Sick FBT

[maranda]

thanks for the advice! She (I don't know if it is male or female but I hate "it") has been a bit more active today, she did eat, not a cricket but a bit of earthworm. Hopefully she will tough it out. I will keep you posted.

[Firebelly love]

I don't know what to say other than, I hope your toad makes it.

[maranda]

Update: The toad is still alive, in a separate tank. I have gotten her some tiny crickets that may be easier for her to eat because she still isn't eating well. When I cleaned her tank today she almost seems like her balance is off, she managed to flip onto her back once and I had to turn her over. In the small container I used to house her while I cleaned the tank, she sort of spun in circles till she calmed down. She insists on laying in the water with her head cocked up at an odd angle. Here are pictures of my hospital setup and a close up of the toad. On a side note, I don't think I am a big fan of the coconut husk mulch. It is kind of messy.

[Jace]

In a hospital tank, I use paper towel, a small water dish and something for coverage-usually a spare silk plant I have. The paper towel makes it easier not only to clean, but to see how many crickets I have put in there and also to monitor bowel movements. I would remove the coconut husk not only because it is messy, but because you want as sterile a setup as possible. Have you ever given her crickets dusted with calcium powder? I realize the cricket food you give is all-inclusive, but I always dusted my crickets once a week wtih a powder to just make sure they were getting as much calcium as possible. I did not do this at first, and I lost one toad with similar symptoms to yours. I was later told it was a calcium and/or vitamin deficiency despite the quality food I was giving my crickets.

[maranda]

She (it?) is still hanging on. She hasn't eaten in several days. I tried to feed her a freeze dried blood worm with some tweezers and couldn't get her to open her mouth. If she isn't eating it doesn't matter what I give the crickets to eat because it won't do her any good, so this morning I dusted the frog with calcium powder. I figured it couldn't hurt, maybe she could get a little in the water she is drinking. Her eyes seem clearer this afternoon and she was plenty active when I was trying to hold her in my hand and feed her because she wanted me to let her go. At this point I wish she would just get better or die because I don't like thinking she is suffering.

[Jace]

Have you tried offering her a mealworm or two? Most toads find mealworms hard to resist and if you only offer a couple, then you don't have to worry about impaction. Lightly dust the mealworms with calcium and let them wiggle around in front of her. Hopefully it will entice her to eat something.

[maranda]

Poor Daedalus is still hanging in there. She seems better, her eye is no longer cloudy and she is a bit more active, but still isn't eating or having bowel movements. She currently has access to crickets and mealworms. She is showing no interest at all in the cricket and has dragged 2 mealworms into the water and drowned them, but won't eat them. I also talked to the folks in my local pet store and the nearest vet who deals with reptiles and amphibians is 95 miles away.