Reptile & Amphibian Forums

It's been 5 days now and he won't eat! He won't even climb things.. When I put him on one of his branches he'll stay for a few mins then jump off. When he gets on a wall, he slides right down. I don't think he has any energy.. He's not all 'that' skinny, but to what WTF are suposse to look like, he is. I've tried force feeding him and he smacks me with his front foot. I have coconut fiber soil and then spanish moss and all he does all day and night is cuddle down in the moss. What do I do?!
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cassie
cmk2005@alltel.net
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3.2.3 Green Tree Frogs
0.0.1 Whites Tree Frog
0.0.6 Fire-bellied Toads
0.0.1 Leopard Frog
0.0.1 Afican Clawed Frog
0.0.2 Leopard Geckos
2.0.0 Rough-skinned Newts
0.0.3 Painted Turtles
4.1.30 Tropical fish
2.0.0 Rabbits
0.1.0 Beagle

First place your frog in a sterile tank with a paper towel bottom (kept moist with treated water) and a few hiding places. Stop trying to forcefeed him, it is extremely stressful, and that added stress can make a treatable situation much worse. Stop handling him, and trying to place him where you want him.
Also, what are your tank specs, or what size tank is it, whats the temp, humidity, etc. Place him in a clean tank where you can watch him, and let us know what your set up is like.
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*~~Whitney~~*

Though here at journey's end I lie in darkness buried deep, beyond all towers strong and high, beyond all mountains steep, above all shadows rides the Sun and Stars forever dwell: I will not say the Day is done, nor bid the Stars farewell."

He's in his own tank right now(10 gallons). Not with any others.. I have a piece of driftwood in there with some climbing vines. The substrate is the coconut soil stuff with a thin layer of spanish moss spread on it. I have a water bowl filled about 1/2in that I change twice a day. Theres an undertank heater keeping it around 78degrees.
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cassie
cmk2005@alltel.net
*
3.2.3 Green Tree Frogs
0.0.1 Whites Tree Frog
0.0.6 Fire-bellied Toads
0.0.1 Leopard Frog
0.0.1 Afican Clawed Frog
0.0.2 Leopard Geckos
2.0.0 Rough-skinned Newts
0.0.3 Painted Turtles
4.1.30 Tropical fish
2.0.0 Rabbits
0.1.0 Beagle

Okay, this is the frog that you recently got as a replacement for the deceased one, right? First, get rid of the moss (see post below). Second, ditch the undertank heater. That type of heating is not recommended for frogs, it's not natural for them to seek heat on the ground. Replace the uth with overhead dome lighting, which is more natural and safe for the frog. A 10 gallon is too small for an adult Whites as well, but that's not an immediate issue (although it will need prompt upgrading to at least a 20 gallon).
It's probably not eating because it's still getting used to it's environment. That is quite common with newly purchased animals, and the more you handle him, including force feeding, the more reluctant he will be to ever move. Take out the moss, cover 3 sides of the tank and possibly add a few more elevated hiding places to encourage him to climb and behave more like a tree frog. I still recommend placing him in a relatively bare tank, I recommend that with ALL newly purchased herps, as it's much easier to monitor how much they have been eating and eliminating. Just remember that because you don't see him move much, it doesn't mean that he doesn't become active at night. Try not to disturb him, only change the water and do necessary maintenance without handling the frog.
Keep in mind as well that you made a conscious decision to buy the first frog and accept the replacement, knowing that the care at that facility had been sub-par. When you do that, you take the risk of buying unhealthy animals that will only die no matter what you do. The replacement that was given to you may very well be in extremely poor health, especially if the frogs were kept as you describe. Instead of supporting this store in the future, you should take your business else where.
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*~~Whitney~~*

Though here at journey's end I lie in darkness buried deep, beyond all towers strong and high, beyond all mountains steep, above all shadows rides the Sun and Stars forever dwell: I will not say the Day is done, nor bid the Stars farewell."

Thank you for your comments. I was glad to hear that my new hypochondrialis is behaving in a predictable manner. I just posted a similar question to the next topic. I put my quarantine frog in a kritter keeper that is bare as you say. I have seen him eat a few crickets now after 3 days but I have seen no droppings yet. The crickets have to come to him since he has not moved off his perch. You have assuaged my fears though that this is normal. I will continue to leave him undisturbed and let him get used to his new environment. Thanks again.