Can frogs eat themselves to death?

[xStaticSnow]

A month or so ago I caught 6 Colombian Spotted Frog tadpoles up in the mountains (legally obtained here in MT). Since then two newly emerged froglets have drowned somehow ): and another froglet succeeded in starving itself to death since it refused to eat any of the food I offered. The good news is that I now have 3 healthy, growing, feasting froglets. I also was planning on releasing 3 of the 6 anyway if they all managed to live.

I bought a vial of 'flightless' fruitflies for them, poked a hole in the top and put it in there viv. A large number of the flies managed to breed and now there are little worm things all over the place... some came out of the vial and are now squirming all over the place. the frogs are quite pleased though and are gobbling them up left and right.. their tummies are looking nice a plump.

My question, will frogs eat themselves to death? Or do they know when to stop? I'm trying to decide if I need to move them into another viv (I could go buy a 10g from Wally World fairly cheap) or can I leave them in with the worms and let them feast at their own will?

Anyone who keeps frogs and toads? I know many other people just drop crickets in their frogs habitats and such, but usually they don't have hundreds of fruit fly larva all over the viv...

 

[hypnoctopus]

I'm sorry, I don't know, but you should definitely post some pictures of the froglets.

 

[xStaticSnow]

that is something I can do I only have my phone camera but it gets the job done alright

 

[xStaticSnow]

Well here are some pics of the little froggies as of a few minutes ago..

Here's an older picture from when one of them still had their tail

enjoy!

 

[hypnoctopus]

Oh they are so cute!

 

[The_Thunderer]

I think so... I've seen pictures of a toad with another toad in its mouth which was large enough to choke it to death. Since they're closely related to frogs, I would guess that a frog could do the same thing...

 

[Nitelion94]

My guess is yes. I would think there like a snake. I have seen pics of snakes that got in to feeder mice tubs and ate to much.and if you put to many mice in with one it will do its best to eat them!

 

[Allalaskan]

Im curios to see the answers to this. I myself have 2 Bull Frog Tadpoles that we got from the pet store just last spring that are growing starting to grow the back legs. Im curios to see what kind info comes from this thread.

Unlike you though, these bull frog(tadpole)s are not native to Alaska so these will be forever pets. I cannot release them, legally any way.

 

[xStaticSnow]

Hmmm, well thanks guys. I don't think there's any risk of choking with these frogs since the worms are only about 0.5-1.0 cm long. They also seem to have backed off as far as eating the larva. I'm guessing it may have something to do with the individual species of frog/toad. I use to have a western toad that would refuse to eat any more once it had had its fill, maybe these frogs are like that as well.

I'm not worried anymore, the frogs seemed to have burrowed down into their substrate a bit and are resting and probably digesting. They managed to eat a good portion of the larva though lol, so I may need to go pick up some more fruit flies.

I'll keep you guys updated on how they do and their future feeding habits. I'm also wondering if the feeding responses have something to do with what niche the frog/toad fills. My frogs are a slimmer, faster, more aquatic species than say a bullfrog and they may limit themselves with their meals sizes so they can make a fast escape seeing as they don't really have any other means of defense like toxic secretions or simply huge body size (?) but i'm just rambling

 

[WingedSweetheart]

Im curios to see the answers to this. I myself have 2 Bull Frog Tadpoles that we got from the pet store just last spring that are growing starting to grow the back legs. Im curios to see what kind info comes from this thread.

Unlike you though, these bull frog(tadpole)s are not native to Alaska so these will be forever pets. I cannot release them, legally any way.

If I were you I'd separate the frogs if you haven't already. I know bull frogs will each each other and other frogs. They will even eat small birds and lizards. They get pretty huge. I think it takes like 2 years for a bull frog tadpole to turn into a froggy. I might be wrong. I can't really remember. I just know it takes a long time. I have tons of them in my pond they are cute but eat anything that moves lol.

As for the OP. I don't know if frogs will eat themselves to death or not. When I was reading about how often to feed my frog, everything I read said to let them eat as much as they would. Feed every day for froglets and every 3 days for adults. I also read that you should dust their food with calcium at least once a week.

P.s.
Your little froglets look a lot like my little Mojo. Though she isn't nearly as tiny as she was. She is still small but growing like a weed. She is a green frog but hasn't turned green yet. She may not. Some stay brown.

 

[WingedSweetheart]

Forgot to mention about the bull frogs. While they are little you can probably get away with leaving them together. Or when they are bigger they they are around the same size maybe. But I would separate them as adults.

 

[Allalaskan]

Well atm they are still just Tadpoles, they are just starting to grow the back legs. The legs look almost like poop unless you look real close and see the feet haha. I do plan on separating them once they actually are frogs. Atm I have them in a 10 gallon tank that is half water, and half land (sort of) so when they do start to turn they can get out of the water and not drown. I will try to take some pics later if I can find the camera.