Pacman frogs, also known as horned frogs, are usually voracious eaters. So when your pet frog suddenly stops eating, it can be worrying. However, there are several common reasons why your pacman frog may not be eating.
How Long Can Pacman Frogs Go Without Eating?
Healthy adult pacman frogs can survive without food for quite a while. They can go 1-2 weeks without eating before it becomes a concern.
Younger, juvenile frogs may only go for 4-5 days before needing food again. If your frog is losing weight or becoming lethargic it needs to eat sooner.
Common Reasons for Lack of Appetite
Here are some of the most common reasons why your pacman frog may not be interested in eating:
1. Incorrect Temperature
Pacman frogs require specific temperature ranges to digest their food and remain healthy. Daytime temperatures should be 75-85°F. If the temperature drops below or above this range, your frog may stop eating.
Similarly, nighttime temperatures of 65-75°F are needed. Double check the temperatures in your frog’s tank to make sure they are in the proper range.
2. Improper Humidity
Humidity is just as important as temperature for pacman frogs. They need 50-80% humidity to feel comfortable enough to eat.
Low humidity can cause estivation, where the frog essentially hibernates. Mist the tank daily and monitor humidity levels. Proper substrate can also help maintain humidity.
3. Recent Environment Change
If you just brought home a new pacman frog, moved its tank, or made other changes to its environment, the stress could cause a lack of appetite. Give the frog 1-2 weeks to settle in before worrying about eating.
4. Shedding Skin
Pacman frogs tend to eat less while they are shedding their skin. Shedding frequency varies, but ensure proper humidity levels to help the frog shed its skin faster.
5. Unsuitable Food
These frogs can be picky eaters! Try different prey items like crickets, worms, small mice, or frogs to stimulate appetite. The movement of live prey often triggers their hunting instinct.
6. Impaction
If your frog swallowed a foreign object like substrate or too large feeder insects, an impaction could form. Try soaking the frog in shallow, dechlorinated water to see if the object will pass. Otherwise, call your exotics vet.
7. Illness
Sickness, parasites, fungal or bacterial infections, etc. can all lead to Loss of appetite. Check for other symptoms like lethargy, abnormal feces, or weight loss. Have your vet examine the frog if illness is suspected.
Encouraging Your Pacman Frog to Eat
If your pacman frog is healthy but stubbornly refusing food, here are some tips to get it eating again:
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Try different prey items like hornworms, silkworms, or small fish for variety.
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Assist feed by gently opening the frog’s mouth with tweezers and placing food inside. Never force feed.
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Make sure supplements aren’t causing distaste. Dust prey only lightly with calcium or multivitamins.
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Double check temperatures and humidity using digital gauges – incorrect levels are a common issue.
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Add extra hiding spots and plants to reduce stress and make the frog feel more secure.
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Soak the frog in shallow, dechlorinated water for 10-15 minutes to rehydrate.
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Move the frog to a separate feeding container so it feels safe eating.
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Try feeding at different times as pacman frogs are nocturnal – they may eat more at night.
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As a last resort, force feeding may be done under veterinarian guidance.
Monitor your pacman frog closely and look for any signs of weight loss, lethargy, or illness. Healthy adult frogs can go quite a while without food, but juvenile frogs need to eat more frequently. With some tweaks to their environment and diet, your pacman frog should be munching away again in no time!
When to Call a Vet
- Dry skin
- Eye discharge or a swollen or protruding eye
- Lesion on skin
- Red discoloration of limbs and bottom aspect of frog
- Lethargy
- Lack of appetite
- Discharge or blood from mouth
- Oral lesions
- Bent or broken toes or other limb bones
- Nasal discharge
- Weight loss
Light and Heat Sources
Install a low-watt incandescent bulb, under-tank heating pad, or ceramic heat emitter to supply radiant heat in your frog’s habitat.
The wattage needed for the heat bulb will vary depending on the size of the enclosure, the distance of the bulb from the frog, and the ambient temperature of the room in which the enclosure is kept.
Note: Some light bulbs provide not only light to the tank but also heat and/or ultraviolet (UV) light. Check the light sources you’re considering to be clear of their function in the tank.
- Heat sources should be attached to a thermostat to keep temperatures within a safe and comfortable range.
- Hot rocks should never be used
- If an under-tank heating pad is used, it must always be connected to a thermostat to prevent the frog from getting burned.
White lights should not be left on continuously, as they will disrupt the frogs natural sleep cycle and negatively affect its overall health. At night, turn off lights inside the frog’s enclosure, or switch to a nocturnal or infrared light to ensure the frog can rest.
Studies show that daily exposure to ultraviolet (UV) light can improve a frog’s immune system function. Pet parents should use a low-level (2.0 or 5.0) UVB bulb to provide their frog with 10 to 12 hours of UVB light daily to imitate natural sunlight.
- Replace bulbs every six months (even if they still emit light) because their effectiveness wanes over time.
- A day/night timer can make it easier to maintain a consistent day and night cycle.
Maintain habitat temperatures of 75–83 F during the day and 70–75 F at night. Check the temperatures of your frog’s habitat daily. Two thermometers—one in the warm area and one in the cool area—should be placed in the enclosure so that both zones can be checked at once. A digital point-and-shoot thermometer can also be used to instantly read habitat temperatures.
Humidity levels should be maintained between 70–80% and monitored with a humidity gauge, called a hygrometer. To retain humidity in the enclosure, you can mist the substrate in your frog’s habitat with dechlorinated water at least once a day.
Be sure that the substrate is damp but not wet. Excess humidity in a frog’s habitat can lead to the growth of mold and bacteria that can cause skin and respiratory tract infections, while low humidity can cause frogs to become dehydrated and inactive for longer periods than is normal.
Frogs should always have access to a shallow bowl of dechlorinated water in their habitat that’s wide enough for them to soak in. Water bowls should be cleaned, disinfected, and refilled daily.
Adult frogs need about 3- to 4-inches of substrate. Coconut fiber and sphagnum moss are excellent choices, as they hold moisture well and are loose enough to allow burrowing. For a naturalistic look, you can cover substrate with leaf litter.
When selecting a substrate, keep a few things in mind:
- Avoid reptile carpet or other artificial turf, which are too rough for a frog’s delicate skin.
Gravel and rocks are not recommended. Aside from being abrasive to frogs’ skin, these substrates can lead to a fatal gastrointestinal tract obstruction if eaten.
Pacman frogs should have constant access to an open, shallow bowl of filtered and dechlorinated water (never use distilled or tap water) in which they can soak and drink. The bowl should be surrounded by plants, such as pothos, to create coverage and help frogs feel safe while drinking and sitting in the bowl. Water bowls should be disinfected and refilled daily. Do not use distilled water, which doesn’t include any of the vitamins, salts, or minerals that frogs need to stay hydrated.
Why Is Your Pacman Frog Not Eating?
FAQ
How long can Pacman frogs go without eating?
How long can a Pacman frog go without eating? Pacman frogs can go into a state of partial hibernation, called estivation, in which they don’t eat or move for days to months, typically in response to environmental temperatures that are too high or too low.
What do I do if my Pacman frog won’t eat?
Brand new pet If you just recently got your pacman frog and they arent eating, thats normal. The stress from being handled, moved, and thrown into an unfamiliar environment can cause them to not eat. Attempt to feed them every day, but don’t bother them too much, to avoid stressing them out!
How do you get a Pacman frog to eat?
Try leaving the live “prey” in the terrarium loose instead of using tongs. The movement may encourage your frog to eat.
How long can frogs go without food?
Adult frogs can survive for extended periods (3–4 weeks) without feeding if their quarters are clean, but long-term survival requires feeding the equivalent …
Why do Pacman frogs stop eating?
Healthy Pacman frogs will also stop eating for a variety of reasons. You can tell your frog is healthy if it is still active, there is no weight loss and the feces is normal. Healthy Pacman frogs are able to live without food for extended periods. Some can go for a week with no food, while others may last a month or more.
Do Pacman frogs eat?
Remember Pacman frogs can go a long period without eating. Give your frog some time while focusing on its activity levels, ensuring it doesn’t lose weight and its feces remains normal. If your frog is shedding, then it may not be keen on eating right now. Each frog will shed differently, some tend to shed more than others.
How do you know if a pacman frog is healthy?
You can tell your frog is healthy if it is still active, there is no weight loss and the feces is normal. Healthy Pacman frogs are able to live without food for extended periods. Some can go for a week with no food, while others may last a month or more. There are a number of reasons why your Pacman frog may not be eating.
How long can a pacman frog go without eating?
Adult Pacman frogs which are healthy and strong can go for a few months without eating. However, it does not mean that not eating for months in captivity is normal, and this certainly involves some time of estivation. What is considered to be a normal period of food avoiding is approximately a week.
Why is my pacman frog unhealthy?
Anything from unsanitary housing conditions to improper diet, to a lack of proper care, can cause an unhealthy PacMan frog over time. It is also a good idea to take your PacMan frog to a qualified reptile/amphibian veterinarian for semi-annual or annual check-ups.
Can Pacman frogs eat wax worms?
Wax worms are generally high in fat content and also pinky mice. It is a good rule of thumb to feed the PacMan frog a varied, balanced diet and do not feed just one food all the time. There is nothing wrong with feeding a PacMan frog the occasional wax worm, or appropriately sized pinky mouse, but feed these in moderation.