A Terrible Day :(

[frogluver]

About 5 months ago, I ran out of a reliable vitamin supplement that really works for Wood frogs— TRex’s Tree Frog Dust ICB. I had to use a substitute, as I desperately tried to search for more of the ICB. The substitute did not work, as a majority of my frogs started to acquire MBD. However, once I was able to find the ICB and thus give it to my frogs, they started to recover…..all but one.

As I watched the other frogs regain their strength, I cringed as I watched the one male do nothing and grow weaker. He looked alert and would eat, but he had troubles catching his food. Every week I would put him in a separate container lined with paper towels and give him his gut-loaded crickets. This trick would work and he would consume all his food. However, about a month ago, when I would do this, he have trouble eating his vitamin dusted crickets….it was like he was a picky little kid, as he would spit out the dusted crickets. He only would only eat the non-dusted crickets. So I started to mix the supplements into the cricket’s food. But nothing seemed to help.

I tried everything I could to get him to eat and be nourished, everything but force feeding (which is not a smart idea when it comes to Wood frogs). About 4 days ago, I isolated him from the main terrarium and placed him in a quiet, warm room. I put a total of about 6 crickets in with him, dusted and gut loaded. He showed some interest in the insects, but never tried to eat them. I felt hopeless. I knew his time had come and there was nothing I could do.

I will always remember him and keep him in my heart……

[flybyferns]

About 5 months ago, I ran out of a reliable vitamin supplement that really works for Wood frogs— TRex’s Tree Frog Dust ICB. I had to use a substitute, as I desperately tried to search for more of the ICB. The substitute did not work, as a majority of my frogs started to acquire MBD. However, once I was able to find the ICB and thus give it to my frogs, they started to recover…..all but one.

As I watched the other frogs regain their strength, I cringed as I watched the one male do nothing and grow weaker. He looked alert and would eat, but he had troubles catching his food. Every week I would put him in a separate container lined with paper towels and give him his gut-loaded crickets. This trick would work and he would consume all his food. However, about a month ago, when I would do this, he have trouble eating his vitamin dusted crickets….it was like he was a picky little kid, as he would spit out the dusted crickets. He only would only eat the non-dusted crickets. So I started to mix the supplements into the cricket’s food. But nothing seemed to help.

I tried everything I could to get him to eat and be nourished, everything but force feeding (which is not a smart idea when it comes to Wood frogs). About 4 days ago, I isolated him from the main terrarium and placed him in a quiet, warm room. I put a total of about 6 crickets in with him, dusted and gut loaded. He showed some interest in the insects, but never tried to eat them. I felt hopeless. I knew his time had come and there was nothing I could do.

I will always remember him and keep him in my heart……

So sad
I'm very sorry. You tried so hard !
It was just his time. Maybe he was older than you thought ?
Lynn

[Poly]

So sorry to hear that!

Yes, I agree with Lynn, maybe he was old?

One tip, if you ever have the "dusted" problem again, here's what to do:

Buy 6mm or 8mm BD syringes at your local pharmacy.

Mix the Calcium dust with a tiny bit of water, draw it up into the syringe, and inject it into the cricket. Not as humane as dusting, by either way... there getting eaten.

Once again, sorry for your loss!

~Royce

[frogluver]

So sad
I'm very sorry. You tried so hard !
It was just his time. Maybe he was older than you thought ?
Lynn

Thank you, Lynn! That was a thought that came to my mind, as he was displaying several factors similar to old age. I have seen several Wood frogs die of old age and it's so sad, especially when they have lived so long under your care.

So sorry to hear that!

Yes, I agree with Lynn, maybe he was old?

One tip, if you ever have the "dusted" problem again, here's what to do:

Buy 6mm or 8mm BD syringes at your local pharmacy.

Mix the Calcium dust with a tiny bit of water, draw it up into the syringe, and inject it into the cricket. Not as humane as dusting, by either way... there getting eaten.

Once again, sorry for your loss!

~Royce

Thank you as well Royce and for the tip! I'll have to try that, if I need to.



This loss was sad and not an entirely good thing, as it effects my experiment. I will have to adjust my experiment accordingly and resume testing once I get things squared out. I was looking forward to the results relating to this frog as he was the more musical one. But since he was sick, I did not get to carry out the test.

But hey, this all a learning experience right?

[Badger]

I'm so sorry for your loss Autumn D: look at the bright side! Maybe now you can more accurately estimate age. You did your best to save him, it just must have been his time D:

[flybyferns]

Autumn,
Are they more vocal as they age ?

[frogluver]

I'm so sorry for your loss Autumn D: look at the bright side! Maybe now you can more accurately estimate age. You did your best to save him, it just must have been his time D:

Thank you too Dalton for your postivity and idea ! It was his time.....I felt it.

[Kurt]

So sorry.

[kueluck]

That is sooo sad. I love the picture of "3 frogs learing". Knowing you did all you could should give you some comfort, but it's still hard dealing with the loss.