How often do adult RETFs eat?

[TheLivingLegend]

Just wondering how often adult retfs tend to eat. Thanks for your help!

[Bombina Bob]

Hi there
If theh RETF is a froglet, it will eat daily small crickets, usually
at the pet store we feed our adult RETFs three times a week.

[Heatheranne]

I feed my adults daily, but often they eat anywhere from every 1 to 2 days, sometimes every 3 if they eat more than one at a time. My big female only eats every 2 to 3 days but she'll eat 2 or 3 at one feeding.

[TheLivingLegend]

Thank you for your help! I recently switched to a bigger size cricket and mine eats a few at a time and doesnt eat for a few days.

[Heatheranne]

That's fine. Just remember the crickets should not be any larger than the size of the distance between his eyes.

[TheLivingLegend]

Unfortunately the place I get my crickets from supplies only 3 sizes. Pinhead, medium, and large, their mediums are enormous. With chameleons, the distance between the eyes is the golden rule as well. With chameleons they can eat crickets that are a little too big for them, nearly twice the recommended size, and they start to grow like no other once they are finally able to get onto the next size. Just curious, other than the sharp legs and wings on adult crickets, what other dangers are there from feeding crickets that are a little oversized?

[helm96]

The biggest danger with feeding oversized crickets is impaction. This is something that you do not want to run into because it can be fatal. The other danger is causing prolapse. Either one can be a very pricey visit to the vet.

[Sheldon92024]

[QUOTE=TheLivingLegend;164151]Unfortunately the place I get my crickets from supplies only 3 sizes. Pinhead, medium, and large, their mediums are enormous. With chameleons, the distance between the eyes is the golden rule as well. With chameleons they can eat crickets that are a little too big for them, nearly twice the recommended size, and they start to grow like no other once they are finally able to get onto the next size. Just curious, other than the sharp legs and wings on adult crickets, what other dangers are there from feeding crickets that are a little oversized?[/QUOTE

I have lots of reptiles, so I tend to error on the side of bigger is better. I've seen all my reps graduate to larger prey before I thought they were ready. HOWEVER, frogs are different. It's awful to watch your frog vomit a huge exoskeleton. Seriously, it looks so painful and I was riddled with guilt because I let one large cricket into the enclosure with the rest of the mediums. I think my RETF are ready for medium crickets but I keep giving them a bunch of extra smalls just in case!

[flybyferns]

The biggest danger with feeding oversized crickets is impaction. This is something that you do not want to run into because it can be fatal. The other danger is causing prolapse. Either one can be a very pricey visit to the vet.

I agree with Will !
Buy ? the pinheads. ( "pinheads" are mostly smalls anyway)
Pinheads are really only pinheads when they first hatch.
We really never see this -- unless you're breeding them.
Give them a nice big bin, good food, never let them run out of water, and you will have varied sizes in no time.
And healthy.......... having raised them yourself !

[flybyferns]

[QUOTE=Sheldon92024;164353]

Unfortunately the place I get my crickets from supplies only 3 sizes. Pinhead, medium, and large, their mediums are enormous. With chameleons, the distance between the eyes is the golden rule as well. With chameleons they can eat crickets that are a little too big for them, nearly twice the recommended size, and they start to grow like no other once they are finally able to get onto the next size. Just curious, other than the sharp legs and wings on adult crickets, what other dangers are there from feeding crickets that are a little oversized?[/QUOTE

I have lots of reptiles, so I tend to error on the side of bigger is better. I've seen all my reps graduate to larger prey before I thought they were ready. HOWEVER, frogs are different. It's awful to watch your frog vomit a huge exoskeleton. Seriously, it looks so painful and I was riddled with guilt because I let one large cricket into the enclosure with the rest of the mediums. I think my RETF are ready for medium crickets but I keep giving them a bunch of extra smalls just in case!

Good information , Sheldon !
I felt the same way -- re: my Agalychnis--- however I still feed them small crickets ( all adults).

[Heatheranne]

I feed mine small/medium also, about 1/2 to 3/4" at most.

You could also consider mail order crickets. Joshsfrogs sells them and you can choose the size.

I buy about 200 at a time and buy them small so they are still okay if they grow a little. I have a 10 gallon tank setup for them. Works just fine. I use eggcrate flats in an upright position to keep them from crawling all over each other and it allows their feces to fall to the bottom.