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Ask a Vet (Pet Health) (Expert Forum)
help!!!!my pacman frog wont eat!
Answered by
Aleda M Cheng, D.V.M. - Small Animals, dogs, cats, CVA
Randolph - NJ
This forum is for pet health questions! Dr. Cheng's interests include: Small animal medicine & surgery, Veterinary Acupuncture and Veterinary Chinese Herbal Medicine and Veterinary NAED, Allergy diagnosis & treatment
help!!!!my pacman frog wont eat!
by emilylw4, Mar 08, 2008 02:02PM
help!!!!!!!!Crogunk wont eat! hes very skinny.we did everything the Petsmart clerk told us to do!we gave him live food(crickets),80 degree tempurture,shallow pool of distilled water,and gave it bedding that kept his body heat in.i dont know whats going on!if you know any information to whats happening to my beloved Crogunk,please send a comment.
thank you.
thank you.
Doctor's Answer
by Aleda M Cheng, D.V.M., Mar 09, 2008 04:29PM
, Mar 09, 2008 04:29PM
Your pacman may be undergoing through a period of Estivation. I have pasted a good description of this behavior from veterinary partner.com as follows:
Periodically during the year, your frog may go into a period of partial hibernation. During this period they will neither eat nor drink. They will not stay in their water bowl but instead bury themselves as much as possible beneath the foliage and substrate. Instead of shedding their skin, they retain it. It will harden up, giving your frog the appearance of being encased in plastic. Between this protective skin layer and the frog will be a thin layer of moisture; your frog will actually be taking in oxygen through his skin rather than breathing through its plugged nostrils. Do not disturb your frog when it is in this state. Estivation is done when the temperature becomes too hot or too cold for the animal's comfort. With ornates, it also happens for reasons we don't know about! Just keep the frog covered with his plant materials, keep fresh water in its bowl, and, as long as it is not losing any body mass, be patient. Eventually, when the ornate feels it is time, it will begin softening and shedding it protective covering, hop into its water, and be ready for a meal.
Additionally I had a similar question about 3 weeks ago. Go back and check the pac man question and answer on 2/17/08 or thereabouts. Since I am not an amphibian expert I am in the process of doing a search on the veterinary information network and other sources about your pacman. I should have more information in a couple of days. Hang in there. Thanks
Periodically during the year, your frog may go into a period of partial hibernation. During this period they will neither eat nor drink. They will not stay in their water bowl but instead bury themselves as much as possible beneath the foliage and substrate. Instead of shedding their skin, they retain it. It will harden up, giving your frog the appearance of being encased in plastic. Between this protective skin layer and the frog will be a thin layer of moisture; your frog will actually be taking in oxygen through his skin rather than breathing through its plugged nostrils. Do not disturb your frog when it is in this state. Estivation is done when the temperature becomes too hot or too cold for the animal's comfort. With ornates, it also happens for reasons we don't know about! Just keep the frog covered with his plant materials, keep fresh water in its bowl, and, as long as it is not losing any body mass, be patient. Eventually, when the ornate feels it is time, it will begin softening and shedding it protective covering, hop into its water, and be ready for a meal.
Additionally I had a similar question about 3 weeks ago. Go back and check the pac man question and answer on 2/17/08 or thereabouts. Since I am not an amphibian expert I am in the process of doing a search on the veterinary information network and other sources about your pacman. I should have more information in a couple of days. Hang in there. Thanks
