Food for tree frogs

[Sanimal]

Hello everybody! Currently I feed my Hyla Cinereas three different food items. Crickets are their main staple, and occasionally I feed them mini mealworms and waxworms just to vary it up a bit. However, my waxworms die pretty fast; they only live for a few weeks (I feed very few during this time because of their high fat content). So the question is, how do I keep them alive? I refrigerate them in about 42 degrees Fahrenheit.

In the case that I can't keep the waxworms alive, I was thinking about completely removing them from the frogs' diet, and instead feeding them something else (something that's also healthier). I know nightcrawlers are often recommended; however, I don't have the heart to cut them up into smaller pieces while they are still alive to feed to the frogs. Roaches I don't feel comfortable with. As for fruit flies, I (and my mom) don't want to take the risk of them escaping into the home. So is there any other insect (I'm thinking some kind of worm?) that I could feed the frogs in substitute of the waxworms? I want the frogs to have at least three different feeder items in their diet.

Thanks for any advice!
Sanimal

[poison]

What about red wigglers? Way smaller then nightcrawlers and way easier to breed. Your worm are dying because they are being kept to cool and not eating.

Heres a pic of my red wigglers.

[poison]

Heads up on the red wigglers, when threatened they give off a nasty taste so your frogs may not take them but once you get them to eat them they really shouldnt have a problem.

[Sanimal]

Thanks for the reply. What do you mean by the waxworms not eating? Should I feed them? If so, with what? They come in a little container with small wooden chips. As for the red wigglers, in the photo they still look too long for my frogs. The space between their eyes is tiny (about half an inch), even though they are adults. Any other suggestions? Thanks!

[flybyferns]

Have you tried letting your wax worms pupate into moths! Thye will go bonkers over the moths !

wax worm info:

WAXWORM BREEDER KITS & SUPPLIES : Best Bet Waxworm and Mealworm Breeder kits, Wholesale wax worms, Fishing lures!!, Waxworm and Mealworm Breeding kits, Bulk Waxworms Fishing Bait

waxmoths

https://www.google.com/search?q=food...w=1211&bih=589

You could purchase a bunch ---> lots of moths!
Healthy Crickets - Buy live wax worms

[Sanimal]

Thanks for all those links Lynn! I will look more into waxworm care.

[flybyferns]

Thanks for all those links Lynn! I will look more into waxworm care.

You will not be sorry. It's worth the investment.
They really love the moths.
This tip came to me from a member of whom I really respect - View Profile: wesleybrouwer - Frog Forum

Tip: The wax worms like to be crowded. They seen to breed better... in deeper ( bran/honey) substrate. I roll up wax paper and place it on the top of the substrate of which they lay their eggs on. You need a lot of worms when you start out - at least 50. They breed slowly. I give my frogs weekly moth treats.

Tip - I feed them their moths in their cricket bowl. I'm afraid I have to say I do modify them so they can't fly.
Not fun Not fun at all !

Actually the moths don't really fly well . They kind of flutter/scoot. But some modification is needed ( for my frogs, anyway).

This especially important for red eye treed frogs. They are not the sharpest tools in the shed and will take a ridiculous, uncontrolled, leap at one if it's flying around. I don't want any frog injuries !
Silly heads-they never seen to plan their landings!

Have fun! Lynn

[UncleChester]

As for the red wigglers, in the photo they still look too long for my frogs. The space between their eyes is tiny (about half an inch), even though they are adults. Any other suggestions? Thanks!

With soft bodied worms I don't worry about breaking the 'space between the eyes' rule. I feed my H. cinerea skinny earthworms that are approaching her body length, but a little shorter if the worms are particularly fat. I've never seen any identifiable part of an earthworm make it out the other end. My H. cinerea attacks and devours earthworms like she's trying to wipe them from the face of the earth. Not all frogs will get past the taste and not all worms taste the same (judging from which ones my other frogs will eat, not personal experience).

[kueluck]

Not sure why you don't want to do roaches. If you use the dubias they look more like pill bugs than roaches, and mine enjoy them, along with red runner roaches, moths, and butterworms.

[Sanimal]

Thanks for all those replies guys! I was just wondering; is the moth form of wax worms healthier than the larvae form?

[Sanimal]

Ok lol, so I didn't really intend to breed the waxworms (I just wanted to let them pupate into moths so I can feed those), but apparently they did, and now there are tons of babies. I didn't realize the moths mate so quickly, because as soon as the caterpillars pupated, I fed them to the frogs, thinking they didn't have enough time to breed/lay eggs (they're fast XD). I was just wondering, how often does their food need to be replaced (and of course I'm not planning to do it any time soon because there are so many babies in the bedding). And again, is the moth form healthier than the larvae form? Thanks!