Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hello to all
I am the proud owner of 2 Painted mantellas as of Sat. I put them in there new home a 10 gal terrarium with some live plants, grapevine and cork. 1 took to it fine and was hunting and eating an hr later but the other has hidden in a Selaginella since I put in and I am not sure he's come out since then or had a bite to eat. Does anyone have any Ideas? I have only offered small crickets so far do you think something else might bring him out or is he stressed?
Thanks for reading

Both frogs are probably stressed, but that's to be expected. Over the course of the last month or two they have probably gone from the wild, to an exporter in Madagascar, shipped to a large importer here in the States (or other country where you live), then to a smaller reptile dealer, possibly to a pet store and are now in your care. During that time the frogs probably haven't been kept in the best conditions so it can take a while for them to adjust to captivity. Keep a close eye on both of them and watch for any signs that would indicate that they aren't healthy.

For the first few days new arrivals often will often behave in strange ways. Sometimes they will be extremely bold and will hop around the cage all day, climbing to the top and then back down to the bottom. Other frogs, like the one you are concerned about, will simply hide all of the time only coming out occasionally to eat. Over the next few weeks they should settle down. From what I've observed with my painted mantellas (madagascariensis), they aren't extremely bold frogs and often hop back into hiding when their terrarium is approached. Food can lure them out into the open. Good luck,

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Devin Edmonds
devin@amphibiancare.com
www.amphibiancare.com

That's what I figured it reminded me of a tropical fish being stressed and hiding in the corner of a tank.

By the way I have to say thanks your site really helped me with my red eyes and now these guys. I saw you got a spear tail too, I just got a pair but have had 2 satanics for about 1 1/2 and just added a female. Good luck and thanks!

n/p
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Devin Edmonds
devin@amphibiancare.com
www.amphibiancare.com

Also try feeding them fruit flies, mantellas won't always eat crickets.