Do pacman frogs HAVE to hibernate?

[drewnation]

What are the pros and cons for not letting or letting your Pacman frog hibernate?

[DVirginiana]

IMO there is no reason to aestivate a pac unless you plan to breed them. They aestivate in response to bad environmental situations; like a dry season in the wild.
It's not like some reptiles that slow down seasonally even if their environment stays they same.
A pacman under a year old should never be aestivated. For older frogs, it's up to you, but it can still be risky. If you do intend to, you definitely need to talk with someone who has experience doing it and get specific pointers from them.

[pac]

Its not risky adult frogs will automatically astivate my female went through this winter and last winter . And it give longer years on the frog.

[Lija]

Its not risky adult frogs will automatically astivate my female went through this winter and last winter . And it give longer years on the frog.

it is not risky when you know what you're doing.
as for longer life there is no way to prove it, it may be true and may be not. In captivity the only reason to do so i see is to breed. they sometimes "aestivate" themselves, meaning they sit there looking all mad and sleepy, eat less, but if conditions are not changing ( temp/humidity) they won't go into true aestivation.

[pac]

Your right which in my case i do mant to breed my frogs but before i wanted to breed them my old male rip would for 3 months to 4 had that thick cocoon and woke up ready to eat its just to you drewnation.Wait until the frog is atleast 2yrs before doing it.But most frogs once adult will hibernate.But if you dont want to dont turn the heat down.