Why Is My Pacman Frog Not Eating? 6 Common Reasons
If you have noticed that your pet is refusing to accept the food you are offering it, you are probably being the responsible owner then, asking yourself: why is my Pacman frog not eating?
There can be several reasons for that. And some of them are quite harmless, so there is no need for you to be anxious. First, let us define all the most common reasons for not eating together, and see where it leads.
Also Read: What do Pacman Frogs Eat?
Reasons Why Pacman Frog Is Not Eating
Horned frogs are called Pacmans because of their astonishing resemblance with the famous Pac Man arcade character. They have tiny round bodies and huge mouths.
This makes them look quite funny, but it also makes them quite the voracious little eaters. However, refusing food does not have to be a reason for a red alarm every time.
Sometimes, they are completely fine and healthy, but simply require a tiny effort from their owners.
1. Not Hungry
If your frog pet is acting completely normal and has regular stools, one of the reasons for not eating can be as banal as not being hungry.
Adult Pacman frogs can feed one or two times on a weekly basis, which is not that often. So, before starting to worry, please make sure it has been more than a week it is refusing to eat. If that is the case, there is probably a different reason behind it.
2. Temperature
Unideal temperature levels are probably one of the most common reasons for frogs not eating.
They require certain ranges which can, in a combination with certain humidity levels, recreate the environmental conditions of their natural habitats.
Without such conditions, their bodies will not be able to properly digest food. So, please make sure that temperature is optimal at all times.
This is both valid for too high and too low temperatures, so it is crucially important to adjust the levels as the day goes by.
If you notice this is the reason for you pet not eating, simply adjust the optimal levels, wait for a bit for your frog to adapt, and then try offering food again.
3. Humidity
Very similarly to temperature levels, your pet frog needs to have the right humidity levels in order to function normally. Or to function at all.
Not having enough moisture in the air can not only make them feel uncomfortable in their home, but it can also make it difficult for them to breathe. And, therefore, they will refuse to eat, too.
If your hygrometer shows not optimal levels, please mist the enclosure until it does. You might need to mist it several times a day sometimes. After you adjust to the right level, try offering food to your pet.
4. Estivation
Another common reason for frogs refusing to feed is when they are in their estivation phase. And this is, basically, a combination of all the above reasons. If your Pacman frog is not getting the right levels of temperature and/or humidity, it will go into estivation and will therefore not be hungry.
During estivation, their bodies are functioning at the very minimum limits. Frogs will then surround themselves with a dry skin cocoon, which is one of the most visible signs to be looking for.
Additionally, they will often bury themselves as deep as it goes, trying to gain some moisture from the substrate to survive. They are easy to recognize then, also by their super lethargic behavior.
If you notice that estivation is the reason for your pet not eating, there are a few things you should do. First of all, check what is the reason for your pet going into such state in the first place (wrong temperature or humidity levels).
After you find the issue, fix it by adapting to the right conditions. Wait a while for your pet to come out, and then soak it into fresh water for the dry cocoon to shed. And finally, once your pet looks normal again, only then offer food.
5. Sickness
Sickness is one of the logic reasons for avoiding food. You may notice your pet is not that active as before, has unregular and uneven stools, or is losing weight.
These are all signs that it, unfortunately, may be sick. Whatever the reason for that is, infection or illness, try looking for other signs and explain them to your veterinarian. He or she will suggest you best on what to do in this case.
6. Impaction
Impaction is quite often among Pacman frogs, as those funny eaters will grab whatever is placed in front of them. At least, most of the times.
First, you may want to find out how impacted it is. Try gently touching it’s belly to see if it has a hard lump. If that is the case, your frog has most likely swallowed an unsuitable substrate or other item. Or even a too large pray.
Try soaking your impacted frog into lukewarm water while gently rubbing the belly and see if that helps for it to poop. Otherwise, you may want to consult your veterinarian.
How Long Can Pacman Frogs Survive 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. All above that is probably a sign that something is wrong with your pet.
Wrapping Up
Horned frogs are known to be quite the eaters, if we compare them to their tiny size. However, they can go long times without any food, especially when estivating.
Additionally, if you recently brought your pet into a new home for it, a simple reason for avoiding meals could be quite a human-common reason: stress.
So, before starting to worry, simply make sure your pet looks healthy and it has all the necessary environmental conditions. Have patience, and your little friend may start eating again in a jiffy.