Feeding Question

[Jeffree]

I've had Jeffree Star (He is a Squirrel Tree Frog btw) for around 8-9 months now. I've always fed him by going to the store every 2 weeks and picking up 20ish small crickets. (Some people take the time to count and others just scoop up a bunch and throw them in the bag. Lol! One day I got 43!) This seems to have worked well, he eats them slowly and a day or so before it is time to get more he finishes them off and I let him fast for that extra 1-2 days before I pick up the new batch.

Problem is Mr. Star seems to be getting a little pudgy lately. He isn't a fat green blob but he isn't as lean as the ones I see around here. (Wild ones) How can you tell if your frog is overweight? Should I cut back his food or should I stop comparing a regularly fed pet to wild ones who don't eat as good?

[Kurt]

Do you have a picture of the frog in question?

[Iceni]

I also have a Hyla Squirella - squirrel tree frog.

He lives with an enclosure with 2 hyla versicolor. And although mixing species is generally frowned upon and the Greys are slightly larger they get along without seeming to notice each other.

Feeding wise, currently mine are in the chilled period of there year. meaning i allow temps to drop to about 15-18 degrees during the night, and only raise them up to 21 during the day. This means metabolically mine are slow. Only eating 10-15 crickets each per month. Your feeding about 42 crickets per month for a similar sized animal.

In summer i like to raise there food intake but i feed by feel and don't generally give more than 5 per week. For a total of 25 per month each. If they breed they will get more.

The way i tell if there hungry is this. H - squirella is generally highly nocturnal. I never see mine unless i'm working nights. If i ever go to the tank at dusk or dawn and he's up then he's obviously hungry. If he's asleep then he's got enough fat reserves and food isn't as important to him. ALso the little bones just up from the vent are a very good indicator.

This is a wild frog.



Notice the bone on the vent is just visible, To me that frog looks in perfect health. And is how i try and maintain my own captive specimen. If that bone is too prominent then your under feeding and need to step it up for a few weeks. If you think it's right or a little fatty round there then step off, Even if it means not feeding for a few weeks.

[Jeffree]

I don't have a picture ATM but Ill try to get one tonight.

I also never see my guy. Occassionally he will rest himself on a plant close to the front of the tank and I can see him that way but otherwise I don't see him too often because I go to bed around 10 and he doesn't come out until a few hours later.

Btw what size crickets do you feed? When I say small I mean SMALL crickets. Their bodies are around the size of my frogs eye.

He has always looked the way that frog does until recently. You can still see the little bones but his stomach seems to be bigger. Think it could be a medical problem?? There has been no real change in feeding habits but I didn't know if maybe because it has been colder lately he has just been naturally storing some extra fat or something?

[John]

I just want to point out that Iceni's temperatures are of course in Celsius.

[Iceni]

LOL those crickets sound tiny! Mine are about 10-15mm in length. Those frogs seem to like a couple of good hearty crickets a lot more than smaller ones.

Sorry yeah all temps posted were in Celsius.