Pac Man Frog Not Eating..

[Bor]

My Pac Man frog Sir Hopsalot is a little over one years old..... He hasn't eaten in a month I usually give him 2 adult mice a month, but he's recently not going for the mice at all. I've also tried crickets, but he doesn't attempt to go for them at all. It was recently a little too cold for him in the habitat, and I recently just raised the temp. It's now warm and cozy but he still refuses to eat, I Also just took out some artificial branches and vines, and he now has nothing to hide under. (I know this is bad and I'm going to get something soon.) I removed the vines about 2 weeks ago. Do you think he's maybe compacted? I gave him a warm bath a few days ago but nothing happened...

I was going to try and get some horn worms, but I don't know if he would even try to eat those either. I tried Nightcrawlers when he was younger, but he never went for them..

A month without eating is terrible! Someone help! I'm worried about him.

[danfrog]

Please fill these questions out.

“Trouble in the Frog Enclosure”
The following information will be very helpful if provided when requesting assistance with either your frog or enclosure. To help with your questions, please utilize the below list and post the information in the proper forum area to get advice from FF members that keep the same frog. This will allow for little confusion and a faster more informed response.

1. Size of enclosure
2. # of inhabitants - specifically other frogs and size differences
3. Humidity
4. Temperature
5. Water - type - for both misting and soaking dish
6. Materials used for substrate
7. Enclosure set up i.e. plants (live or artificial), wood, bark and other materials.
- How were things prepared prior to being put into the viv.
8. Main food source
9. Vitamins and calcium? (how often)
10. Lighting
11. What is being used to maintain the temperature of the enclosure
12. When is the last time he/she ate
13. Have you found poop lately
14. A pic would be helpful including frog and enclosure (any including cell phone pic is fine)
15. How old is the frog
16. How long have you owned him/her
17. Is the frog wild caught or captive bred
18. Frog food- how often and if it is diverse, what other feeders are used as treats
19. How often the frog is handled
20. Is the enclosure kept in a high or low traffic area
21. Describe enclosure maintenance (water changes, cleaning, etc)

by Lynn(Flybyferns) and GrifTheGreat.

[Bor]

1. Size of enclosure 10 Gallon Tank
2. # of inhabitants - specifically other frogs and size differences 1 Pac Man
3. Humidity I need a new gauge.. I'm guessing it's kind of low though..
4. Temperature 75-80
5. Water - type - for both misting and soaking dish He has a pretty big deep dish that he currently just hopped in to and is soaking in, and I mist him about 2x a day.
6. Materials used for substrate Zoo Med Eco-Earth
7. Enclosure set up i.e. plants (live or artificial), wood, bark and other materials. None atm I had to treat his tank for mites a week ago, and tossed the old artificial plants.
- How were things prepared prior to being put into the viv.
8. Main food source Large Adult Mice.
9. Vitamins and calcium? (how often)Every time I feed him. 2x a month.
10. Lighting 75Watt Infared dimmed bulb.
11. What is being used to maintain the temperature of the enclosure Heating pad on the side of tank, and infared bulb.
12. When is the last time he/she ate About a month ago
13. Have you found poop lately Maybe a few weeks ago...
14. A pic would be helpful including frog and enclosure (any including cell phone pic is fine) None atm..
15. How old is the frog A year and 8 months.
16. How long have you owned him/her a year and 8 months
17. Is the frog wild caught or captive bred Captive
18. Frog food- how often and if it is diverse, what other feeders are used as treats I offer him crickets but he doesnt go for them anymore..
19. How often the frog is handled Not often.
20. Is the enclosure kept in a high or low traffic area low traffic
21. Describe enclosure maintenance (water changes, cleaning, etc) I spot clean his poop, and clean the habitat completly about once a month.

http://i167.photobucket.com/albums/u...ps26ba3f6e.png

[danfrog]

Unfortunately you have been misinformed on how to care for your frog. Really hope its not too late.
1. 10 gal is good if your frog is a male. Make sure three sides are covered to reduce stress.
3. You need a digital temp/humidity gage. Exo terra makes a great one with a probe thats only 20 dollars. Humidity need to be at 80 percent at all times.
4. Day time temps need to be at 82-84 degrees. Night temps should be 77-78.
5. All water needs to be dechlorinated. Use prime or reptisafe. Nothing with aloe.
6. Make sure all water used to break up substrate is treated too.
8. No more mice. They are very bad for the frog. Keep trying nightcrawlers, or properly gut loaded insects. The frog should be fed every two to three days.
9. Calcium with d3 twice a week and vitamin dust once a week. No less. They are very important to your frogs health.
10. Light bulbs should be no higher that 50 watts. No UVB bulbs.
Please make these changes asap and get back here on the forums. These changes are just the first step in getting your frog back into a healthy life style.

[Bor]

Alright, I bought the exo terra, and I covered the sides of the tank. Any tips on how to keep humidity up? I just have a regular screen top, should I try and find a mesh top?

[danfrog]

Tinfoil two thirds of the top screen.

[danfrog]

Are you using any type of water treatment?

[Mentat]

Follow given advice and read this article: Frog Forum - Pacman and Horned Frogs - Ceratophrys - Care and Breeding. Your frog need to feel secure and stress free before it starts feeding again. How long is frog from snout to vent (SVL) and what size is the new enclosure? Thank you !

[Bor]

Are you using any type of water treatment?

Yes I am, I have a Reptile Water conditioner.

Follow given advice and read this article: Frog Forum - Pacman and Horned Frogs - Ceratophrys - Care and Breeding. Your frog need to feel secure and stress free before it starts feeding again. How long is frog from snout to vent (SVL) and what size is the new enclosure? Thank you !

He's roughly 4 1/2 inches SVL and the enclosure is still 10 gallons. I'm pretty sure he's a male because he often croaks.

[danfrog]

Kk just making sure about the water treatment. Look for black moles on the thumbs to see if the frog is male or female. If it has the nuptial pads its a male. If the frog is a male and is 4.5 inch SVL you have a very large male.

[danfrog]

Be sure to get some nightcrawlers. When you do offer the worms be sure to rinse them off in treated water, and offer about three of them clumped together so they look like a larger prey item. I would order some large dubia roaches, and the horn worms might help getting to frog used to eating worm type prey items. Its going to be hard to get your frog to recognize different prey items especially since your frog has been eating mice for so long. Mice are extremely high in fat and are extremely tasty to frogs. I recommend watching ivory reptiles YouTube video tong feeding 101, and start off with the nightcrawlers. Dubia roaches are also a good staple food as long as they are gut loaded properly. Horn worms are another treat food thats high in fat. Really hope everything works out with your frog. Im worried about the winter semi hibernation that some pacman frogs go through each winter.

[Bor]

Be sure to get some nightcrawlers. When you do offer the worms be sure to rinse them off in treated water, and offer about three of them clumped together so they look like a larger prey item. I would order some large dubia roaches, and the horn worms might help getting to frog used to eating worm type prey items. Its going to be hard to get your frog to recognize different prey items especially since your frog has been eating mice for so long. Mice are extremely high in fat and are extremely tasty to frogs. I recommend watching ivory reptiles YouTube video tong feeding 101, and start off with the nightcrawlers. Dubia roaches are also a good staple food as long as they are gut loaded properly. Horn worms are another treat food thats high in fat. Really hope everything works out with your frog. Im worried about the winter semi hibernation that some pacman frogs go through each winter.

Yeah I think he might have gone through the winter hibernation for a bit, or at least almost started to..
I'm going to try night crawlers soon, I'm still having trouble with the humidity though.. Anyway I can get a picture of the foil to use as an example?

[Bor]

I'm following all the advice and he is still not eating.... I tried night crawlers but he didnt go for them at all.. I forced one into his mouth and he actually chewed it and ate it.. Should I try force feeding for a bit? I know it's traumatizing but I just don't see any other options.. He still refuses to eat, and it's been a month!

[GrifTheGreat]

I'm following all the advice and he is still not eating.... I tried night crawlers but he didnt go for them at all.. I forced one into his mouth and he actually chewed it and ate it.. Should I try force feeding for a bit? I know it's traumatizing but I just don't see any other options.. He still refuses to eat, and it's been a month!

Try bathing him in a bath of 1 ounce Unflavored Pedialyte to every 10 ounces 80° dechlorinated water. Bath for 20 minutes then place the frog home in her water dish. Try and offer food after about 30 minutes later. If the frog is losing weight you will need to force feed.

[Bor]

Try bathing him in a bath of 1 ounce Unflavored Pedialyte to every 10 ounces 80° dechlorinated water. Bath for 20 minutes then place the frog home in her water dish. Try and offer food after about 30 minutes later. If the frog is losing weight you will need to force feed.

Any tips on how to force feed? I don't want to hurt him.

[GrifTheGreat]

Any tips on how to force feed? I don't want to hurt him.

It is best done with 2 people. One to hold the frog and very gently restraining the frog. The other person to force feed. The easiest way to open the frog's mouth is with a plastic spoon turned upside down. Insert the tip of the spoon between the upper and lower jaw on the side of the mouth. Gently slide the spoon back and forth from the hinge of the jaw to the tip of the frog's snout and this will stimulate the frog to open its mouth. This is the moment you insert the food. The frog should do the rest. Be sure to remove the spoon as soon as you get the food in so that the frog bites down on the food item. This normally works well. Good luck.

[Bor]

It is best done with 2 people. One to hold the frog and very gently restraining the frog. The other person to force feed. The easiest way to open the frog's mouth is with a plastic spoon turned upside down. Insert the tip of the spoon between the upper and lower jaw on the side of the mouth. Gently slide the spoon back and forth from the hinge of the jaw to the tip of the frog's snout and this will stimulate the frog to open its mouth. This is the moment you insert the food. The frog should do the rest. Be sure to remove the spoon as soon as you get the food in so that the frog bites down on the food item. This normally works well. Good luck.

Force feeding was a complete FAIL!

I got a hornworm into his mouth but he refused it and tore it out of his mouth..
Im SO worried about him, nothing is working.
I don't know what to do.

[Hypnotic]

Have you teased the frog with prey yet? It can be very hard with nightcrawlers. I personally use locusts if one of my frogs is being really stubborn. Just grab one with your tongs, make sure to grab it 2 cm away from the head, still on the hardpart of the locust.
Then wiggle it against it's lower lip. Don't give up, it might take a while. If the locust keeps grabbing onto the frog, cut it's front legs off. (I am not joking.) :P
I've noticed that my tough feeders are easely persuaded by locusts at first, then nightcrawlers.