The only reason there are multiple theories is because this is an area of husbandry that is rife with voodoo practices.
In reality the rules are fairly simple and consistent if you choose to follow what has been set forth by experts in the field (and no I am not referring to myself). To start out, the frequency of supplementation is based on the frequency of feeding. The guidelines put forth by Doctor Donoghue in collaboration with Dr. K. Wright and an exotic animal nutritionist followed the following simple rule. If you are feeding four (4) or more times a week, supplementation should be alternated with calcium carbonate dusting of the feeders, if the animals are fed three times a week or less then the dusting should be at each feeding with no alternation with calcium carbonate (Wright et al). This method deals with the risk of over supplementation.
At this time all of the supplements on the market were developed using the cricket as the model insect for dusting and that feeders like fruit flies retain more supplements than other feeders. The problem is that virtually all of the frogs in the hobby are obese as the frogs are hard wired to take advantage of period(s) of abundant food. This along with the restricted exercise results in obese frogs. This is compounded by a number of husbandry practices that tell people that froglets must have abundant food at all time or else they (choose your response) will die, not grow well, remain small… The problem with this is that it totally ignores the potential impact of a wide variety of husbandry practices that feed into this issue. In reality the real way to avoid the problem would be to feed the frogs appropriately.
A number of more experienced hobbyists rotate several different supplements as they feed as an early paper analyzing the supplements with respect to supplied nutrients as well as what was on the label demonstrated wide variations between what was on the label between batches as well as between brands. None of the newer supplements have been analyzed along these lines for several reasons ranging from threats of law suits as well as cost.
As for what I am using, you may not want to use what I am as I’m testing several different things at this time including reduced feeding schedules due to clay and microfaunal populations (currently I’m feeding some of my enclosures only once a week (see attached picture of a frog on that regimen for several years now).
I would suggest using at least one of the Repashy products for your frogs as that is currently the only supplement on the market that contains the main carotenoids found in the frogs as well as carotenoids that the frogs can use as an alternate pathway for retinol synthesis (it also contains retinoids). I have written extensively on this topic, here on the board, on frognet, in several articles as well as lectures at IAD and NAAC.
Amphibian nutrition is a relatively rapidly evolving field so most books have not kept up with the latest information.
