New and have an SOS!

[frogmama]

So happy to find frog forum tonight, but unfortunately came across the site while looking for answers for an African Bullfrog emergency. We've had our first frog for about three months, and he appears to be very ill this evening. He's about 3 1/2 inches nose to tail, though I don't know his exact age. He has not eaten well this week, and he started falling over late this evening. We were hoping he had gotten too cold and picked up a heat lamp while out to dinner. We returned to find him belly up, though not dead. He's under the lamp but doesn't look good. We also haven't seen where he's pooped in more than a week. We've been diligent about cleaning his aquarium, feeding every other day, watching the moisture and providing a clean pool. He's been on a diet of purchased live crickets fed Fluker's calcium supplement. Any ideas? Appreciate your feedback ASAP. Our 10-year-old son cried himself to sleep afraid that "Huck" won't live to see tomorrow. Thanks for your help.

[Jcal]

I would give him good long soak in warm water to see if that perks him up. A few questions though.

When was the last time hes pooped?
What substrate are you using. How deep.?
What kind of water are you using?
When was the last time he fed?
Temps and humidity?

[frogmama]

We've sprayed with very warm water and have him under a lamp now;he's perked up just a bit. He normally poops in his water, and it's been about a week and a half since we've seen poop. We're using the coconut substrate, about 2 1/2 inches deep, and use only distilled water. He normally eats five crickets every other day, and my son has only been able to get him to eat a couple of crickets at the last two feedings before today. He was only able to get him to take one cricket this morning, and though he shows some interest, he doesn't have the energy to catch one on his own. He'll open his mouth, but isn't able to lunge far enough. We've tried feeding him with tweezers, but he shows no interest. We don't have a temp/humidity gauge, which I have quickly realized is a mistake. I'll be picking one up first thing in the morning. The temp in the room upstairs where we keep him is normally 78-83 during the day, but we have had a temperature drop here in Houston in the past two days. He spent most of the past two days burrowed, and my son began to worry when he wouldn't come out to feed and had not been in his pool for the past two days. One other note: I read in the care sheet in the forum that using moss is not recommended. We have been using moss based on the recommendations we were give at the pet store and are concerned that he may have ingested some and have a blockage. That could explain the lack of poop. We'll definitely eliminate the moss from now on. Thanks again for your help; we're just sick worrying about him and hate to think we've done something to hurt him.

[frogmama]

Forgot to mention- we mist him and the soil every day and change his pool water as well.

[Jcal]

Distilled water isnt good for them. Its so pure that it sucks vits and minerals from the frog. I would just use treated tapwater.
At 3+ inches they dont need to be feed everyday. Its good to give them a few days off food per week.
My advise(im not expert) is to give him another good soak in water tomorrow. Nothing too deep. Depending on how weak he is i would worry too much about feeding and focus on getting the temps right. Leave him alone for a day or so. He could be stressed.
after giving him a break i would soak again and try feeding in the container hes soaking in.

Do you coat the crickets with calcium?

[frogmama]

Not coating the crickets; feeding it to them via a Flukers cricket food. We were told by the frog guy at the pet store that was the most efficient way to get the calcium to him without over treating. Took your advice and soaking him now. He's perked up quite a bit. Our tap water is really hard; full of calcium and lime. Will that hurt him even if declorinated?