When using a frog to scent for non feeding hogs are there any species of frog you should not use? Any that are better to use?

Do not use any frog or toad that is not indigenous to the United States...

Frogs and toads good to scent with are...

Green tree, wood, leopard, amd peeper frogs work well... Woodhouse, fowlers, and other American toads are great as well...

Do not use any frog or toad that is not indigenous to the United States...

Frogs and toads good to scent with are...

Green tree, wood, leopard, amd peeper frogs work well... Woodhouse, fowlers, and other American toads are great as well...

I've wondered myself if there were some that weren't good to use. I assumed those that weren't indigenous to the U.S. were off limits, of course, and always thought it best to use those specific to your particular region. It's reassuring to see names I recognise though :D

I would only use frog as a last resort and only after you have frozen it. Parasites can and will be transferred if you use a live animal for scenting. Try water from a can of tuna, work wonders on the few stubborn feeders I have.

I would only use frog as a last resort and only after you have frozen it. Parasites can and will be transferred if you use a live animal for scenting. Try water from a can of tuna, work wonders on the few stubborn feeders I have.

Jenea,
I have had bad luck with fish scenting... I use only frogs or toads now... My first clutch went 3 weeks without eating because I tried everything but frogs or toads... As soon as I scented with frog, they all ate...

Now I use green tree frog right away and so far all have eaten 3 days out of the egg...

I agree that the frog should be frozen before using it to scent...

I would rather use what I know works for certain instead of leaving it as a last resort...

Oh, and if you are going to be at Daytona, come to my table... I will have a SIM container for you...

No Daytona for me, weekend right before school starts....

I have great luck with the tuna scent and do not have issues with non feeders. Plus it is a scent available anywhere, not everybody has access to a southern toad for example (because that is what is easiest for me to find). I can honestly say the only toads I use are on converting WC easterns. My CB animals do not know what a toad is.

Gregg,

I was just curious, after scenting with the frog scent, how long does it take you to wean them off of that onto unscented? Do you try right away?

I would be careful with Pickerel Frogs. I hear how poisonous they are and I am not sure if it would be detrimental.

Dan

I would be careful with Pickerel Frogs. I hear how poisonous they are and I am not sure if it would be detrimental.

Dan

Dan, pickerel frogs weren't mentioned, but I didn't know they were even poisonous. :eek:

American green tree frogs seem to be the easiest the get hold of here in the UK. I have tried scenting with salmon, but still have one who doesn't want that so I wanted to try frog.

James. have you tried live pinks? I start most of mine out on f/t, but have a few that need movement to get that feed response to kick in. BTW, we are talking westerns right?

Yea I actually start most of them on live as that tends to work best I've found but this guy doesn't want that either. I normally feed live until they get to where they just eat anything the second they see it and then they tend to eat F/T no problem.

And yea, westerns.

I know this sounds gross, but if you come across any f/t pregnant mice....inutero pinks are like candy...I have had more than one stubborn / small western and tricolor hognose go nuts over inutero, when they run scared from a regular pink. :dunno: must smell really different or something....

I've tried most scents (tuna, salmon, sardines, turtle food, etc, etc, etc) and now I only use toad now as it's the best/easiest (works 9.5 times out of 10) in my mind. I freeze the toads for a couple weeks before use. I then split it open down the belly and add a little water. Take the pinks and rub them inside the toad. If you have a blender you can make a toad soup and put it into ice trays for easy future use. I keep freezing and thawing the toad/liquid. Seems to work better after it's been thawed and frozen a few times.

I offer all my hatchings live to begin with (a lot will take live as there's not some big scary person hanging out over them. LOL), after 2-3 non-feedings I jump straight to scenting. I feed 2-3 scented items then start offering non-scented. Usually, most will take non-scented after eating 2-3 scented items.

In my experience not many hatchlings that where eating scented and now eat non-scented go back to scented. You may have a few but they quickly grow out of it and never look back. I feel the key is to keep the appetite up. I feed every 3-4 days.

How would be best to kill a frog as nicely as possible?

I will try the inutero pinks although that sounds gross lol!

Gregg,

I was just curious, after scenting with the frog scent, how long does it take you to wean them off of that onto unscented? Do you try right away?

No mor than 3 feeds so far... Once that feed responce kicks in, I dont think they care what it smells like...

How would be best to kill a frog as nicely as possible?


Quick, blunt force trama...

No mor than 3 feeds so far... Once that feed responce kicks in, I dont think they care what it smells like...

Thank you!

I've tried most scents (tuna, salmon, sardines, turtle food, etc, etc, etc) and now I only use toad now as it's the best/easiest (works 9.5 times out of 10) in my mind. I freeze the toads for a couple weeks before use. I then split it open down the belly and add a little water. Take the pinks and rub them inside the toad. If you have a blender you can make a toad soup and put it into ice trays for easy future use. I keep freezing and thawing the toad/liquid. Seems to work better after it's been thawed and frozen a few times.

I offer all my hatchings live to begin with (a lot will take live as there's not some big scary person hanging out over them. LOL), after 2-3 non-feedings I jump straight to scenting. I feed 2-3 scented items then start offering non-scented. Usually, most will take non-scented after eating 2-3 scented items.

In my experience not many hatchlings that where eating scented and now eat non-scented go back to scented. You may have a few but they quickly grow out of it and never look back. I feel the key is to keep the appetite up. I feed every 3-4 days.

Great advice thanks for the info!

Well I now have an american green tree frog in my freezer, will leave it frozen for a few days and try cutting it open and scenting from it.

I've tried most scents (tuna, salmon, sardines, turtle food, etc, etc, etc) and now I only use toad now as it's the best/easiest (works 9.5 times out of 10) in my mind.

I have the same rate of success with the Tuna water, so in my mind that works best. Different strokes for different folks.

How would be best to kill a frog as nicely as possible?

I will try the inutero pinks although that sounds gross lol!

James, I know Greg has issues with this, but I put the frogs/toads in the refrigerator for a day. This puts them in a complete state of brumation, completely unaware of their surroundings and unresponsive to stimuli. Then I stick them in the freezer. This is the most painless way. There was a lot of debate on a recent thread about how "inhumane" freezing is, and I do believe if you stick the animal straight in the freezer, it does cause them pain. However, I 100% believe that by putting them in a complete state of brumation first the animals feel nothing when you go to freeze them.

If you decide not to freeze one you have already stuck in the fridge, you can warm it back up and they continue on with no ill affects.


Oh, and the inuteros ARE gross!! :lmao: I have used them on Easterns, westerns, and tricolors and never had one refused. :D

Jenea,

Not sure if you're talking about me (Greg) or the other "Gregg" but I have no opinion about freezing. I stay out of it. Kill the animal in any manner you feel comfortable with.

Good idea about using inuteros. I've honestly never thought of using them.

Jenea,

Not sure if you're talking about me (Greg) or the other "Gregg" but I have no opinion about freezing. I stay out of it. Kill the animal in any manner you feel comfortable with.

Good idea about using inuteros. I've honestly never thought of using them.

She was talking about Gregg with to G's, not the one with two T's. :)
(That's how I keep it straight in my mind)

And ditto that inutero... haven't ever thought about it with something that could take a normal day old pink or newborn.:cheers:

When the twin tricolors hatched out at 2 and 3g I had to get creative. It was quite by chance that I found an extremely prego mouse in the frozen bag, so i thought "why not".:dunno: After that, I harvest and freeze any inutero pinks I come across in the frozen bags. There are many more than I would have thought. Sara is correct, it was Gregg M I was referring to with the freezing.

There was a lot of debate on a recent thread about how "inhumane" freezing is, and I do believe if you stick the animal straight in the freezer, it does cause them pain. However, I 100% believe that by putting them in a complete state of brumation first the animals feel nothing when you go to freeze them.


Jenea,
I have done some hardcore looking into on the subject since that thread and feel that your way of euthanizing is far more "humane" than just throwing them in the freezer... It makes much more sence so we are on the same page...

I still think blunt force trama is best but as long as the method is as "pain free" as possible, it does not matter much... Dead is dead...

Anyway,
Good thread... Lots of good informaion all around...

Jenea,
I have done some hardcore looking into on the subject since that thread and feel that your way of euthanizing is far more "humane" than just throwing them in the freezer... It makes much more sence so we are on the same page...

I still think blunt force trama is best but as long as the method is as "pain free" as possible, it does not matter much... Dead is dead...

Anyway,
Good thread... Lots of good informaion all around...

Am I the only one in here that doesn't care how they die knowing they are just feeders in the first place? :lmao: :lmao: :cheers:

Sorry guys, I'm not trying to start that whole thing up all over again. I just can't get warm and fuzzy over feeders :D.

Great information. Glad it was brought up and discussed. Thanks to all contributing.

Just thought I would update to say the frog scenting worked! Will be my first scenting option in the future.

Just thought I would update to say the frog scenting worked! Will be my first scenting option in the future.

Hey, I thought you were gonna leave the frog in the freezer for a "few" days? :D

Glad it worked for ya :yes:

Hey, I thought you were gonna leave the frog in the freezer for a "few" days? :D

Glad it worked for ya :yes:

Well I was, but thought I'd just try it today :)

Just thought I would update to say the frog scenting worked! Will be my first scenting option in the future.

Good deal James... Frog is always my first option as well... The way I see it is why use something as a last resort when it works the best out of all the options...

Should ony take a few feeds with scented and they should go right to unscented...

I will be trying the frog scent in a couple of days for the first time. I have a few stubborn feeders that have not ate yet, but they have not lost any weight either. I'll update how it works for me once we try.

Update. 100% success rate scenting with a frog.

Update. 100% success rate scenting with a frog.

Had no doubt it would work for you perfectly... I have never had one turn down a frog scented pinky yet... Congrats!!!

Thank you :)