New GABF questions

[SwimminSteve]

It's been too long since I visited the forum! I currently own some very cute African clawed frogs. I've had the oldest one for more than 8 years, his name is Steve
I recently rekindled my love for frogs as I am an oiled wildlife responder and I'm just finishing up my first amphibian oil spill! My typical patients are birds and turtles, so cleaning and rehabbing oiled frogs and salamanders was a very new and unique experience. It's not common to see amphibians in oil spills so I can safely say that I am the world's leading expert on oiled salamander treatment! Haha.

Ive decided to treat myself by getting a new frog when I get home. I've wanted a GABF for years and this feels like the right time to go for it. I'm hoping you all can offer some insight and advice so that I can provide the best possible care to my soon to be new frog. This guy or gal will not be part of a collection, but rather a spoiled pet.

Ive been doing a lot of research on their care and life history. I do plan on buying a young froglet at a local herp show, but I welcome other advice. I prefer to adopt all my pets from shelters or people who don't want them anymore, but the only people giving away pixies on craigslist seem to be doing it for profit. So I figure I might as well go directly through a breeder.

Can anyone offer advice on ensuring I buy a giant vs a dwarf? Please refer me to articles or papers if that's easiest. Pictures would be helpful.
Id also really prefer to get a male (nothing against the ladies! But I have my heart set on a big ol boy).
Does anyone have experience on housing a froglet in a sterlite container? Of course he will upgrade to a nice tank when he's bigger.
And since this will be my first pet that eats live food, can someone tell me about how many crickets I should buy? Will I need a large cricket keeper or will the small size do?

Thanks for any input!
Sam

[Mentat]

LLL Reptile is pretty good sending you a true GABF. Telling species apart while babies can get confusing and telling a baby male from female is mostly a guess until they mature. If buying at show, try not to buy a specimen that has a protruding backbone between hips, it's been underfed. The genus was recently revised and appears there are 1-2 unnamed species still. This is from the last revision: http://www.frogforum.net/african-bul...us-status.html.

Housing in a sterlite container might be an issue, in regards to heating it, depending on room temperature. Lots of information on their required parameters is in here: Frog Forum - African Bullfrog - Pyxicephalus adspersus - Care and Breeding.

Best food for a GABF are night crawlers (not dyed from Walmart or local bait shop). Can cut from pointy end mouth size for babies, body length for 2-3 in. juvies, and full size for 3 in. plus frogs. A GABF can easily eat $60 of food a month, so highly recommend start a Dubia colony (feed veggie matter, not dog or cat food). Insects should be sized same as distance between frogs eyes to avoid impaction. If feeding crickets, can keep them in medium regular critter keeper or similar. Gut load them with carrots, lettuce, crushed oats/cherios 24-48 hours before feeding frog. Hope this helps and good luck !

[SwimminSteve]

Thanks for the info! I have an empty 10 gal tank that I can use instead of a sterlite container. I plan to use ecoearth for substrate and probably I'll probably use a shallow food dish for a water element. I purchased a small cricket keeper and I'm going to look into a good place for buying night crawlers. I already buy frozen cubes of blood worms and krill for my other frogs, would it be alright to offer it (thawed of course) to a GABF? I imagine I would need to handfeed it.
Does anyone have a good source for handfeeding tongs/forceps? I know they would ideally be plastic or have rubber tips.
Fortunately I have unlimited access to free feeder mice (all ages) at work, so when my frog is big enough I can give him that as a treat every now and then. I also have access to mealworms, but I know they aren't very nutritional so I won't use them except for infrequent treats.

It looks like I should be dusting his food too. I will buy calcium powder and vitamin/mineral powder. I know not to give both at once, but how often should i use it? Should i dust one feeder at every meal or should i dust all the feeders in a meal 1-2 times a week?

Thanks!