Is my frog aestivating?

[JuanJordanos]

Hey guys, new to the group. I just got my first frog from my sister's boyfriend. It is a two and a half year old pixie named Gorf. Her boyfriend didn't really want him, and he didn't feed him often or keep him in the best conditions. He was in a glass aquarium with no substrate and about a half inch of water in it. I have put him in a 20 gallon with five inches of Eco Terra Coco Husk, a 3.5 inch glass dish with water, and a heat light. I feed him crickets and nightcrawlers, and he seems very happy. Four days ago, I fed him a thawed frozen mouse, and he ate it quickly. Shortly afterward he burrowed for the first time up to his eyes. That night when I checked his tank, I freaked out and thought he was gone, but he was just totally buried in the substrate. He hasn't emerged since. Is everything cool? Should I worry that he is aestivating without cleaning his stomach, or is this normal. Thanks for your help!

[John]

He should be fine, don't worry. If you're feeling particularly curious, dig a small hole down and take a look at him. If he is aestivating he will have a thick pale layer of skin over him - it should be obvious. It takes a while for them to shed enough layers for it to look more like paper. He should completely ignore the little hole - just don't unearth him or pick him up, and once you are finished, cover the hole. If he is aestivating, just give the tank a brief spray of moisture every day or so.

[JuanJordanos]

I dug the hole and it was hard to tell if he had the layer of skin. He did blow some air and huff and raise up a bit though.

[John]

Yeah, they will do that even if they have a few layers of shed skin. I wouldn't worry about him.

[lraulston]

Glad to hear that you have given him a nice home