My ACF seems really odd...

[Tylon]

I am trying to understand her. She is an odd little one.

She doesn't/ wont/ refuses to eat any type of bug no matter if I even try to hand feed her. She seems to eat these tiny little pellets; but then when I come back, it looks like she just tears them apart and leaves them in the tank. I also have a little glass object in the tank with marbles in it, to anchor it down due to the fact it is alive. I find marbles rolled across the tank here and there.

It got to the point, she would just leave food and throw it around, I got a nice little filter which is seeming to help.I was cleaning her tank about twice a week, and it just to the point. However she likes to sit/ sleep? under it... therefore, it can't suck up the food because she just sits there and blocks the entrance for the food to go up.

I have tried all types of foods, and I even went to the petstore yesterday with my friend who purchased his own ACF. I talked to a woman whom worked there, who was very knowledgeable in tank care (they set up tanks, test them etc) and asked her and told her about my frog.

She felt it was odd that my frog liked being near the filter so much; many frogs don't. She also couldn't get over the fact that she didn't eat bugs; so she gave me these type of worms to try and give her. She said frogs loved them. I just don't know what to do anymore, I have tried so many foods- pellets, repto sticks, freeze dried blood worms, flakes, etc... she looks like she's getting bigger (wider, actually) but she doesn't seem to eat anything. People on here have told me she will eat when she's hungry- the food just sits in there for days if so; and she just tears them apart and leaves them.

So I went home, and tried those worms out. Nope. She wouldn't eat them either. My brother's frog did, he loved them.

I'm thinking I might go try and get her a friend today at that same pet store. I just have no idea what to do or think. She seems so odd... she twitches a lot; at the slightest vibration. I removed her from my desk because she didn't like the typing of the keys. None of these issues bothers my brother's frog, nor even my friends new baby frog.

Even my friends new frog- he came right over; friendly as can be. Even HE ate a little bug!

I just never really heard of a frog not eating bugs before... she would chase flies and stuff through the glass if they landed close enough, but never really would eat them.

So yeah.


I have no idea anymore what she will eat. She seems to be getting bigger somehow, which I take as a good sign. She also isn't that friendly; usually spends her time hiding or sitting under the filter... However on occasion, she will come up and over to you, and will let you touch her.


Any help, would be great!

[tgampper]

Hi Kristina:

ACFs are not your typical frog. Their lifestyle is quite unique. They are one of the few frogs that are both predators and scavengers, as a result they enjoy pellet food as much as live food. Most people feed them pelleted food since it is easy and always available. These frogs produce a lot of waste so cleanup seems to be never ending .

ACFs have a lateral line sensory system much like fish. This allows them to detect food in cloudy, stagnant waters. That is why low output filtration systems should be used. The high water current will stress their sensory organs. As long as your frog is not too skinny or bloated, it should be OK. The skin should fit the frog's body like a glove.

These frogs seem to be quite lazy during the daytime. In the wild, they are noturnal, being active at night. I have several ACFs in my collection. I feed them 3 days a week, only pelleted food. They seem to jump for joy when it's feeding time

[Tylon]

My frog doesn't jump for joy when she see's food... she just sits there. Then eventually it turns to mush...

The filter is VERY low... so it's not really noisy or upsetting. She enjoys sitting under it; why, I have no idea...

[Kurt]

Maybe the frog is sick.

[Tylon]

How can I tell?

I looked up the disease/ sicknesses online; and found nothing she is showing any symptoms of...

[tgampper]

It is strange that the frog hangs around the filter. It could be that the frog is stressed out. Usually, when ACFs are sick or injured, the symptoms are noticeable. The most common condition I have seen is bloat, you frog will look like the "Michelin man".

You could try wrapping the tank with butcher paper for a few days, this will reduce the amount of stimulus the frog is receiving or add additional hiding places in the tank. Do not expose the tank to bright lights at night as this will startle the frog.

[Tylon]

No; she doesn't have bloat. She's just unusually skiddish and sensitive to vibrations. Iv'e had her about a month and a half; figured she would be used to it by now.

She sits under the filter; on the side of it. She seems comfortable...

I have left her alone for a couple days; but nothing really happened.

I think sometimes she nibbles on the food she tears apart here and there. She still refuses to eat the worms; even if you try to hand feed her/ put them right next to her.

She likes to hide behind/ under the filter; in her little castle; behind/ under/ in the bamboo. She used to dig in the gravel; but I took them out because I was afraid she would accidentally eat it; and the food would get caught.

[Kurt]

Maybe she has already swallowed some gravel already. That could be the reason for the lost of appetite.

[Tylon]

No... I removed the gravel a few days after I had her, which was more than a month ago. She hasn't had anything in the tank since, except marbles, which are WAY to big for her to eat (there to anchor the live bamboo down)

I noticed today she came over to me, which was a first...

I still leave food in her tank; however I dont know if she eats them, or if they turn to mush (theres mush at the bottom of her tank at times)

[willtilian]

i know this is a little late to post but maybe she has a very sensitive sensory system from being descended from lab animals?