New Cranwelli Owner

[Jeffww]

I just came into possession of a small Cranwelli at about 2" in length. I'm wondering what size nightcrawler or redworm he can eat without choking. The little guy loves his crickets but I'd prefer to feed him earthworms since they're easier to keep on hand. But the problem is that he won't eat them. He had the head end of a red worm the other day and since then refuses to eat them while only eating crickets. He seems to like the movement the head makes. I think it seems kind of wasteful for me to be decapitating the worms for him to eat and tossing the near-motionless tail ends. Any good way to get him to eat them?

Also is it normal for a young cranwelli to only want to eat maybe 1-2 crickets a day? The first feed he downed a worm chunk and two large crickets. Since then he's eaten maybe at most 2 crickets (Ca D3 dusted) daily. I've kept tree frogs (green and cuban) and american bullfrogs in the past and they've always eaten on their own without any coaxing. So I'm pretty concerned that he's not eating enough. Perhaps he needs some time in warm water?

Right now he's sitting in rehydrated coco fiber. Humidity is a bit low at 40% it's normally around 70% but I need to buy a new fogger. He seems to eat regardless of the humidity though.

[Pyxiefan001]

What temperatures are you keeping him at? I believe, when young, Pacs should be kept around 82 degrees during the day and 78 at night.

[Mentat]

Hello and welcome to FF Jeff. Please read this care article, it has lot's of good info on Pacman: Frog Forum - Pacman and Horned Frogs - Ceratophrys - Care and Breeding. It can probably eat a smaller night crawler cut in half. If you cut pieces from pointy end the worm will heal until needed. For larger ones (i.e. 6 in. maybe cut them in 2 in. pieces. Mine enjoyed munching on them whole since around that size, it all depends on frog .

[Jeffww]

What temperatures are you keeping him at? I believe, when young, Pacs should be kept around 82 degrees during the day and 78 at night.

He's being kept at exactly those conditions.


So it won't be a danger to the frog if I try to feed him the worms whole?

[Heatheranne]

You'll need to keep his humidity at 80%. Try covering 3/4 of the top screen with plexiglass, glass, Saran Wrap, or foil with the edges folded up. Of course, be careful not to put any heat lamp on top of the plexiglass or Saran and if using glass, lift the lamp up off the glass a few inches.

Babies digest best with daytime temps of 80-82'F.

Try using cut earthworms/night crawlers instead of red worms. When red worms are cut or injured they secrete a foul mucous so many frogs do not like them. Try tong feeding and wiggle or scoot the worm pieces in front of him.

What does your little guy look like?

[Jeffww]

You'll need to keep his humidity at 80%. Try covering 3/4 of the top screen with plexiglass, glass, Saran Wrap, or foil with the edges folded up. Of course, be careful not to put any heat lamp on top of the plexiglass or Saran and if using glass, lift the lamp up off the glass a few inches.

Babies digest best with daytime temps of 80-82'F.

Try using cut earthworms/night crawlers instead of red worms. When red worms are cut or injured they secrete a foul mucous so many frogs do not like them. Try tong feeding and wiggle or scoot the worm pieces in front of him.

What does your little guy look like?

Thanks for the tip. I added some more saran wrap and got it up to 70% still need to get a new fogger though.

I'll try smaller worm chunks later tonight. I've been tong feeding him this whole time. But I get concerned since sometimes he will bite down on them. Are the rubber tipped tongs they sell safer? The ones I'm using are some 11" stainless steel ones I use for my aquarium.

I'll post pics of him when I give him a soaking later tonight.

[Heatheranne]

Thanks for the tip. I added some more saran wrap and got it up to 70% still need to get a new fogger though.

I'll try smaller worm chunks later tonight. I've been tong feeding him this whole time. But I get concerned since sometimes he will bite down on them. Are the rubber tipped tongs they sell safer? The ones I'm using are some 11" stainless steel ones I use for my aquarium.

I'll post pics of him when I give him a soaking later tonight.

You're welcome .

Either the steel ends or rubber tips are fine. Hold them at an angle so the ends are diagonal or horizontal to him just in case he bites...it's very likely he will.

Can't wait to see .

[Lija]

we would LOVE to see your frog
it seems everyone covered your questions. I'll add though.

Ca/vit D3 - you gotta slow down a little, do it every second feeding, not every day and use multivitamins once a week.
if he went for a worm ( red wiggler) but refuses to eat any worms ever since, probably he got that mucus on, hated it and how doesn't want to do it again, here is when patience on your part is needed. I would try to reinforce tong feeding while he is young, it will save you headache later. Each frog is different and what one likes or does doesn't mean that another one will do the same.
have you covered 3 sides of the enclosure, what size of a tank he lives in, what kind of lightening do you have and do you have albino?

[Jeffww]

we would LOVE to see your frog
it seems everyone covered your questions. I'll add though.

Ca/vit D3 - you gotta slow down a little, do it every second feeding, not every day and use multivitamins once a week.
if he went for a worm ( red wiggler) but refuses to eat any worms ever since, probably he got that mucus on, hated it and how doesn't want to do it again, here is when patience on your part is needed. I would try to reinforce tong feeding while he is young, it will save you headache later. Each frog is different and what one likes or does doesn't mean that another one will do the same.
have you covered 3 sides of the enclosure, what size of a tank he lives in, what kind of lightening do you have and do you have albino?

I fed ca everyday because he was eating so little. But Ill only give everyother day from now on. Ive got vitins for him too. He ate some the day I got him. Next vitamin day is friday. His crickets are gutloaded with repashy.

He's a plain green pacman. Under rather dim 3w led lights in a 3g critter keeper. Ive got a ten gallon and an exoterra tank waiting for him as he grows. The sides are covered.

So should i keep trying to offer him nightcrawlers each day? I guess he's traumatized by that red wriggler.

[Lija]

yeah try nightcrawlers, cut a piece from it's "tail", rub his lips a little, be patient.

[Jeffww]

Still didn't want to eat nightcrawlers today. I'll keep trying though. He ate four medium sized crickets before he started to try to run away from the tongs.

He had a good soak in warm water. No poop though, just pee. He did have a BM in his water dish sometime today which is good.




He looks a bit thin. He did become rounder after his meal though.



eating a cricket.

[Lija]

that was some jump for the cricket! very pretty frog you got here! he looks just fine.

[Jeffww]

Thanks. Yah he's a very active frog. Earlier he was chasing another cricket all around the tub. He's also a surprisingly good jumper. I had to put his tube into another box just in case.

[Jeffww]

So is it normal for a frog this size to only really want to eat every tother day? I fed him quite fully yesterday with four cricks and tonight he's not in the mood. Ran away from worms (still) and is just ignoring cricks. I'm finding plenty of poop. Maybe he's still too full from last night...

[Lija]

yes it is normal, when they're babies they would eat and eat because they need to grow. as they grow they slow down. usually they're are great in regulating their food intake, just feed proper food and he'll be just fine.

[Jeffww]

Thank you so much for being so helpful. Today I caught mippy shedding. He's gotten FAT since I took that picture....2 days ago. And yes he's been pooping regularly. I find tons of it. He did it while I was feeding him too yesterday. At this size I should see nuptial pads already right? Because he (she?) doesn't have them. Or does Mippy have to grow a bit more before I know how big he'll get.




He also ate his first bite of night crawler today. He still hates them Wouldn't eat another piece after the first...