Frog Whisperer Anyone?

[MariePey]

Hey guys


Im just wondering a few questions and would love to get as much answers from as much people possible...


**Do you handle your frog?

**How often ( once a day/week/month) ?

** How does your frog react (calm/overeacting/jumping)?

**If your frog wasn't liking it, has it got better with time?

**What is your frog like now (chills with you or still runs away)?



I very well know they are not cuddle bugs or meant to be handle all day everyday. I just would like mine to get a bit more comfortable with the handling thing.. Maybe just time is what I need? I only handle him at night at feeding time as I feed him in a different tank and sometimes i take a few minutes to handle him over the tub, as hes very jumpy, to get a good look at him. Some days he does very well and some other days he doesnt want to have nothing to do with me.. Lol



Tell me your story

Looking forward to hear from you guys!

Marie and Gigs

[Frogfeet123]

Hi there! I have two whites tree frogs.

**Do you handle your frog?

Yes



**How often ( once a day/week/month) ?

Usually a few times a week.



** How does your frog react (calm/overeacting/jumping)?

Betty is quite calm and usually perches herself on my shoulder.
Sally on the other hand can be very jumpy if you don't know her. She also loves the color pink.

**If your frog wasn't liking it, has it got better with time?

Betty has always been okay, but Sally was terrified at first. She would tuck her head in and jump away from you. She is really good now. She climbs onto your hand and will stay still most of the time. She also doesn't pee on me anymore.



**What is your frog like now (chills with you or still runs away)?

They are both quite chill now. If there is a lot of commotion or if you do not keep them occupied, sometimes they will both jump around or explore your arm( and hair!)



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[elly]

I'm new so my answers may change. I've only had my oldest frog for three months and he was 2'' when I got him, kept in a small tank at PetCo, I think that affected his personality. He's very nervous. **Do you handle your frog? Yes, but only when I have to, or in the case of the little one, only when he climbs out onto my hand while I'm cleaning the tank.

**How often ( once a day/week/month) ?
Lately it's averaged two or three times a month for Bonk, between vet visits and warm baths. I haven't deliberately picked up Julep, but he's climbed out onto my hand and I've held him until he wanted to jump down.
** How does your frog react (calm/overeacting/jumping)?
Bonk squishes himself down into my hand. He looks calm, but he really wants to get away. He's taken to hiding whenever I come into the room, so yeah, safe to say he doesn't like it. To Julep I'm another thing to climb on that could get him to the book case.
**If your frog wasn't liking it, has it got better with time?
There hasn't been much time, but Bonk seems more scared with exposure.
**What is your frog like now (chills with you or still runs away)?
"DON'T MAKE ME GO ON THE HAND"= Bonk

[Lija]

None of the reptiles or amphibians like handling and will never do. Some species can tolerate handling to the extend, but it is stressful nevertheless. Exotic pets are "look, but not touch" pets. If you can't handle that perhaps frogs are not for you.

Any exotic pet should be handled only when absolutely nessasary!

[MariePey]

None of the reptiles or amphibians like handling and will never do. Some species can tolerate handling to the extend, but it is stressful nevertheless. Exotic pets are "look, but not touch" pets. If you can't handle that perhaps frogs are not for you.

Any exotic pet should be handled only when absolutely nessasary!

Totally agree. Like i said i very well known they are not cuddle bugs or meant to handle everyday. But from feeding him in a different tank, i have to handle him every so often during the week and i like having a good look at him while i have him in my hands for any bugs or deformation or sores/curs. I just dont want those moments to be high stress everytime. So was looking for other peoples interactions stories basically. I dont need my little guy to be right stressed oyt everytime you know? It would be upsetting having him sick or colorless all the time because of it

Just hoping he gets better with time!

[deranged chipmunk]

I agree with Lija. I never handle my frogs. It puts too much stress on them. Even when I kept white's, it was only touch when necessary.


Education is the most powerful weapon we can use to change the world ~ Nelson Mandela

[Lija]

Totally agree. Like i said i very well known they are not cuddle bugs or meant to handle everyday. But from feeding him in a different tank, i have to handle him every so often during the week and i like having a good look at him while i have him in my hands for any bugs or deformation or sores/curs. I just dont want those moments to be high stress everytime. So was looking for other peoples interactions stories basically. I dont need my little guy to be right stressed oyt everytime you know? It would be upsetting having him sick or colorless all the time because of it

Just hoping he gets better with time!

try to feed him in his tank, no need to move anywhere. He'll be less stressed, he is jumpy because he is scared. Try tong feeding.

[StickySally]

Tong feeding is great, just be sure to mix it up so he doesn't lose his skills. The only reason I feed in a separate tank is because Betty tends to take all the food and Sally doesn't get any. Sally does fine with feeding in a separate tank.


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[Heatheranne]

I'd have to agree as well. I only handle my frogs if absolutely necessary, which is almost never.

They will learn who feeds them if you don't scare them and they may start coming to the front of the tank for food.

[StickySally]

Yeah, Sally knows that when she is put in the other tank that she is going to get fed, so she is okay with it.


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[MariePey]

I will attempt to feed him in his tank again tonight.


Hopefully he does well! Theres nothing bad to ingest or get caught on so that actually might be the best way to go now that hes finally poop!


Tho, i got to discover this week with his poop issues that the little bugger just lovessss and i mean lovesssss his tummy rubbed! Lol isnt it a litte odd for a little guy that doesnt like to be handled? Lol


Heather...

Gigs usually knows feed time and is awake and waiting for me out in the open even tho he doesnt like being handled.. hes complicated. Lol

But i agree. Had poop issues so was keeping a very close eye on him but will leave him home now.

Thanks

[StickySally]

That's adorbs that he likes belly rubs. Also if you try tong feeding, be aware that your frog may start to strike at you thinking its a cricket. Sally and Betty have tried to eat my finger before. It's very dangerous so just be aware!


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[irThumper]

I agree and disagree with what's been said so far. To me a frog is not a pet to be petted. You don't walk them on a leash, you don't go jogging with them, they don't fetch. They are to be quietly (or in the case of male WTFs not so quietly!) admired, in their tank or on your gloved hand at their own comfort. If a frog does not want to spend time sitting on you than don't force him to, leave him in his cage where he is relaxed and stress free. Now, that being said, in the interest of necessity when it comes to medicating or treating frogs for injuries or illness, I believe LESS stress will,be caused if they are already well familiar with being picked up and gently and calmly examined-- not stroked, not petted or patted or tickled-- examined. Some things simply cannot be seen with the frog in its enclosure, and for some methods of treatment same idea. I also want my frogs to be used to being placed in different containers, whether a small hospital tank, or a carrier in case they need a trip to the vet, or when we finally are able to move. If for some reason they need to be switched into a different setting I don't want them freaking out and causing themselves damage. Also, what if there is an emergency and you need to move your frogs FAST, a frog that has learned there is nothing to fear from being picked up and held will be easier to evacuate.

I personally believe that frogs (some frogs anyway) are intelligent in their own way, and certain species can be amiable to interacting with humans, albeit in a minimalistic way. When I was growing up we kept a collection of various PCFs for years (our oldest was 8-years-old). Some of these frogs showed, what was to me at any rate, obvious smarts and were clearly at ease with their people. Junior, the PCF we had the longest, would crawl out of his tank onto my mother's hand and hitch a ride to the dining room table. Back then we had no idea of feeder insects for sale (this was years ago) so, aside from giving wild caught bugs, she fed them a homemade mixture of lean hamburger mixed with fish vegetable flakes and conditioning food. She would ball up a fly size portion, and using a flat ended toothpick, would pry open the frog's mouths, pop in the food, and gently stroke their gullet with the flat side of the toothpick until they swallowed. Now, some of the frogs always had to be fed this way, but not Junior (or Cousin, Gwendolyn, or Green Girl). Junior would sit on the table, the top of the jar we used to transport the other frogs from tank to table, or just on the table, watching all the goings on. I don't remember when he first got it into his head to try grabbing the food on his own, but the day he did he never had to be force fed again. He would wait for mom to hand him his bite of food and he'd take it right off her finger. Junior would sit on my mom's hand while she dialed the phone (rotary mind you) and when she sat down to talk he'd climb on the funny "vine". We always washed our hands well before and after handling the frogs, and we didn't "handle handle them", they climbed on us, we didn't grasp them or hold them in closed hands, unless it was for a moment to transfer from jar to tank. If they didn't like to interact with us we only handled them enough to get things done, we never forced it on them. But Junior was different, he was a very special frog and I'd say unusual. He lived a long time for a PCF and died of old age, healthy and never having had any injury, illness or disease. The same unfortunately can't be said for many frogs coming out of pet shops today.

All that being said, I'm very glad that I know more about frog feeding in particular these days... I would never feed raw hamburger to a frog now-- I won't even eat beef burgers! And there's been great advances as far as supplement powders, a wide variety of farm raised feeder insects, water conditioners, and etc. goes. The environment isn't what it was when I was a kid, and it still needed improvement. Anyone remember the commercial against pollution that featured the Native American Indian man (Iron Eyes Cody) in the canoe, and how all the trash and polluted streams and waterways made him cry? I will never forget that commercial... it's just too bad that no one back then seemed to have learned a darn thing. Frogs in the wild are becoming extinct at an alarming rate now, back then we never imagined such a thing happening. Or at least I didn't. I just want to do the best for my frogs that I can.

Here's the commercial, found it! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KF-U0dL-9K4

[MariePey]

OMG Irthumper..

I am literally speechless.. this was just like.. wow!

Well done girl!

I dont even know what else to say...

Other than i fully agree with you!




**** on that note, i decided to give Gigs a break from all the activity over the last week and fed him in his tank. He was way up curled under the heat spurce so i gently grabbed him to bring him down to the bottom of his tank.. there was no argument, no pee, no tryi g to run away today! Then i geny put crickets in and he went crazy happy! Lol filled himself up and literally attacked the first cricket in just as i let him go off the tongue twizzer thing. Lolt was a great success! The whole time i made sure he saw and ate all the crickets. Never ran away or backed up scared Will keep this up for the next few days till the cleaning day.

[irThumper]

OMG Irthumper..

I am literally speechless.. this was just like.. wow!

Well done girl!

I dont even know what else to say...

Other than i fully agree with you!




**** on that note, i decided to give Gigs a break from all the activity over the last week and fed him in his tank. He was way up curled under the heat spurce so i gently grabbed him to bring him down to the bottom of his tank.. there was no argument, no pee, no tryi g to run away today! Then i geny put crickets in and he went crazy happy! Lol filled himself up and literally attacked the first cricket in just as i let him go off the tongue twizzer thing. Lolt was a great success! The whole time i made sure he saw and ate all the crickets. Never ran away or backed up scared Will keep this up for the next few days till the cleaning day.

All for the of our friends!

I'm glad things went so much better with Gigs. If nothing happens to frighten him he should gradually learn that your are the source of those loverly dinners and be eager to see you at feeding time and not be afraid. I'm finding that sHEila and Jelly Bean are like that, and have always been so for the most part Shirley, like sHEila and Jelly, has always been calmer, but Sir Honey has always been flighty and jumpy and spooky from the get go-- but I knew that from day 1 before I bought him. I knew what to expect, I knew he might never calm down completely, if at all, but I admired his energy and sassy ways, so bought him for those qualities rather than in spite of them. Honey doesn't seem terrified, he doesn't run and hide for the most part, or cower away, but he's determined to fly out of that tank someday, because that's the way he is, lol. I know what to expect and I act accordingly to keep him safe.

Good luck with Gigs! Looking forward to hearing more updates on the little guy!

[Strider18]

I agree and disagree with what's been said so far. To me a frog is not a pet to be petted. You don't walk them on a leash, you don't go jogging with them, they don't fetch. They are to be quietly (or in the case of male WTFs not so quietly!) admired, in their tank or on your gloved hand at their own comfort. If a frog does not want to spend time sitting on you than don't force him to, leave him in his cage where he is relaxed and stress free. Now, that being said, in the interest of necessity when it comes to medicating or treating frogs for injuries or illness, I believe LESS stress will,be caused if they are already well familiar with being picked up and gently and calmly examined-- not stroked, not petted or patted or tickled-- examined. Some things simply cannot be seen with the frog in its enclosure, and for some methods of treatment same idea. I also want my frogs to be used to being placed in different containers, whether a small hospital tank, or a carrier in case they need a trip to the vet, or when we finally are able to move. If for some reason they need to be switched into a different setting I don't want them freaking out and causing themselves damage. Also, what if there is an emergency and you need to move your frogs FAST, a frog that has learned there is nothing to fear from being picked up and held will be easier to evacuate.

I personally believe that frogs (some frogs anyway) are intelligent in their own way, and certain species can be amiable to interacting with humans, albeit in a minimalistic way. When I was growing up we kept a collection of various PCFs for years (our oldest was 8-years-old). Some of these frogs showed, what was to me at any rate, obvious smarts and were clearly at ease with their people. Junior, the PCF we had the longest, would crawl out of his tank onto my mother's hand and hitch a ride to the dining room table. Back then we had no idea of feeder insects for sale (this was years ago) so, aside from giving wild caught bugs, she fed them a homemade mixture of lean hamburger mixed with fish vegetable flakes and conditioning food. She would ball up a fly size portion, and using a flat ended toothpick, would pry open the frog's mouths, pop in the food, and gently stroke their gullet with the flat side of the toothpick until they swallowed. Now, some of the frogs always had to be fed this way, but not Junior (or Cousin, Gwendolyn, or Green Girl). Junior would sit on the table, the top of the jar we used to transport the other frogs from tank to table, or just on the table, watching all the goings on. I don't remember when he first got it into his head to try grabbing the food on his own, but the day he did he never had to be force fed again. He would wait for mom to hand him his bite of food and he'd take it right off her finger. Junior would sit on my mom's hand while she dialed the phone (rotary mind you) and when she sat down to talk he'd climb on the funny "vine". We always washed our hands well before and after handling the frogs, and we didn't "handle handle them", they climbed on us, we didn't grasp them or hold them in closed hands, unless it was for a moment to transfer from jar to tank. If they didn't like to interact with us we only handled them enough to get things done, we never forced it on them. But Junior was different, he was a very special frog and I'd say unusual. He lived a long time for a PCF and died of old age, healthy and never having had any injury, illness or disease. The same unfortunately can't be said for many frogs coming out of pet shops today.

All that being said, I'm very glad that I know more about frog feeding in particular these days... I would never feed raw hamburger to a frog now-- I won't even eat beef burgers! And there's been great advances as far as supplement powders, a wide variety of farm raised feeder insects, water conditioners, and etc. goes. The environment isn't what it was when I was a kid, and it still needed improvement. Anyone remember the commercial against pollution that featured the Native American Indian man (Iron Eyes Cody) in the canoe, and how all the trash and polluted streams and waterways made him cry? I will never forget that commercial... it's just too bad that no one back then seemed to have learned a darn thing. Frogs in the wild are becoming extinct at an alarming rate now, back then we never imagined such a thing happening. Or at least I didn't. I just want to do the best for my frogs that I can.

Here's the commercial, found it! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KF-U0dL-9K4

Very well thought out response Thumper. Good job!

0.0.1 PCf
Soon to come 0.0.4 Phyllobates bicolor