Picky or Stressed?

[COOCOpUcHoo]

My pacman has finally eaten after 5 days of owning him. (he ate yesterday which was his first time) I was told to feed him daily. So I tried to feed him and i added 4 dusted crickets into the tank. He took none of them and did not even bother to look towards them. I was thinking he was stressed out, but if he was, then why did he eat before. So i might think he was picky, but if he was picky, would have he eaten the crickets before? Please help I really don't want to have to force feed.

[DVirginiana]

Even as a baby mine would only take food every other day.

It's possible he was stressed, or maybe he just wasn't hungry. Taking the back legs off crickets makes them easier for young frogs to track and catch. Also, when did you feed him? They're nocturnal, so they often don't want food until later at night. If your tank parameters are correct, and you've covered three sides of the tank with a solid background, all you can do is change feeding times and make sure there's no traffic around his tank while you're feeding.

[COOCOpUcHoo]

I do know that these animals do not require UVB lighting but i use it because it brings the temperature at a perfect 80-83 degree F.

[danfrog]

The light might be stressing the little guy out. I use a regular energy saving bulb on a dimmer for the day heating. But I also have plenty of shade so its not so bright.

[COOCOpUcHoo]

It is only a 13 watt bulb and all my other lights are too powerful for the little guy. do regular in house florescent bulbs work?

[danfrog]

What are you using to monitor heat and humidity? Those can be big factors in not eating.

[COOCOpUcHoo]

humidity sadly nothing, for temperature i use the little black strip thing.

[danfrog]

Oh and the bulb is a 40 watt.

[COOCOpUcHoo]

it says 13 watt on the box

[danfrog]

Im using this. I have my lights/heat sources on one side with a ton of shade and hiding places so that the lights won't bug him or dry out his skin. This way I get the temps and day cycle I want without stressing the frog.

[COOCOpUcHoo]

Ok, I see, I have more supplies to make a nice hiding area.

[danfrog]

If you spike the humidity real high about ten minutes before feed it can help with feeding responces. An hour after lights out, spray his enclosure down a bit then wait ten or so minutes. Then try feeding him. Might help.

[danfrog]

Hope this helps. I also recommend reading all the old threads on these forums. That is where I have learned most of what I know. I've only been a frogger guy for about 6 weeks. I still have a lot to learn but old threads really have helped.

[COOCOpUcHoo]

i just made this shade/hide area

[danfrog]

Looks good to me! Also make sure that the plastics arnt too close to the light just to avoid melting.

[danfrog]

just so your tracking. He might not eat tonight because of the new additions to his enclosure. He might need to kinda resettle.

[COOCOpUcHoo]

Ok, Also is it ok if I take out the half log, he doesn't even use it and the crickets just sit in there.

[danfrog]

Yup. He will get too big for it soon enough anyways.

[COOCOpUcHoo]

you were a lot of help, thank you.

[danfrog]

Your welcome