Question about mice and frogs.

[Greg M]

With respect to hypervitaminosis A, my opinion is that this shouldn't be a problem if you are feeding mice as part of a well-balanced diet (as Cookie Monster says, a "sometimes food"). Ironically, I specifically include mice in the diet of my Woodhouse's toads because they tend to develop hypovitaminosis A ("short-tongue syndrome"/squamous epithelium). I don't think it is reasonable to feed a diet purely of mice. My thesis is simply that over-feeding/obesity are the real cuprits behind corneal opacities and other health issues often attributed to the feeding of mice. Frogs overfed insects develop these issues too.

With respect to feeder fish, as I mentioned in another thread, in one study, chytrid was detected in hatchery ponds (which are often frequented by amphibians) and the recommendation was to consider the fish (and water, etc.) as contaminated and therefore potential carriers of chytrid. My personal guess is that hatchery ponds in areas where chytrid is present are very likely to be contaminated. Fisheries don't test for chytrid because it doesn't affect fish. I would be cautious...

As a side issue, from my reading, it is likely that fish stocking (along with the concomitant transfer of contaminated water, fish and microbes) is a highly significant issue in the spread of chytrid... Will take this up in another thread...

[bshmerlie]

I purchased 22 baby green tree frogs (hyla cinerea) for $40 bucks from a local breeder and I feed them to my two Stoltzmanni's once a week. I found the breeder on craigs list. They are pretty small but my frogs aren't very big. It provides for a balanced diet. I would try the baby chicks but I think they would be too big for my frogs. I've never fed pinkies but a random one on a rare occasion wouldn't hurt. I think the point with any frog is too feed as many different food items as possible. As long as that food item is something that they would eat in the wild. Other frogs are a main food source for larger frogs in the wild. We culture insects and worms why not other frogs for our large mouthed frogs?

[Greg M]

Hi Chery,

In principle I agree with you - frogs are the logical food of many large-mouthed frogs (horned frogs, etc.). The problem is that frogs carry parasites (nematodes, fungi, bacteria, etc.) that could potentially infect the animal you are feeding. Wild caught horned frogs carry very heavy parasite loads specifically because they consume other amphibians. If I was to use frogs as feeders, personally I would run them through the chytrid treatment, as well as Panacur and Flagyl, to minimize the bugs they carry. This is an issue not only for the frogs that you will be feeding, but also any other frogs in your care that might potentially come in contact with the feeder frogs or the equipment used for their culture. I wouldn't assume that frogs from breeders are clean.

For me, because I have a "clean" collection, I don't want to potentially introduce pathogens through feeder frogs. Even acquiring a new pet frog is somewhat of a pain because of the quarantine and treatments involved. PLUS, I just love frogs too much to use them as feeders (and my son would pitch a fit)!!!!!

[Dog Shrink]

Baby quail would be a better idea rather than baby chickens. baby quail are readily availabe here in Pa, and I know several who will sell the eggs or a breeding pair (they're real easy to breed from what I understand) for you to incubate yourself. You can find these guys by looking on the bulletin boards at a lot of local feed mill type stores, tractor supply usually knows some people, and the farm isting on craigs list or looking at your local county fairs. Baby chickens imo are just like adults beefed up on hormones, higher in fat and all the other bs, whereas quail is a leaner meat by nature plus a smaller, finer boned bird than a chick. It'd be like feeding a small finch to your frog.