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Reptiles & Amphibians

Earthworms for Green Treefrog?

17 years ago

Would earthworms make a good item as the main part of a Green Treefrog diet? I am thinking of getting a frog, and am wondering what would be an easy food to breed that would work as a main staple, as opposed to crickets.

Thanks,

-Jmcat

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Comments (11)

Day_By_Day
17 years ago
Maybe look into a Pacman frog. They're more active than your TF's. They eat anything that moves, including mice and birds, and grow to be softball size or bigger. The nocturnals, like the Green and my White's TF, named Chubb E. Frawg, are a bit boring since they only come out when it's dark. Though also called the Smiling Frog, White's seem to have a laid back personality. I raised Chubb from 1/4" but it gets old quick not seeing anything but the poo in his water dish in the morning.
jmcat
Original Author
17 years ago
Either way, though, can earthworms be safely used for a long-term main food item? I know certain foods - mealworms, wax worms, silkworms, etc. - can't be used as the main food because they are too high in fat or hard skeletal material. Do earthworms have qualities like these that mean that they can't be used as the main food?
Thanks,
-Jmcat
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Day_By_Day
17 years ago
If you have to pin me down to it, I'd say No. The key to responsible wild pet ownership is provided it with everything it would encounter in the wild. The right kind of light, heat, water, substrate and food. I would not consider GTF's to be worm eaters. They inhabit a totally different area of the ecosphere than say Leopards, Bullfrogs, Toads, etc.
jmcat
Original Author
17 years ago
What about crickets?
-Jmcat
Day_By_Day
17 years ago
Yes, crickets and flying insects.
jmcat
Original Author
17 years ago
Do you know of organisms that are suitable for frog food that are easier and more practical to breed than crickets?
Thanks,
-Jmcat
Day_By_Day
17 years ago
It'd say not for GTF's. Which is why I tried to persuade you towards a Pacman frog, or toad. They'll eat worms and anything else.
mikeygraz
17 years ago
Jmcat -
Not to be rude, but exactly what answer are you looking for? You've been given some assistance by day by day and you don't seem content with the answers. One of the main things to keeping most animals healthy is providing a variety of food - worms, crickets, mealworms, and other various invertebrates are all acceptable food items for a treefrog. There are numerous books on captive care available at any pet store if you want to pursue this further.

~Mike
jmcat
Original Author
17 years ago
I suppose I'm looking for more answers than the books I've read have given; for that mythical "perfect food" that I probably won't find. According to pretty much every source I've read, though, crickets or anything else probably wouldn't be worth it to breed for one frog, even if I did find such a "perfect food." Once I do get a frog, I figure I can feed it pretty well in the summer off of the crickets that congregate under one of the barrels we have outside, small grasshoppers, etc. During the winter, I'll probably have to buy crickets for food, though.
Day by day- I notice you mentioned the right kind of lights in one of your posts. Do frogs need any special lights and such equipment?
Thanks,
-Jmcat
Day_By_Day
17 years ago
No, you don't need special lighting for frogs. Just a regular aquarium light flourescent fixture and bulb, on a timer for day/night cycles.
jmcat
Original Author
17 years ago
Thanks for the info!

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