Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Was posted in a tarantula site/forum, but was posting here too =)

I recently acquired a pac man frog, my coworkers moms coworker (teacher) wanted to get rid of hers, and im a sucker and always take unwanted animals. I was told this frog was in yuck conditions, but nothing ever TRULY prepares you.

He is 4 years old, in a long and low, except TINY kritter keeper, with a water dish the size of his mouth. I immediately did some tank swapping and threw him in a 10 gallon with a bowl (I didnt have a spare water dish) and threw him in that dish. He just sat there and soaked it up, and is happily burrowed in his substrate now.

Now, he is SEVERELY obese, he was being fed ONE PINKIE A WEEK!! On top of crickets. I know they are "big" frogs, but this dude has fat rolls and lumps spilling over his limbs and can barely move. Thats unhealthy and uncomfortable I am sure. So since he gets a major diet, what do I feed him? I mean I cant just starve him, should I feed him just enough crickets to keep up his vitamins and his stomach happy? Like, 6 large crickets twice a week dipped in a multi vit? I use Exo Terra multi vits, but at work we also have that sticky tongues stuff.

Also, does her prefer a DEEP substrate? Hide caves? What size terrarium should he go into eventually?

Just a PS, a small portion of the keeper he came in was partioned off and had sea shells in it, which we thought was for "pretty"? No. It housed a scorpion. Yes, a scorpion, on sea shells from the beach. Needless to say, it died. Oh, did I mention she was a TEACHER?!

I put in 6 crickets today and he hasnt touched them. Is he telling me, hey im fat and know I shouldnt eat?! Now im all worried hes going to starve, but I am also a mammal person so I dont know how it works in amphibians. Or any reptile.
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I grew up with jeff Corwins tv show, my fondest childhood memories are not playing with other children, but sticking easter eggs down holes trying to catch a cobra!

"A rattlesnake that doesn't bite teaches you nothing."
- Jessamyn West

the pac mans are pretty fat frogs, but if youre concerned he could do without the pinky mice for a month and just feed inverts. later you could work a small mouse in once a month. a lot of herps won't eat right away due to stress of a new enviroment. make sure the frog is warm enough amphibians cannot digest food if not kept at right temps. As for substrate they are burrowing frogs and need a deep enough substrate to burrow 3/4 of body. Peat moss without fertilizer kept moist not damp is perfect. if kept warm (78-85f) he should start eating right away they are not shy eaters hince thier nickname pacman.

even once a month is too much rodent for frogs. Let it go without food for a while. Maybe a month or so, then start back feeding about once a week or so smaller meals like crickets, roaches, worms, etc.
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http://www.youtube.com/user/BIGHYDRO

Also, peat moss is not the best choice for them. Coco fiber is about the best substrate you can get for them. It is usually easily passed when ingested, and has a neutral ph unlike the peat.
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http://www.youtube.com/user/BIGHYDRO