Worried about Bumblebee Walking Toad

[clownonfire]

Hi all,

I am concerned about my bumblebee walking toad.

I got her two months ago. When I first got her (I’m not even certain it’s a female), Gretel was fed pinheads, but larger pinheads. And she didn’t eat much, I think the pinheads were too big for her. I added flightless fruit flies and she’s been eating, and finally, gaining a bit of weight. She is about 7 months now.

Two weeks ago, we changed her terrarium, making it even more suitable for her (Seth’s article is THE bumblebee reference on the net, great job, Seth: http://www.frogforum.net/toad-care-a...-breeding.html). Humidity and temperature are all set using timers and meters.

Temp: daytime around 25/Nightime around 21.
Humidity: daytime around 70% / nighttime around 80%.

Now I’ve noticed that for the past week, she has been less active. She continues to be at her favourite places, she moves around 3 different places (she’s alone in a 10 gallon). But she doesn’t explore as much as when we first got her. She is eating less.

Her skin, eyes all seem alright. She is not bloated.

Is she finally calmer now that she isn’t starved?
Is she still just getting used to her new terrarium?
Could I have added too much fruit flies and it’s stressing her?

I’ll try and put pictures tonight, but it won’t be helpful as she looks as she always did. I know that they are somewhat active (she has been climbing too, which is also positive).

Thank you, I’ll take any input!

Eric

[clownonfire]

Bump.

[Ebony]

I'm sorry I can't help you with this Eric..Hopefully someone will have some ideas. Hope fully your frog is just getting use to the new surroundings.

[tylototriton]

I wish I could provide specific help, but i'll try to answer some of the questions you posed.
She may be calmer now, or more comfortable at least, I can't really say. However, it is unlikely that she is satiated and that is why she isn't eating. Frogs tend to just eat until there isn't food. Fruit flies probably aren't stressful. Crickets can most definitely be annoying, but I doubt your fruit flies will cause an annoyance. The most likely culprit is the terrarium environment change. Anytime you make a change, even if it is to a "better" environment, it can lead to stress or trigger behavioral changes. It may be helpful to know what the environment was like before the change?

Best,
Alex

[Leefrogs]

could be just plain old winter slow down. I think, frogs really feel those attic blasts, dispite our controled environment, it may be confusing to a frog to not match it's surroundings with instincts feelings. I thinkits just normal adjustment. Mine know when that blast is comming, they try to get in the tub right away instead of meandering around on those cold nights. And they do it right at lights out. They know the barometric pressure.

[clownonfire]

I wish I could provide specific help, but i'll try to answer some of the questions you posed.
She may be calmer now, or more comfortable at least, I can't really say. However, it is unlikely that she is satiated and that is why she isn't eating. Frogs tend to just eat until there isn't food. Fruit flies probably aren't stressful. Crickets can most definitely be annoying, but I doubt your fruit flies will cause an annoyance. The most likely culprit is the terrarium environment change. Anytime you make a change, even if it is to a "better" environment, it can lead to stress or trigger behavioral changes. It may be helpful to know what the environment was like before the change?

Best,
Alex

Thank you Alex. For the satiated part, it makes sense. I know my frogs are relentlessly hunting their food down.

She seems to be more active today. It might just be me too... The R. ventrimaculata are just so active that anything in comparison seems dormant...

The old terrarium was similar, but without moss, and hydroballs. It was more of a layer of coconut husk, and she would always more only around her cocounut HUT. Now she has a cork bark that she likes to hide in, or climb on, a piece of malaysian wood which she also enjoys hiding under, and a large are where she walks around.

She has been eating this morning.

[Eric Walker]

Eric

these toads are no where near as active as some of the darts I have kept. Mine do like to climb but sometimes they stay there all day. of the 5 I have I can normally only see one or two out in the open. It also sounds like the humidity may be just a bit to high. I keep mine more around 60%. I dont mist often at all but I do put in a shallow wate dish for them every so often so they can splash around. I have never fed crickets to them. lots of flys, springs, and woodlice. I have some pretty plump females and the size difference is very noticable from male to female.
you said "she" is around 7 months? is someone up there breeding them and getting them out of the water? not many in the US yet, maby one or two with cb for sale.
these little guys seem to be pretty stress free IMO. even with a move to a new tank, I never noticed any difference in personality.

hope that helps a bit.

there was an incredable disscusion on dendroboard that seth joined in on that was pretty long but I cant seem to find it now it was not to long after the feb 2010 imports started to come in.