Injured Eyed Wild Caught

[BlueKiwiOca]

As I said before, it takes a while for them to adjust to captivity. It's used to being out in the wild, free to roam around, and now suddenly it's in a glass box! Surely if you were in the same situation you'd be a bit freaked out.

If you kept it, yes of course you would have to feed it forever- not necessarily force-feed, but provide it with adequate food. I wouldn't use wax-worms as a staple diet, they're very high in fat. See if you can get some crickets or Dubia roaches. You'll need to dust the food in a calcium supplement with D3 added, if you're not keeping it under an intense UVB light. Frogs in captivity can develop Metabolic Bone Disease, which is caused by a lack of calcium in their diet. In the wild, the frog would eat bugs that ate plants high in calcium, so it wasn't an issue, but in captivity we need to provide extra calcium with D3- the D3 helps the calcium to be metabolised and absorbed properly.

Frogs aren't really social animals, like humans or dogs or horses. They're normally fine on their own, so I don't think having a frog friend would make him start eating again. Of course if you want to, that's absolutely fine, I just don't think it would make much difference to the frog's state.

I don't think the frog will hibernate, if you're keeping it inside it should be too warm to do so. Hopefully someone who has experience with aestivation will chime in and answer your question. From what I know, you need very precise conditions to allow a frog to aestivate. Without managing these conditions properly, it can be dangerous for the frog.

[iheartfrogs]

I think you're a little confused, but thank you for trying.

The wax worms were chosen purposefully for their size and digestibility while I get the hang of force feeding, based on what is available to me.

Dubai roaches are illegal in Canada.

By feeding forever, of course I meant force feeding, because how could I expect to "keep" it and not feed it..?

By hibernation, I meant if I release the frog.

I think the part you missed was "If I release..."

Those were just my thoughts at that moment, not serious questions about it's care.

[BlueKiwiOca]

My apologies. Generally I'm pretty good at understanding what people are asking. You wouldn't have to force-feed it forever. In fact, even if he's looking skinny right now, I wouldn't force feed. It can be very dangerous for the frog. They can go a couple of weeks without eating. When it's stress levels are reduced and it starts feeling comfortable, it will start eating by itself.

I agree with the frog expert you consulted. I think that if you released it the likelihood of it surviving very long with it being half blind is fairly slim, especially because of human intervention. As for aestivation, frogs in my country don't do it in the wild. I don't know whereabouts St Johns is in Canada, but if it snows or gets very cold, then yes it will hibernate- if it survives that long. Personally I would keep it and care for it, because it hasn't had the opportunity to prepare for aestivation due to its injury.

I still stand by minimizing handling. You posted perhaps a week ago, and you have already force-fed it. Force-feeding is incredibly stressful for the frog, and and stress is an appetite suppressant. Please minimise handling and stress for a full week. Then it may eat for you.

Wax worms aren't particularly digestible. They contain a lot of chitin which can lead to impaction, an often fatal gastro-intestinal blockage. If you can't get crickets, try nightcrawlers instead. They are very nutritious and contain no chitin, as they don't have an exoskeleton.

I would appreciate acknowledgement for the advice I have given you. I did take the time out of my day to give you valuable advice for the care of your frog, but I feel that you did not appreciate it.

[iheartfrogs]

But I said thank you...?

[BlueKiwiOca]

I do appreciate that. However acknowledging is different; like "Okay, I'll dust his food with calcium powder from now on", or "I'll stop handling him for a bit to let his stress levels decrease". I don't want to start an argument here, I'm just used to people acknowledging advice on this very friendly forum. I always do, and people appreciate it. It shows that you are paying attention and value what the person said.

[iheartfrogs]

Okay, thank you for your advice internet person.

[iheartfrogs]

Just so nobody else worries about us, or feels wronged for not being acknowledged

First I'd like to thank everyone on this forum, especially the moderators, for being so helpful and for sharing their questions and experiences for people like me that are new to the world of frogs.

Next I'd like to share that the lady helping me feed him has much experience taking care of sick exotic pets and local wild caught frogs. She was recommended to me and I really trust the source of that recommendation. We force fed it on the vet's order, and wax worms were the only appropriate food available at that time. I did mention the doctor? Well, that is one of the many places I obtained basic feeding instructions.

At this point however, I would be interested in hearing about personal experience with wild caught frogs, eye infections, injuries, tadpoles and tank set-ups?

I'm not much of a forum user, or an internet user really, and I'm always astounded by how quickly people become offensive, and by how clear they expect me to be, while at the same time getting offended if I try to clear things up. We're all such sensitive little froggys.

I'll be updating again tomorrow with new pictures. Hopefully I have some tadpoles, too!

[iheartfrogs]

There were no small crickets or worms I had a choice between meal worms or wax worms, but thank you for your advice. I guess if I seem uninterested it's because I don't need advice on how to feed it or take care of it anymore. It's been three weeks since I took it home and I have found two capable and experienced helpers. I'm not much of a forum user so I guess my posts are confusing.

The frog I aim to catch for him will be female, by the way, to encourage natural frog interaction that happens this time of year in my region.