Froglet rescued in bucket of water

[charlamanda]

On Sunday 8/15, after it began to rain, I walked around the yard to check on the hundreds of froglets that have recently left my pool. I found a small 1/2" baby floating lifeless in a bucket of water. I tried several timed to scoop baby out, but it wasn't moving ay all. When I finally did get it the baby grabbed onto my hand w/1 leg and to my shock it pulled itself upright and sat up. I carried it back around the house and brought it in, in a cool whip container w/holes in the lid. The froglet just calmly sat in my hand and then in the container without moving, just sitting. I had no food for it;nor had my 33 gal fish tank ready, so I fixed up a small oct tank 6" in diameter and about 12" high. I caught a small moth I've seen others eat around my front door and put it in the tank with the froglet. The baby sat at the edge around to top I covered with a screen and sat on the fake and wandering jew plant I put in the tank but barely moved all night and did't eat the moth. Today I am concerned becaus it looks thin and I am sure hungry. I brought it back outside to hopefully let it hunt for food, but just sat on a leaf. I want to make sure it eats so I put it in the coolwhip container again with a cricket and am hopping for the best. I think, once I make sure baby has eaten, I will put him above my front door where many of the other froglets have taken residence and are growing quickly.... any advice would be greatly appreciated. I've posted this twice before but I can't find my posts, so if you responded to those please repeat your advice here so I can find it. Thanks

[charlamanda]

Update...After about 1 hour w/cricket it seems only concerned w/getting out through the plexiglass top. I added 2 more babies and five more crickets to increase the odds and incourage the original froglet to hunt. It's not going well, all the frogs, which I forgot to mention are all Gray Trees froglets, are all climbing to the plexiglass top, I've now covered with a towel, and none have eaten the crickets, which are definately small enough for these babies. Should they have been interested in the crickets? How long do they take to eat them? What do I do if they don't eat? How can I get their attention to the food and why are they so concerned with escaping and not eating? This is much more difficult than I expected! I have 9 rabbits, 3 dogs, 5 cats, and I had hundreds of fish, and even a cawfish, so I am familiar with caring for pets and am very patient, but am becomming concerned with these stubborn and uncooperative little fellas. I do want them to to survive and willing to do anything to help them.

[Julia]

It takes time for frogs to settle into their new homes before they eat. Sometimes it can take up to week. During this time I would recommend putting them in the 33 gallon tank with all the appropriate conditions.
http://www.frogforum.net/tree-frog-c...ysoscelis.html

It would probably help them settle in if you handle them as little as possible. Are you planning on keeping them as pets? Or just trying to fatten them up to release them back outside?

[charlamanda]

Hi Julia, . Since I hadn't had anything set up and the froglet hadn't eaten I decided to let him go in a blackberry bush in my yard under the bug zapper. There are several froglets and 1 adult that stay there and eat well from the bugs hanging around the light. The baby seemed to be much better after his near death experience and after the honey bath became much more active. I was trying to get it to eat before I let it go so I knew it fed, but baby was very stubborn. I have been keeping an eye on the little guy who is still in the bush. I didn't realize they could go long without eating, I was really concerned when they didn't go after the crickets and moth. Thank you for that info, most appreciated.

[charlamanda]

there are some pics of the rescued froglet. the first is from yesterday in the containerw/crickets and on my leg w/thumb for size. the last is today(tues) on the leaf.

[charlamanda]

Yesterday, Tuesday 8/17, baby hadn't moved, got real thin and turned black on it's leaf. I got concerned so I moved him/her to the window above my front door where the light attracts lots of bugs and where there are many other froglets. I kept and eye on baby who, even at night, didn't move and was black. Then around 10-11pm began to catch a few bugs that was in range. After a few catches baby turned green and actively hunted in the window. I am so relieved. Earlier in the day I looked around for the fatest and largest froglet I would take in as pets. I found 2 that fit the bill and have them in the smaller tank untill I get the bottom material today. They are both looking well and I think they will do much better than Baby.