Feeding your Frog

What do frogs eat?
Some of the more common things frogs eat include: crickets, waxworms, mealworms and bloodworms. Frogs will not eat an insect larger than they are. If you cannot find any bug in the store small enough for your pet to eat, here are some suggestions:

1. Look in your backyard for aphids and other small insects. Do a small amount of research to make sure the insect you found isn't poisonous to your frog.
2. Either trap or purchase fruit flies to feed your frog.

Whatever you choose to feed your frog should be coated in calcium. Calcium adds even more nutrition to your frog's diet. You should be able to find calcium at a petstore that sells amphibians or reptiles.

How much should my frog eat?How much your frog eats really depends on how hungry he is. When you bring your frog home, he will not want to eat for 1-2 days. Start with one worm, and if the frog eats the worm without a struggle, feed him two worms the next day and so on. However, do not allow your frog to eat any longer than 5 minutes. DO NOT overfeed your frog.

Why won't my frog eat?Usually frogs only eat food if it is alive and moving, but some species eat dead insects. If you are positive your frog will not eat his food, he is probably indicating a side-effect of an illness (check my Frog Health and Diseases article for more information about frog illnesses). Leave the food in your frog's habitat and check on your frog later. If the food is still in the terrarium, check to make sure the tank is clean. Frogs usually won't eat in a dirty environment.

Frog Health and Diseases

Frogs are hardy amphibians, and usually only succumb to sickness when not taken care of properly. Most frog diseases are caused and prevented by their environments. Once frogs are sick, they are usually very hard to cure and there is no home cure I've heard of. Most times you have to take your frog to the vet for a complete cure. Although many diseases can be prevented, sometimes your frog will be sick from the time you buy him.

Before purchasing your frog, as I've said many times before, research the one you are going to buy. Also, research frogs' diseases so you will be able to spot any sick frogs in the store before buying one. Common symptoms of illnesses include: abnormal bone structure or body shape, abrasions to the skin or feet, skinniness and cloudy or hazy eyes.

Frogs can get stressed very easily. You want to avoid stressing your frog as much as possible. Transportation, handling and things bigger than they are will easily stress your frog.

Handling:
When handling, wear rubber gloves and wash your hands before and after to keep dirt and germs off your frog's skin. Some frogs release a fluid stored in their body onto your hands if they stress while you are holding them. This fluid can be toxic to human skin, and it needs to be replaced immediately. Frogs do not drink water; instead, they absorb it through their skin. So frogs need to have access to fresh, clean water after any sort of handling.

Transporting:
Frogs get panicky and stressed when they are moving. They have been known to smash into walls and other enclosures when panicked. Avoid handling when transporting your frog. After bringing your frog home from the pet store, allow him time to get used to his new climate and surroundings. He will be stressed during this time and there is nothing you can do about it except make him as comfortable as you can. He will adjust after 24--48 hours.

Water:
Water is a vital part of your frog's health. All frogs spend a lot of time around and/or in water, and your frog must have clean water or it can lead to serious problems.

DO NOT use tap water, carbonated, distilled, mineral, seltzer or sparkling water. These types of water can be fatal to your frog. If you have no choice but to use tap water, make sure that it is dechlorinated. You can purchase water conditioner at a pet store that sells fish. Also, water must be room temperatue. Do not refrigerate. Water temperatures different than what the frog is used to can cause shock to your frog.

Some sources suggest cleaning out your frog's water daily, however, I do not recommend this. As you will have to handle your frog in order to refresh the water, you will be handling him daily. Don't clean the water if it's not dirty. Cleaning it every 3-4 days will work fine.

Feeding:
Feeding is vital to your frog's health. What he eats and how much he eats are the most important subjects of feeding. For more information about feeding frogs, see my Feeding your Frogs article.

Overcrowding:
Overcrowding can cause some problems if you have too many frogs in one space. I recommend only one to two frogs per terrarium. Frogs can fight and injure themselves by smashing into each other and the walls, if they have no place to go. Also, different breeds of frogs can have toxins harmful to other frogs in their skin.

FROG DISEASES:

Dropsy:
Dropsy is usually caused by bacteria. Symptoms include bloating and lethargy. You need to see a professional veterinarian in the case of dropsy.

Red leg:
Red leg can easily be confused with the coloring of some species of frogs. Don't treat it if you're not sure. Red leg is the reddening of the belly and thighs. Red leg is a lethal disease and infamous in all species of frogs. Red leg should be seen by a vet.

Fungal Infections:
This disease is usually spotted by red inflamation on white tissue or definite changes of skin color. The most common treatment is immersing your frog in 2% solution of malachite green.

These diseases mentioned are only a few common ones of the variety of sicknesses found in frogs. If your frog is sick, you want to remove it from any other frogs you may have so the disease does not spread. Do not treat anything until you are completely sure what it is. The best prevention of all illnesses is a clean environment, nutritional foods, ventilation and happiness.

An Introduction to Frogs

Frogs are a great pet to have considering that they are small and mostly easy to care for. They are fun and good for ages 10 and up. Frogs are either aquatic (all water frogs), frogs that do not need any water, and frogs that should have a little of both. Know what you're purchasing before you purchase it. Do not buy frogs based on what they look like or how big they are in the store. Some frogs can grow up to 8 inches long and live for up to 7 years (such as Pixie frogs, otherwise known as the African Bullfrog).

All frogs eat every day and most frogs eat live worms or insects. Some eat dried foods or crickets. Aquatic frogs eat dried food.

Before buying your frog, you should research the frog you would like to purchase. If you don't want to spend a lot of money, start with one frog then gradually add more. Research what your frog eats, the temperature he should be in, and what his habitat should be.

Aquatic frogs are the easiest frogs for the beginner. Although their habitats aren't as easy to clean as other types, they only require a once a week cleaning. Most aquatic frogs don't require heating or lighting.

There are many types of frogs you don't want to get if you're a beginner. Poison dart frogs and Horned (Pacman) frogs are NOT good for a beginner "frogger". However, there are more frogs for the beginner than for the advanced. African Dwarf frogs, African Clawed frogs, White's Tree frog and Oriental Fire-bellied toads are a great choice if you are a beginner and/or have not owned a frog before.

Another thing to consider when purchasing your frog is what to do with him when you're on vacation. Many people who haven't taken care of frogs before are not fond of live insects in the refrigerator or house.

Frogs, just like everything else, get sick once in a while. Frogs are hardy animals, and usually sickness is caused by their environment. Once frogs are sick, they are usually very hard to cure. To find more about frog illnesses, causes and preventions, check my Frog Diseases article.

Frogs need ventilation, heating and lighting. They are a fun pet but do require some maintenance. Some frogs need special cares everyday, such as misting and cleaning. Fresh water and moist skin will keep your frog healthy and happy. Most frogs DO NOT like to be handled. If you have to handle your pet, such as when cleaning out his habitat, remember to wash your hands before and after. Wet your hands or wear rubber gloves when handling.