!! And I love this board!! You have so much great info that I didn't need to join to ask anything until now!

Welcome to Frog Forum Burra.

For a light purchase a Fluker's 5.5" Clamp Lamp with Dimmer so you can adjust the amount of light and heat coming from the bulb. As for the bulb you'll want an Infrared bulb that is no higher than 50 watts and no lower than 25 watts. 40 or 50 are best.

It is ok to wait a couple days and then try to tong feed, but ill make another suggestion. When you go to feed him via tongs don't actually approach him with them. Instead hold them around 6" above him and drop the food item so that it lands about 1" to 1.5" from his face. This way the frog sees that food comes from the tongs and eventually makes the connection that tongs equal food. Also eventually will find it easier to take food from the tongs rather than catching the food itself.

Note that not all frogs will take to tong feeding right away and some not at all, but this has worked for me many times. Some will also take from the tongs a couple times in a feeding and then want to catch the rest on their own so no worries if that happens.

Any further questions feel free to ask.

[Heatheranne]

Welcome to the forum .

Grifthegreat and Ivoryreptiles are the champs at pac feeding. Mikesfrogs too. Always great advice.

Strawberries are so pretty. Ivory used to say do the zombie dance with the worms. It works pretty good .

[Pluke]

I just wanted to add with the tong feeding, I have a frog that picked up on tong feeding quickly as a baby and fed off tongs for a couple months then suddenly stopped. Just the other day he finally decided to take food from tongs again after eating worms off the dirt for a couple months. They're weird like that. At least mine is, heh. He'll learn and if he doesn't just feed him the way he prefers, just make sure there is no risk of impaction from foreign objects, IE: Seeds, rocks/gravel, wood chips, stuff like that in your tank.

[Burra]

Thanks everyone!

I'll try your suggestions and if he doesn't want to tong feed, so be it. It's more for me anyway, although it would make it easier to keep track of his feeding habits.

Thanks for the lighting info as well! I didn't want to harm my new family member!

I'm already looking at getting another since my friend offered me a 15 gallon tank. Frogs are addicting!