New and couple questions on feeding...

[awelcome]

I am new to frogs, and recently purchased a cobalt arrow (or tinc I think they're called). It seems I got some rather sub-par advice from the pet store that sold it to me, so I thought I had better come here and clear a few things up.

Firstly, I was told to feed it every day, and no specific amount, just a few shakes of the FF jar. Ok, good enough..... we've been doing that, and she's eaten some each day we put them, but I notice that plenty are still hanging around the tank (especially since one day I got too good of a shake in there). I am not sure if she's not an established hunter yet (I actually don't know her age) or if she's just not hungry. I would kind of assume the first to be truer given that she does go for the ones I put in when I do as long as she's out of hiding. The person who sold it to me said I could not over feed it if I tried, and that I could just put them in there and she'd graze whenever. My question I guess is whether I should put new flies in each day for now and just ignore the ones I see in there, or if I should assume she'll hunt those down first? What is the harm of a bunch dying in there? A large portion of them seem suicidal as they go straight for the water dish anyway....and another bunch somehow find their way into my house.

My next question is regarding supplements. I tried to read the pinned post but it didn't clear things up for me entirely. First off the person who sold me the frog did not mention them... I got that bit from research and was instructed from a person at a different pet store to get the rep-cal ones. SO I have the calcium and D, and the multi-vit. She said I should give them with each feeding for now. I don't know if that's correct, or what "for now" means and thought maybe you could clear it up for me.

Thanks

[awelcome]

I can actually see a few larvae in there on the moss. Guess the extras laid some eggs (at least I think they are larvae).... without food the extras shouldn't survive too long right? She ate all I gave her today pretty quick (I'd say around 30 flies) and then still kept hunting some of the previous ones so maybe she'll get better at it and clear a few more out too.

[flybyferns]

People do things a little differently.
However the frog needs to be supplemented w each feeding and fed daily.
Here's what I do:
I alternate 3 different supplement / products

Rep Cal w Vit D ( pink and white label)
Rep cal multi vits
Repashy ( Calcium Plus) ( this is a combo of cal and vits)

My schedule is:
Repashy--- 2 x a week
Rep cal ---Ca and Vit D 4 times a week
Rep cal vits---- once a week

I don't give both re-cal products on the same day.

I give Repashy Vit A 2 x monthly to the breeding adults.

If there are a lot of flies left in the enclosure ( day-to-day ) ...then put less in at each daily feeding.
Just be certain you see the frog eat.

I may skip a daily feeding ( very occasionally ) if I see a lot of FF hanging around.
That way they can clean things up a bit.
Remember FF left in there for days no longer have supplements on them!

I just emailed repashy to obtain up-dated info regarding refrigeration and how long an open container can be used before
loss of potency. I have to call Rep-cal as I didn't find an email?

I'll post the information when ( or if) I get answers

[awelcome]

so if I have the two rep-cal products what would you suggest? Would you do equal alternation... like Monday rep-cal Calcium, Tuesday multivit, Wednesday calcium, Thursday multivit, etc? Is there a reason you are using repashy as well? Will I be fine with just rep-cal?

Also... you mentioned refrigeration... am I supposed to be refrigerating the rep-cal stuff? It doesn't say on the container.

[Lija]

Lynn, Im questioning based on what research they've put together repashy ca+. All information that is available to me says combining multivitamins with ca supplements lowers absorption of both leading to mbd and/other deficiencies. That is why we never advise to dust ca/vitd3 and multivitamins on a same day
So im not exactly comfortable with repashy mix. Have you heard or seen anything otherwise?

Awelcome - yes it is best to refrigerate repashy open packages, this way contents remain fresh longer.

[awelcome]

is that just the repashy, or rep-cal too?

I think I will go to a back and forth routine if that sounds ok... dusting every day but switching.

[Lija]

Yes, i suggest you alternate rep cal with repashy multivitamins if that is what you have. I would like to know more about usage of repashy combo though.

[awelcome]

both my calcium and multivit are rep-cal, but I will alternate from now on.

[flybyferns]

Lynn, Im questioning based on what research they've put together repashy ca+. All information that is available to me says combining multivitamins with ca supplements lowers absorption of both leading to mbd and/other deficiencies. That is why we never advise to dust ca/vitd3 and multivitamins on a same day
So im not exactly comfortable with repashy mix. Have you heard or seen anything otherwise?

Awelcome - yes it is best to refrigerate repashy open packages, this way contents remain fresh longer.

The schedule I posted is for my PDFs ---my tree frogs have a completely different schedule

Yes, I have read that......that's why I use it only 2 x a week
I like the idea of variety- So all my 'eggs are not in one basket'

I know that refrigeration extends the life of these products .....but !!! I would like to know for how long, specifically, before the product is compromised.

Plus, there is some conflicting information as to how long to use them after the containers have been opened.
? 3 months ...6 months ????

So I emailed them. We'll see what they say.

[Mentat]

Lynn, Im questioning based on what research they've put together repashy ca+. All information that is available to me says combining multivitamins with ca supplements lowers absorption of both leading to mbd and/other deficiencies. That is why we never advise to dust ca/vitd3 and multivitamins on a same day
So im not exactly comfortable with repashy mix. Have you heard or seen anything otherwise?

Awelcome - yes it is best to refrigerate repashy open packages, this way contents remain fresh longer.

Duncan (African Bullfrog) has been on Repashy CA Plus with every feeding for a year with no issues. Only other supplement is Repashy's Vit A once a month.

The darts do get that 3-4 times a week and multivitamins and CA on other days plus vitamin A 2X monthly. I keep my vitamins in refrigerator and use them until expiration .

[Heatheranne]

I do the same. I rotate Repashy plus calcium and Repcal ca/d3. PDF's every other day. Tree frogs get Repasjy plus calcium 2x/week and calcium every other day, since their metabolisms are slightly less than that of my energetic PDF's. No signs of hypocalcemia (tetany) and no signs of toxicity. Just ordered my vita A.

[DigitalPunk]

I do the same thing as ya'll

Mon - Cal w/ D3
Tuesday - Repashy Cal Plus
Wed - Cal w/D3
Thurs - Repashy Cal Plus
Fri - Cal w/D3
Sat - Repcal Multi Vit
Sun - No Supplements (I usually don't feed on Sundays and let them clean up the excess FF).


I have been using my supplements up to the 6 month mark and then tossing them, unfortunately I end up throwing out near half full containers. Would love to know what I can do to officially extend the life of these products. They aren't expensive, but wasting so much makes me super sad lol.

[awelcome]

well that's another new thing I just learned... the person who sold it to me said I could use it til the expiration date... is that not true? One of them is almost two years out and the other is just one. If I do refrigerate them would I be able to?

[DigitalPunk]

Lynn is working on the answer to that very question. Right now the standard practice is to use them for 3 - 6 months then toss them and buy new ones.

[awelcome]

wow that's a waste lol. you use such a tiny amount, I already assumed I'd be tossing a lot even at the expiration date!