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Thread: WC Grey Tree Frog - parasites (worms) in stool, ID possible?

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    Junior Member wodesorel's Avatar
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    Default WC Grey Tree Frog - parasites (worms) in stool, ID possible?

    We've had her since October when she came in with the potted plants and lived for several weeks off of my exotic cockroach colonies before we found her, and by then it was too cold to put her back out. I shuffled some tank plans around and she now has a nicely planted 15 gallon hex for the winter with a 65 gallon hex build planned for when the weather breaks.

    Anyway, we don't have any exotic vets nearby so I've mostly been watching to see how she fared since I know most wild frogs will have some parasites. She's still a perfect weight. She may be a bit more sluggish now then when she first got here, but I don't know if that's from the cooler temps and the fact she's become extremely calm around us now.

    Found this in the water bowl this morning though. I have a local vet who will work with me on treatment, but if I can call him ahead of time and say "hey, I think it's this" to give him a heads up where to start researching it'll save him time and me money. (Which would be wonderful considering she was not a planned pet!) I found the stool below within an hour of her dropping it in the water, so it definitely came out of her that way.

    Anyone have an idea what type of worm infection this might be? She's been on a mostly steady diet of store bought crickets since she came but I've also included some of my own tiny dubia (not sure if she ever ate them) and occasionally bought mealworms. I would think she came with whatever this is, though.

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    Super Moderator flybyferns's Avatar
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    Default Re: WC Grey Tree Frog - parasites (worms) in stool, ID possible?

    There is a solution

    I would suggest doing this!
    You can send a fecal sample to be tested.

    Research Associates Laboratory
    Call them 1st, if they can not do it they will know who can.
    http://vetdna.com/contact-us

    Once identified, you can get treatment for him.
    http://www.frogforum.net/tree-frogs/...-prepared.html
    Dr Frye may be able to do the testing via usps as well. Call or email him to get instructions.

    Or simply find a herp vet near you.

    Remember, when a frog is no longer in the wild, it's immune system undergoes tremendous changes.
    It no longer has it's natural ability to fend off diseases and parasites.

    Sadly, if left untreated....you will loose him, eventually

    I'm sure you know....returning him to the wild is out of the question.

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    Junior Member wodesorel's Avatar
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    Default Re: WC Grey Tree Frog - parasites (worms) in stool, ID possible?

    I'm still going to follow up tomorrow with my vet about this to be sure, but after hours of searching online I think I finally figured out what they are - undigested cricket eggs. She had four adult female crickets for dinner last night. Seems like it's pretty common in herps for them to pass straight through intact! It looks like no parasite would end up being this big and in such large numbers, and given it was extremely fresh when found and there was no movement of the segments whatsoever the egg idea fits. Phew.

    And yes, she's staying for sure. She wasn't asked for and it was bad timing, but she's grown on me and I really enjoy having her around. I have to be careful when feeding her as she doesn't even wait now and will grab food right from my fingers! Never thought a wild frog would ever be that comfortable.

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    Default Re: WC Grey Tree Frog - parasites (worms) in stool, ID possible?

    Such GREAT info. I'm keeping this post for future reference.
    Rest in peace Rosie 5-31-12
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    Moderator Mentat's Avatar
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    Default Re: WC Grey Tree Frog - parasites (worms) in stool, ID possible?

    Cricket eggs... evil looking things ! Please let us know what your vet finds. Myself would do a fecal and also test for Chytrid any wild caught frog. Good luck !
    Remember to take care of the enclosure and it will take care of your frog !​

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    Default Re: WC Grey Tree Frog - parasites (worms) in stool, ID possible?

    Was just wondering while doing dishes; if those cricket eggs are still viable? If so; are frogs helping crickets spread out or maybe repopulate after a harsh Winter? Do frogs in the wild empty their whole digestive system prior to Winter or could some cricket eggs survive inside the frog? Oh, my wild scientific mind !
    Remember to take care of the enclosure and it will take care of your frog !​

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    Member StickyFrogfeet's Avatar
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    Default Re: WC Grey Tree Frog - parasites (worms) in stool, ID possible?

    Yeah for some strange reason frogs cant digest crickets eggs either.I thought my frog had parasites too until I found out that frogs couldnt digest them.yeah..thats interesting i wonder if they would still survive and hatch.

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    Junior Member wodesorel's Avatar
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    Default Re: WC Grey Tree Frog - parasites (worms) in stool, ID possible?

    So, he calls me completely confused and goes - "they're definitely hard egg cases, but there is no way a parasite large enough to make eggs that big could take up residence inside a tiny little frog." So I ask if they look like cricket eggs and he had a total eureka moment! So yep, cricket eggs. Phew. They totally looked like tapeworm segments, so I was still freaking out a bit. (My history is with cat rescue and shelters.)

    Now that we know it's not an emergency (he was doing this for me even though he had a billion other things going on right now), we can take some time for him to research deworming protocols in frogs and go from there. So she will be properly treated within the next week or so!

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    Default Re: WC Grey Tree Frog - parasites (worms) in stool, ID possible?

    So I'm not the only one who's had this scare before I got that with both my American Bullfrogs (Rana Catesbeiana) a few months back, I was so scared that they had Tapeworms or worse, and since they're both W/C it seemed so likely to me. But after close examination of the 'tapeworm segments', a ton of research, and the rather unpleasant dissection of a large, drowned female Cricket (Both of my Bullfrogs' tanks are compromised of over 75% water with little land area), I found out they were cricket eggs. Such a relief !

    Just as a sidenote for anyone curious as to what kind of cricket you'll find the eggs in, typically you'll find Cricket Eggs in feces if you feed larger, 4-6 week old crickets, specifically the large, plump females typically around an inch or longer, so finding Cricket Eggs will be very common if you've got frogs with big appetites!
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    Default Re: WC Grey Tree Frog - parasites (worms) in stool, ID possible?

    This is such a relief to find!!! I'm still sending the feces out for testing just in case but I think that it's just cricket eggs in his feces!!! I had NO idea that they couldn't digest their eggs!

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    Default Re: WC Grey Tree Frog - parasites (worms) in stool, ID possible?

    If frogs can get tapeworm, that might be what it is. (Although cricket eggs are more likely) I have heard that tapeworm eggs look like rice...

    Sent from my SM-N900V using Tapatalk

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    Default Re: WC Grey Tree Frog - parasites (worms) in stool, ID possible?

    That's very good to know about the cricket eggs! Thanks for posting.

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