Question about mice and frogs.

[Roman]

Ok. I am in agreement with the not feeding a full diet of only mammal meat. But, how did Billy Bob live to 8 then? Wouldn't he have had some kind of cardiac arrest or, adult onset diabetes?
He had it in a hard plastic container coming back from a business trip. I was there when BB was introduced to the family. My buddy was into exotic, hard to come by pets. What better for his appetite than a baby giant frog. I want to say it was indonesia but, who knows... I don't think Mr. ------ has ever been to africa.

[onedge30]

Ok. I agree that the more knowledge you have, the better you can judge optimum care.

BUT...... the one lady that lived to be 115 drinking and smoking everyday - does not mean that that 'diet' is optimum. When the lady down the street, that died at 30, being a complete vegetarian. Just saying....

Everyone is a unique system unto themselves. You have to use some reasoning.

[Kevin1]

Ok. I am in agreement with the not feeding a full diet of only mammal meat. But, how did Billy Bob live to 8 then? Wouldn't he have had some kind of cardiac arrest or, adult onset diabetes?
He had it in a hard plastic container coming back from a business trip. I was there when BB was introduced to the family. My buddy was into exotic, hard to come by pets. What better for his appetite than a baby giant frog. I want to say it was indonesia but, who knows... I don't think Mr. ------ has ever been to africa.

Like Jeff said there are always exceptions. But your right to question it. Maybe we(general pyxie hobbyists) don't have the husbandry down right. If you think about it, In nature these frogs have millions of choices. In captivity they live in a box, very little options there. Reptiles choose different temperatures for different purposes, like digesting, and digesting different food items, cycling, healing, or sleeping. Amphibians are different than reptiles we know this but they are cold blooded and need external heat too.
Just some food for thought.

[onedge30]

Hey, just remembered ..... DON'T forget the Giant Bullfrog that ate 17 baby cobras, for a snack!!

http://blogs.thatpetplace.com/thatre...ullfrog-meals/

[findiviglio]

Hi, Frank Indiviglio here.

I posted the article on thatreptileblog concerning the African Bullfrog consuming 17 young spitting cobras. Re the rodent discussion, during my many years at the Bronx Zoo, we found a number of problems in several species that seemed linked to a diet high in rodents. Usually involved animals that were largely insectivorous in the wild, but would consume a mammal on occasion...i.e. basilisks, White's treefrogs, tiger salamanders, frilled dragons (corneal opacities, liver/kidney problems).

Not many field studies, but one that ex. stomach contents of thousands of adult marine toads in Venezuela found that none had consumed vertebrates; I've worked in the area in which the study was conducted, and observed that there were ample small vertebrates available.

Fast growth rate, large size is not an indication that a diet is healthy, nor is ages of 8-10 years for species such as African Bullfrogs (record is 50+, 20's common). Most vertebrates do offer a good Calcium/phosphorus ratio, high calcium levels etc, but in general, whole FW fishes are a better choice than mice for most amphibians, insectivorous lizards. Pinkies can be used on occasion, but furred mice usually not a good idea.

Please see this article for more info, and also the article referenced there re high cholesterol in Cuban Treefrogs and please feel free to post comments/questions.

Enjoy, Frank

[onedge30]

Thanks for the reply Frank. Great info.

[Roman]

Thanks Frank,
I had pretty much decided to not feed a steady diet of mice, just roaches and worms. Now, Ill add in the fish you spoke of and see where that takes us. What kind of fish do you recommend?

Stay Thirsty

[onedge30]

Went out and bought some of Zoomeds jumbo Can o' Grasshoppers, to try. Nice size feeders. About 2 inches plus, but little can, only 1.2 oz or 16(?) grasshoppers. It lasted me two days with 3 juvenile frogs. I would need the bonus pounder pack to even get started!!