Need Help ASAP Please

[Jillymo]

I have a "fresh" tiny tree frog, less than .5". I found tads on top of a small building, and as I was relocating them, there he was.

There were 2, but the smaller & newer one didn't survive the night

I have no clue about trying to save or keep him (or the tads), but would like to try. I'm in MO and the temp is going down to 27 tomorrow night.

Please tell me what I can feed him, as he hasn't eaten in days. Baby crickets are too big, and I can't find any bugs due to the cold weather.

Thanks very much!

[Mentat]

Hello and welcome to FF! Can you check local pet shops for wingless fruit flies? From there can go into pinhead crickets, etc. Food should be no bigger than distance between frogs eyes. Will also need CA/D3 and vitamin supplements (recommend Repashy or Rep-Cal brands) and can use these dusting schedules: http://www.frogforum.net/food-feeder...schedules.html.

Since it's a baby, recommend keeping it on a coupe layers of damp paper towels. Only use dechlorinated tap water (Seachem Prime is good). A water dish (bottle cap) with water no deeper than frog's chin can be added to enclosure, with some artificial silk plants for frog to feel secure. If frog eats the flies, it's doing good.

Recommend go with this care sheet information until we figure out the frog species: Frog Forum - Gray Tree Frog Care and Breeding. Good luck !

[Jillymo]

Hello and welcome to FF! Can you check local pet shops for wingless fruit flies? From there can go into pinhead crickets, etc. Food should be no bigger than distance between frogs eyes. Will also need CA/D3 and vitamin supplements (recommend Repashy or Rep-Cal brands) and can use these dusting schedules: http://www.frogforum.net/food-feeder...schedules.html.

Since it's a baby, recommend keeping it on a coupe layers of damp paper towels. Only use dechlorinated tap water (Seachem Prime is good). A water dish (bottle cap) with water no deeper than frog's chin can be added to enclosure, with some artificial silk plants for frog to feel secure. If frog eats the flies, it's doing good.

Recommend go with this care sheet information until we figure out the frog species: Frog Forum - Gray Tree Frog Care and Breeding. Good luck !

Thank you, Carlos

A big problem is that I live in a very rural area, and have already checked with all of the pet stores within about 50 miles, which is as far as St. Louis.

Do you think it would be OK to try meal worms, and maybe cut little pieces??

I really appreciate your prompt reply

[flybyferns]

You could consider having a fruit fly culture mailed to you?
Their food has to be 'moving' !

Fruit Fly Cultures for your Reptiles or Amphibians | Josh's Frogs

Sometimes the 'big box' pet stores have FF cultures? ie pet smart or petco

[UncleChester]

Releasing it wouldn't be wrong. They're made to handle your local weather and up until now they had been living outside. Your day time temps are warm enough for it to find appropriate shelter for the cold nights.

If you're intent on keeping him, you should order fruit flies now and learn to culture them so you have a steady supply of food over the winter. When the temperature drops much lower, it starts to get tough to have them shipped to you. In the meantime, I'd get out the shovel and go digging in as chemical free area as you've got and look for small sow bugs, springtails, and earthworms. You can cut up earthworms into smaller pieces if needed and they'll still wriggle.

[Mentat]

Thank you, Carlos A big problem is that I live in a very rural area, and have already checked with all of the pet stores within about 50 miles, which is as far as St. Louis. Do you think it would be OK to try meal worms, and maybe cut little pieces?? I really appreciate your prompt reply

You are welcome, it's a pleasure to help. Agree with Lynn and Brian comments to order FFs and not to offer the cut-up mealworms. There are several articles here to help you get started with food cultures: Frog Forum - How-To Articles .

If you decide to release it; please do not do it on building top where you found it. A woodsy area with maybe a pond or stream nearby will give it a fair shot to survive .

[Jillymo]

Thanks to everyone for your advice & suggestions. I just cannot bring myself to release him, because: when I found him Sunday, he still had some of his tail, and was mainly in the water. It was about 40 degrees warmer then and I don't see how he could survive this crazy MO weather. If I can't find any bugs, how could he? He's SO tiny. It's either woods or water, and the water is a fairly large lake...

Anyway, I dug up a very small worm & cut a little piece off. I dropped it right on his mouth (accidental good shot). He sat there a minute, then moved away. I don't think he ever tried to eat it. It stuck to the side of the tank & dried up. I don't know what else to do until the FF's arrive, and I'm just afraid he will starve to death. I tried a little piece of lettuce, and I THINK he nibbled on it. Will likely be back again for more expert advice. So glad I found this place, and wish you all a great weekend

P.S. I think he is a little green tree frog

[Mentat]

Frogs do not eat while tail is being reabsorbed because they get nourishment from that. If you set up enclosure as per post no. 2; the froglet should survive for couple days it takes FF to arrive. Did you got shipment tracking data already?

[Jillymo]

Hi Carlos - I called Josh's Frogs, and he said I should probably go ahead and release it. So, I'll wait till tomorrow when it's a little warmer, and let it go. Would you suggest the lake or the woods?? Thanks again.

[TAPDart91]

Petco alton IL has friutflys i het them there all the time 10$