Feeding frustrations

[cambaker]

Alright guys so I have two frogs and and starting to get frustrated with one of them. they are both awesome and i really like them but need some help. They are both cranwelli's about the same age and size. One of them grabs pinkies no problem and catches dubias like a champ both in his cage or if I take him out. BUT however the other guy refuses pinkies every time and will only eat dubias, however he's awful at catching them and always end up with a mouthful of coco fiber. he won't eat outside of his home and won't eat worms. he also won't take anything from from tongs. I don't want him to starve but I also don't have an hour everyday to try and get him to eat. please help!!!

[DeeDub]

Make him take it from the tongs. Keep bumping and rubbing it on his snout and he will take it. Go easy, and take a break if he is getting stressed.

[DVirginiana]

If you can get the edge of the dubia's shell started between his lips he'll probably get aggravated and take it after just a minute. Be very careful and gentle with this though, as you don't want to accidentally cut his skin or gums with the shell. Once you get him tong feeding you can get him to try nightcrawlers as they're healthier.

Yeah, you don't want him eating too much cocofiber. It's not as bad as other substrates if it gets eaten, but it can definitely cause impaction.

[GrifTheGreat]

DeeDub and DV have you covered. All I'll add is that you may have to offer each Dubia one at a time. Set them infront of him one at a time so that they're laying on their back. A lot of the time the Roaches will have trouble righting themselves in the soft substrate and will begin the kind of thrash around giving your frog time to snatch it up. You can also drop them one at a time right in front of him. The movement should cause him to strike and snatch the Roach.

[wesleybrouwer]

Makes me wonder why it needs to feed on mice at all costs.

Did you ever try throwing in insects and leave the frog be?

I don't quit get the reason of tong feeding, a hungry frog will be able to get it's food.
If to much is left, feed a little bit less, if it's gone quickly, just throw in some more.

Seeing it does eat, but just doesn't eat what you wan't, i don't think there is much of a problem.
I don't like rodents as a staple diet as well.
You might try feeding it some more roaches, crickets, grasshoppers, waxworms, silkworms etc.
It's not bad varying it's food items.

[GrifTheGreat]

Makes me wonder why it needs to feed on mice at all costs.

Did you ever try throwing in insects and leave the frog be?

I don't quit get the reason of tong feeding, a hungry frog will be able to get it's food.
If to much is left, feed a little bit less, if it's gone quickly, just throw in some more.

Seeing it does eat, but just doesn't eat what you wan't, i don't think there is much of a problem.
I don't like rodents as a staple diet as well.
You might try feeding it some more roaches, crickets, grasshoppers, waxworms, silkworms etc.
It's not bad varying it's food items.

Problem with Dubia Roaches is that they are quick and love to burrow. So this could be the reason why the frog has trouble. Mice are a huge NO for a staple of course, but tong feeding a Pacman is best because the tend to get large mouthfuls of substrate if the miss their prey.

[wesleybrouwer]

Sounds reasonable if roaches burrow quicker then they get eaten.
I got some Trachycephalus grabbing a mouth full of soil when they miss their jump.
They just stick their tongue out and rub most of it off, never had any problems due to this.
Guess in nature it will happen as well from time to time. ;-)

[cambaker]

Thanks for all the interesting discussion. the pinkies are really only a treat once every two weeks usually for the frog that takes them and roaches cover him otherwise. the dubias are definitely tricky to feed but i will try with the suggestions given. I used to feed crickets to them both but they need so many and crickets are just messy and bleh I just didn't like feeding them. ill try to get them snatching up worms but my one troublesome guy is just so stubborn