Pacman, who's got em?

So... I'm not much of a frog person... but those little buggers are growing on me, and now here's the big favorite question. Who's got em, what do you like about them, and should I consider trying my hand at not killing a frog, but raising it LOL?

I think RET frogs are cool, but I think a pacman looks pretty awesome. Chris is starting to think about having one, plus the so called 'bark' that they do.

OK! Let's see em, who's got them!

I had one for 2 years (female) I traded her for my pastel Ball python at the time I was not into frogs now I am and would get another one in a heart beat :)

I have an albino pacman that is the size of a saucer plate. it is eating pinky mice. they are easy to care for, and make an eye catching family member. Mine is in my classroom with the rest of the pack (see sig.)

https://ball-pythons.net/gallery/fil...cman_thumb.jpg

I used to own quite a few. They're hardy little frogs, and darn near impossible to kill. In my opinion, they're like little tanks! When they get to a larger size, watch your fingers when removing them from a cage. I have been bitten :P When you keep them...don't feed them vertebrate prey, other than a snack, or treat here or there every couple months. Some people feed them a main diet of mice and rats, just because they think its cool. Really all they're doing is killing the animals kidney and liver. It shortens the animals live substantially, when fed a main diet of rodents. They do much better on invertebrate prey. Mine flourished on roaches, butterworms, waxworms, and earthworms. Grew quite fast, to tell you the truth. They do bark, and boy do they do it well! They even growl! The bark sounds more like a quack, but it's hilarious! IMO, they're one of the hardiest, best frog species to care for, and keep. They don't require as strict a care (other than diet) than other frog species, as well as being more durable/less fragile. I'd go for it!

Here's some help to boot, on getting feeders, and containers for them.

Feeders-
Armstrong Crickets
Big Apple Herp, live feeders
Fluker Farms
LLL Reptile, live feeders
Kelly Swift/Swift Invertebrates

Supplies-
The Bean Farm
Superior Enterprise
LLL Reptile
Big Apple Herp
ProExotics
Amazon Reptile Center Supplies I highly recommend the Invert Soil for them ;)


Some tips to help with care. Keep them warmish, around 78-80F or so. Just don't let it creep too high (Over 81-82F or so)I highly recommend feeding roaches. Theyre more nutritional, and healthier for your frog, than crickets or meal worms. Butter Worms, and Waxworms are excellent feeders as well! The frogs seem to love them too. Lobster roaches, and Hissers, I've seen some of the best results with. Keep the cage humid, but not damp. Most people keep these frogs damp, or wet. I've noticed when this is done, they kind of develop skin sores, etc. Have a dish of clean water in the cage, for the animal to soak in when need be. Have the dish filled about a 3rd the animals height, with water. Don't use regular sink/tap water, as it contains chlorines, n such that will harm your frog, internally. Peat moss/Sphagnum moss, I've seen excellent results with. It keeps the frog healthy, and the habitat humid, without leaving the tank soggy, and damp. get your animal some naturalistic hiding spots...such as some bamboo shoots, or driftwood, that the animal can hide under/start a burrow under. Give them some cover as well, such as moss.

Well hopefully this jumbled mess helps out :D Good luck with your soon to be, new frog! They're definitely my favorite species to keep! Well worth the effort!

I had one for a while and adored him! He was a nice high green, named Ozzie, and got about as big as a silver dollar before my lack of knowledge did him in. :( I thought they hibernated and so did not attend to him for about two months before I asked a knowing friend and found that he was 'trapped' in an unshed skin. I soaked him fast and got the skin off... but the lack of nutrition and oxygen had been too much.

I fed my guy mostly inverts with the occasional feeder fish for variety and amusement. It was so fun watching him hunt those fish. :)
I miss him, but don't trust myself, or the cold and dry of CO, enough to get another one...

http://www.ball-pythons.net/gallery/.../6/monster.jpg

This was my "Monster", He loved burrowing and his occasional mouse.. He would be vocal at night while I sat at my desk. Other than burrowing there wasn't much he would do. Only way he would eat is if the groceries hopped or crawled past. Since I lost him I've been thinking of getting another. He would bark at me when I went to pick him up. So cute.

Awww, I'm sorry for both your losses! They are definitely incredible frogs to keep!

Wow, thanks everybody, esp Andrew, that's a ton of info! I may have to pic one up at the next show! :D

Quote:

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Originally Posted by AndrewH

Peat moss/Sphagnum moss, I've seen excellent results with. It keeps the frog healthy, and the habitat humid, without leaving the tank soggy, and damp. get your animal some naturalistic hiding spots...such as some bamboo shoots, or driftwood, that the animal can hide under/start a burrow under. Give them some cover as well, such as moss.

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I heard sphagnum moss would mold if kept in there all the time damp. Is there a good time limit before throwing out the old stuff? Or is it alright if it's left in there all the time?

I changed the bedding every month or so. It may be a bit moist, but you don't leave it really damp, soggy, or wet. Ontop of the mold, and mildew problem, it would need changed every month or so, due to waste, the animal excretes. Those toxins, and wastes would be absorbed through the animals skin, if left in contact with them...so a clean cage will leave you with a healthy animal :D

I've never really noticed much of a problem with mold...I was more concerned with the frog always packing Sphagnum to one side of the cage :P On that note, when you do pick up your frog, I like to give them around 4" or so of bedding. They are burrowers, and really appreciate the extra bedding. :D Oh yeah...Get an Albino :P They're gorgeous! lol.

Yea I really like the albino! I'm going to have to make sure I can get their food shipped to me, since there is not one darn place besides petsmart that carries invertebrates, and all they have are crickets and some meal worms.
EDIT: I just realized you already gave me a bunch of feeders sights :P

Now, one more quick questions, does it make a difference if I pick one up at a show, or is there something I should be looking for when choosing one? ;)

Best place to look for them is at shows, or look for online breeders/dealers. Shows let you see the animals up close/in person, which in my opinion is better. Look for clear eyes (not milky). Milky colored eyes are sometimes a sign of chlorine being in their water (damages their internal organs), as well as signs of sitting in waste (toxins being absorbed into their bodies). Also check for healthy looking underbellies. Their underbelly should be a white, to white-ish silver color. If its pink, or has red hues to it, don't buy the animal. Normally its a sign they've been kept in dirty cages/containers, or in too humid an environment. Also, look at the build of the jaw. Make sure the jaw, and mouth is aligned, with no bumps, bruising, warping, etc. Look for complete toes, as well as a normal posture.

Hope this helped :D

Yes it does very much! Thank you thank you :D

Anytime! If you need anymore help, don't be shy :D I'll help anyway I can!

OKay, one more thing, what size enclosure would you recommend? Like, whats the best I can do, an exoterra front door one? Or just a regular ol tank

I think they look awesome too! The albino ones are hot! Cute little buggers:P

I like Horned Frogs a lot. Mine is not active by any means. She spends most of her life buried in dirt. I use EcoEarth coco fiber bedding and change it every 2 months or so, removing feces as they appear.
Benny! Named when we thought she was a he. Roughly 5 years old.
http://i149.photobucket.com/albums/s...s/benclean.jpg

ya mine was an albino but i sold him for my pastel lol I'm bad :(

I want one!

Everybody needs a "PACMAN"

Meet Brutus!


http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d1...3/IMG_0601.jpg

http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d1...3/IMG_0601.jpg

http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d1...3/IMG_0598.jpg

Big O'l Butt!

http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d1...3/IMG_0594.jpg

http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d1...3/IMG_0593.jpg

http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d1...3/IMG_0589.jpg

http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d1...3/IMG_0588.jpg

http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d1...3/IMG_0587.jpg

Thanks for sharing. Awesome froggy!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by littleindiangirl

OKay, one more thing, what size enclosure would you recommend? Like, whats the best I can do, an exoterra front door one? Or just a regular ol tank

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Let your imagination run wild :D Space doesn't stress this species to much. The only problem with too much, is getting the prey to go near the frog. These frogs will jump at the prey close range, then, if it gets away...then just sit back down and stay still :P Something around the size of a 5 gallon tank, to 10 gallon tank works best. Don't crowd them too much, but don't give them too much space. Give them a cage about 5-7x their body, and they'll do fine :D

I know I've posted this before, but this is what you wind up with, when the frog gets angry....girr LOL...
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b296/Kaa22/smile.jpg

Here's some good cages for them. Floor space is much more important than height. These frogs don't climb...their build tells all :P

Big Apple - Faunariums
Big Apple - Acrylic Caging
LLL Reptile - Creative Habitat 05RT

Just some idea's for caging. You can go all out and have a jungle type realistic vivarium...but be forewarned, these frogs DIG! :P They'll make short work of most nicely decorated vivariums. IMO, basic is best when it comes to them. Just don't go too basic :P

These are very cool.....but African Bullfrogs own all!!!!


I've got a very young male. :D

Thanks for the info. on these guys andrew.


Mike

Anytime. I've had some Pixies before...they're so-so. :P Man they could EAT!! The only thing I didn't like about them, is they're a little more water dependant than Horned frogs are. Other than that, they were ok. African Bullfrogs don't rule!.......South American Bullfrogs (Leptodactylus pentadactylus) rule! Aka, Smokey Mountain/Chicken Frogs. Their leap is incredible...

Quote:

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Originally Posted by AndrewH

Anytime. I've had some Pixies before...they're so-so. :P Man they could EAT!! The only thing I didn't like about them, is they're a little more water dependant than Horned frogs are. Other than that, they were ok. African Bullfrogs don't rule!.......South American Bullfrogs (Leptodactylus pentadactylus) rule! Aka, Smokey Mountain/Chicken Frogs. Their leap is incredible...

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I've found Pyxies to just be much more active and fun to care for than pacmans.

I have never dealt with Smokey's before but have seen them popping up more and more everyday.

Had any experience with them?


Mike

Yep, I've kept two of them before. These things GROW. They make a mess of their tanks too. Mud, gravel, feces, all up the glass on the tanks. They'd eat darn near anything that walked by the too. The only thing mine wouldn't eat were hissing cockroaches. They'd always spit them out....no clue as to why. Their jump ......you'd drool over it :rofl: Open the lid to the tank, and get ready to catch a flying frog or two. They grow fairly steady, and they need it fairly humid. About 70% or so, I've found to work....75-80% and I'd have mold, and other nasties building up in the tank.

This is my "girl" Ms. Pacman (i'm a huge fan of the video game...lol). My room-mate got her for me for my birthday. This was shortly after I got her, she's prolly twice that size now.

http://i258.photobucket.com/albums/h...4/DSCN0414.jpg

Now that frog is just plain ADORABLE!

Heres my male. About 5-6 years since I picked him up and hes still going strong on fuzzy rats
http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e2...t/DSC00147.jpg

Tubs work great for horned frogs, also. I have mine in a tub that's roughly the size of 2 shoebox tubs. It retains humidity like a dream (something that's tough in tanks.) I like to keep my frog's humidity pretty high, otherwise she tends to dry out and develop a hard clear outer skin (they do this while "brumating" in the dry season in Argentina, their homeland.) A rock on the lid and some airholes melted into the sides, and you're good to go. I fill it about 2/3 full with substrate; these frogs LIVE to dig.

Just came in to check on my pacman and he was dead. 5-6 years old, not too bad of a life span

My local reptile shop just got some in going to get one on Saturday cant wait:banana:

I got one today at the reptile show. they called him a fantasy frog about the size of a half dollar. Got em in a 5.5 with a about 2 inches of dirt for him to burrow in. and a uth. Thing is sweet looking and is already eating crickets. Cant wait for him him to be a big guy.

just got my fantasy from LLL Reptile today...
now i have a quick question he is still little and only eating med. crickets, i feed him two crickets today...how many should he eat in one feeding?
thanks for the help

just picked up this wee dude for my eldest girl ....albino horned frog ( Pacman )

http://i99.photobucket.com/albums/l3...binohorned.jpg

just took the one pic as we did not want to stress the wee fella , cant wait till I can get a few 'smiler' shots front on with him .:D

Hey Peeps!

Some gorgeous frog's you all have there!

I've kept Ceratophrys Cranwelli's, Cornuta's & Ornata's over the years & I love 'em all!!!!
-Really hardy & interesting amphibs!

But, I have to say.....My favourite of the "Chubby frogs" is what I'm currently keeping & that's the Budgett's Frog (Lepidobatrachus laevis)

These little beasties are AWESOME!!!!!

Total eating machines & if you think the "Pacman's" have an attitude....You should see these things when they have the *rse!!!

They actually attack!!! As well as growl & hiss at you! :O

They're not as 'attractive' colour-wise as the 'pacman's'...But they more than make up for that in cuteness!!! :D

I brought mine as a 'froglet' about 2 years ago & he was the size of a 50p (I think that's about the size of a quarter) and he now fills my hand! :D

They're hard to come by over here & have been on the look out for a female of breeding size...But no luck as yet!

My Photobucket account is not letting me upload an old piccie of him at the mo...Ggggrrrrr...But when it's working I'll post one!

In the mean-time here's a pic & video I've just found via google showing their "Strike pose"....:O

http://audubonmagazine.org/onepictur...cture0711.html

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xKG4T...eature=related
Give the little fella's a try.....You won't regret it!!!!! :gj:

Ah-ha...Got it working!

RIght, as promised...Here's an old piccie of my little fella "phlem" (named for obvious squishy, gooey reasons)...Will sort out a new pic soon! :D

http://i271.photobucket.com/albums/j...ed21/Phlem.jpg

i have had mine for about two weeks and she is so cool
i have found that she loves Wax Worms and feeder fish..

What's the typical lifespan on these guys...8-10 years?

I'm getting one tommorow. I'm really excited!!! :gj:

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Originally Posted by Schlyne

What's the typical lifespan on these guys...8-10 years?

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That is correct; that is the average age.
One of the guys at my local shop had one live for 11 years

Quote:

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Originally Posted by LadyOhh

I'm getting one tommorow. I'm really excited!!! :gj:

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Congratulations:D

Ok, it's a bit off-topic but I have to ask: Has anyone ever owned a Tomato Frog? I love the looks of those guys and adored working with them when I worked at Petsmart(I was the only one who really knew how to care for reptiles/amphibians...sigh)

I am seriously wanting to get one or two at some point. Are they solitary like PacMans or can they be together like GreenTrees? What are their basic needs for space, temps, humidity? Are they easy to keep? Of course, since it was at Petsmart I don't know much about them. :D

You can't house them together. They will eat one another.

As for everything else, I'll find a caresheet and post the link

I figured on the housing since most amphibians are like that, but it's worth it checking. :) And thanks for the caresheet search. This is the only other animal my BF might allow in the apartment...

http://allaboutfrogs.org/info/species/horned.html

There you go :)

I just got an albino pacman the other day. Here are some pics of George.

http://i57.photobucket.com/albums/g2...1_04-23-08.jpg
http://i57.photobucket.com/albums/g2...2_04-23-08.jpg
http://i57.photobucket.com/albums/g2...3_04-23-08.jpg

I'm a real newbie when it comes to Frogs so I'm pretty excited about trying something new.

Heather, post up some pics of hypno toad.... He's a real neat looking little guy.

Mark

HYPNO TOAD

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b2...h/P1040573.jpg

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b2...h/P1040572.jpg

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b2...h/P1040571.jpg

More photos to come :)

Omg you people! My thread has grown, teasing me with pics of fantasy and pacmans, and now tomato frogs... I'm really itching to get one.

Almost bought one at Taylor... but something kept making me stop and walk away. We even left the show... and went back for another look.

Heather, name yours "SQUEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE EEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

I mean, that's what they do right? :P

I thought that was what I do......:cool: