Amphibian woes.

[My_Goldie]

So about a month and a half ago, I was at my local Petsmart, and noticed that they had gotten in 2 tadpoles with their feeders. They couldn't tell me what they were, but they were only 75 cents. So I decided to get one. I got some of the frog/tadpole sinking pellets and he seemed to be doing just fine.

I had him in my 10 gallon in the kitchen which at the time also housed my betta and about 40 guppy fry.

Well the guppies started disappearing one by one and I didn't know who was doing it. lol. the tadpole, betta, or the filter (even though the intake was covered with some fine mesh)

Now I'm pretty positive that it was the tadpole. (the Betta is back in the Guppy tank and doesn't look at any of them twice.)

So now he is a fully formed frog (still not sure what kind) and I cannot get him to eat for anything. I have tried crickets, tiny guppies, pellets, blood worms.... and nothing. He just keeps getting skinnier and skinnier! I don't want to lose him. I have exhausted all options at local reptile/fish stores they all keep telling me the same things and i've already tried them!

Help!

I'm in the process of uploading some pics of him and his cage so those will be up soon.

[SubRosa]

You have an area where he can get out of the water right? A frog's definition of food is pretty simple. If it moves and he can in any way shape or form stuff it into his mouth it's food! I'm amazed it won't eat crickets on dry land. Asuming you have dry land for it my first guess would be temp is too low.

[My_Goldie]

Yeah his tank is about half and half (land/water) it's got a filter in the water, and a hidey cave up on the land that he goes into. He just ignores crickets...


I live in arizona and it is starting to get cooler here, but his tank stays pretty warm usually high 70's low 80's.

[Notophthalmus]

Frogs go through a non-feeding phase during metamorphosis. Keep offering him small insects, he'll take one sooner or later. Any chance of a photo?

[My_Goldie]

Yep just finished uploading them. :)

any idea what kind of frog he is?

[frigginchi]

Feed them wingless fruit flies.

You can get them here:
http://www.flyculture.net/

[Reframer]

maybe the bright gravel is blinding him:) Some moss or something might help. For a frog I would also think the food has to be alive, have you tried small crickets?

[SubRosa]

I'd say Rana clamitans, Green Frog

[My_Goldie]

maybe the bright gravel is blinding him:) Some moss or something might help. For a frog I would also think the food has to be alive, have you tried small crickets?

lol the blue/green gravel was left over from breaking down and selling my 55 gallon. Gonna change to more neutral earth tones when I get some extra $$

Got make due with what ya have, right?

I have tried teeny tiny crickets, tiny guppies. the only thing that wasn't alive was the bloodworms.

wingless fruitflies..... *shivers*

I can find some from one of my local stores. funny they never mentioned those.

[cam191919]

maybe the crickets just keep dying before he can notice them, have you tried putting him and food in a "feeder tank", a bare tank with moist paper towels as substrate so the crickets dont drown

[My_Goldie]

No i haven't tried that. the crickets were around for a few days before they finally drowned and he just ignored them. idk what the dealio is. i'll try getting more teeny crickets and give that a try.

[Sevast0]

Yea, that's a green frog (Rana clamitans). I got one in with the feeder from Petsmart when I worked there. I got mine for free though, lol. When I brought mine home he still had a very small tail left on him, and he wouldn't eat for at least a week and a half. Just keep trying to feed him. They don't eat much, sometimes not at all, when they go through metamorphasis. But when he finally starts eating, he'll eat a lot! So just keep trying until he finally desides to eat!

I read somewhere that when they absorb their tails, they use it for nutrients, and that's why they don't need to eat during that time. Not sure if its true, but it makes sense to me.

[My_Goldie]

Well he did just finish absorbing his tail a little over a week ago. When I got him his back legs were barely starting to form.

He doesn't seem to be affected by not eating at all. lol. He's still extremely active, and taunts my cat through the glass.

Guess we'll just see what happens.

[Vicious_Fish]

Yep, that's a Green Frog and I wouldnt' worry just yet about it not eating. It looks completely normal for that age. Just don't give up on trying out feeder crickets. I'm sure in a few days it will start taking them with gusto.

[mellowvision]

your betta will love wingless fruitflies too. they have them at petco.

[My_Goldie]

Tried the feeder crickets again last night and he decided to eat them all within a minute or so. I only got 5 just incase he didn't eat them again... looks like i'll be going back to get some more tonight. :)

[LifelessForm]

I gotta put my 2 cents in here. They are not Wingless fruitflies, they are Flightless fruitflies. They still have wings, just can't use them. They also have very little nutritional value, I use them for my hatchling Viper geckos. Not only do you need like 30 cultures to keep enough around, but they are a PITA to feed and maintain. You're better off with pinhead crickets if you need something that small.