Unusually active female

[Cynthia]

I am the caregiver for a preschool's African Bullfrog. Normally, at this time of year, she would be hibernating. But, instead she is awake and moving around. She wants to come out of her terrarium enclosure, and is actually hurting herself jumping and head/nose-butting against the glass and screened top. She will not eat for us. I would like advice on what you think is happening with her and what is the best course of action to take. We have responded to her need for increased activity by letting her out into the classroom when the children are not present and an outdoor enclosure when class is in session. It just seems odd that she is becoming MORE active instead of LESS active. I appreciate any thoughts you might have.

[jasonm96]

Hi! If the enclosure is too small, noise in the class room or disturbance, any cleaning chemicals being used near the tank or sprays in the air, lacks hides, has too high temperatures or if there is an improper photoperiod all could stress the frog. Try covering the sides of the tank.
Can you tell us a little about what it's set up is like?

[Cynthia]

Hello Jason,

It is a glass aquarium, maybe 20 gallon. We don't remember in all the past years her ever being this active, especially at hibernation time. She usually just buries herself in her bark and goes to sleep. There is noise in the classroom as always, but it has never prevented her from hibernating before. We don't cover the tank, but it has always been on a rather dark shelf. The thermostat in the classroom is set at 66 degrees, but warms up from that when the children are there, of course. We have no special lights on her, only those of the classroom, which are on from around 9am through 6pm. There are no sprays of any kind used in the classroom. That is not permitted. What worries us most is that even though she is active, she will not eat. We have offered her the usual things, crickets, mealworms, even nightcrawlers, but no interest. Thank you for your thoughts.

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Hi! If the enclosure is too small, noise in the class room or disturbance, any cleaning chemicals being used near the tank or sprays in the air, lacks hides, has too high temperatures or if there is an improper photoperiod all could stress the frog. Try covering the sides of the tank.
Can you tell us a little about what it's set up is like?

[jasonm96]

Okay a few things are wrong

All animals (accept from perhaps cave dwellers or mole salamanders) need a photoperiod, about 12 hours light and 12 darkness suits most. So, a fluorescent light on the tank needs to be used. The tank needs to be heated to 80-85 during the day and down to 75F at night. You can use a ceramic heat emitter or nocturnal heat lamp on a thermostat. If they do feed at lower temperatures, the food will not be digested and it can rot inside, causing bloating and death. As frogs are cold blooded, they rely on environmental temperatures for the body to function properly and so it's essential that they be provided with temperatures that mimic the wild. I would definitely put a background on the tank and provide cork bark and artificial plants for hiding. No bark chips! This is extremely dangerous to African bullfrogs, they get over excited and may eat piece and it's usually not digested, so surgery is needed to remove it. Coco fiber is best, provide 2-3 inches for burrowing and keep it moist. Offer pink to fuzzy mice on occasion to provide essential vitamins and dubia roaches are a favourite of mine. Mind to always gutload and dust the insects with calcium and multivitamins

[Cynthia]

Thank you, Jason, for this information. I will discuss it with the teachers at the preschool and see if we can't incorporate these changes to our bullfrog's environment.

Okay a few things are wrong

All animals (accept from perhaps cave dwellers or mole salamanders) need a photoperiod, about 12 hours light and 12 darkness suits most. So, a fluorescent light on the tank needs to be used. The tank needs to be heated to 80-85 during the day and down to 75F at night. You can use a ceramic heat emitter or nocturnal heat lamp on a thermostat. If they do feed at lower temperatures, the food will not be digested and it can rot inside, causing bloating and death. As frogs are cold blooded, they rely on environmental temperatures for the body to function properly and so it's essential that they be provided with temperatures that mimic the wild. I would definitely put a background on the tank and provide cork bark and artificial plants for hiding. No bark chips! This is extremely dangerous to African bullfrogs, they get over excited and may eat piece and it's usually not digested, so surgery is needed to remove it. Coco fiber is best, provide 2-3 inches for burrowing and keep it moist. Offer pink to fuzzy mice on occasion to provide essential vitamins and dubia roaches are a favourite of mine. Mind to always gutload and dust the insects with calcium and multivitamins