Bloated Xenopus Laevis

[Bolisnide]

Hi Seberous,
This has totally freaked me out. I could not believe that you would voluntarily lance your frog with a syringe under no supervision in order to cure your frog's bloat. So, I did just a little research and found that, yes, in fact this can be done in certain cases to help with the bloat, BUT ONLY BY A PROFESSIONAL VET!!!! AND ONLY IF THE VET THINKS IT MAY BE HELPFUL!!!
So please, take your frog to a vet ASAP! Your poor frog is suffering!

[Seberous]

I inquired in the web to puncture the frog, and they told me I could puncture in the legs. I would have NEVER done without being sure it was authorized. I do not have specialists near me, then the specialists away from my house cost a lot of money. I myself must puncture the frogs.

[Jenste]

Unless advised directly by a medical professional and instructed exactly how to do this, you should not stick needles into your frog. They are not water balloons - poking holes in them is not going to drain them of the excess fluid.

Also, repeatedly stabbing them with the same needle exposes them to a disgusting and disturbing amount of bacteria. Once the needle punctures skin, it is considered dirty, repuncturing with the same needle transmits bacteria from the surface of the skin into the body of the frog.

You are in a rush now due to the delay of treatment. These frogs do not need puncturing, they need salt baths. The salt dehydrates them slowly and safely - the salt bath water extracts "fresh" water from the skin of the frog. This is the safest method of treating your frog.

You risk killing your frog with the needle - you do not know the full anatomy of the frog and can easily puncture an organ, artery, blood vessel, vein...the list just goes on.

[Seberous]

I disinfect the syringe after each puncture to kill bacteria. I punctured the frog because she was dying, salt baths did not affect him doing! She would die if I did nothing! His condition has still not improved, and it becomes very worrisome because it must be at least three weeks she stopped eating. I tried to give him his favorite food, earthworms, or even beef steak, but she refuses to swallow anything. I do not know what to do ... If she has no strength to recover, she will die. Do you know what I can do? I despair.

For salt baths, can I leave my frogs in the salt more time? Because my big white frog will die if her condition did not improve. Leave the frogs more time in the salt is dangerous for frogs? Will they heal faster?

[rodsboys]

I would keep with the advice Jennas has already given. Perhaps that particular frog can be bathed 2 X per day? In my experience, once an animal stops eating it is too late.

[Jenste]

For each frog, the recommended treatment is one bath for one hour a day. One teaspoon of Epsom salt per gallon of water in the bath (half a gallon = half a teaspoon and etc.)

More salt, longer or more frequent baths can shock your frog making it more ill.

You cannot rush their treatment now, just do them consistently and patiently and hope for the best. This thread began over 5 months ago and these frogs were already severely bloated in December...you may not be able to save them all but hopefully you can heal most and help them live healthier lives from here on out.

[frogged]

I disinfect the syringe after each puncture to kill bacteria. I punctured the frog because she was dying, salt baths did not affect him doing! She would die if I did nothing! His condition has still not improved, and it becomes very worrisome because it must be at least three weeks she stopped eating. I tried to give him his favorite food, earthworms, or even beef steak, but she refuses to swallow anything. I do not know what to do ... If she has no strength to recover, she will die. Do you know what I can do? I despair.

For salt baths, can I leave my frogs in the salt more time? Because my big white frog will die if her condition did not improve. Leave the frogs more time in the salt is dangerous for frogs? Will they heal faster?

Do you not find it ironic to be under extreme stress instead of treating these guys four months earlier? Medications, are medications, you will not see results short term.

It is quite simple to understand Jenste's instructions. One salt bath for EACH frog.

Why are you taking advice from probably the same French forum, who told you that these frogs are obese from excess animal protein?

If you have not done so, I'd suggest a new tank set up, cycled for some of these frogs so as to reduce bioload on your poorly stocked original tank.

[Seberous]

I read on a website that salt baths are used only for parasites. They say I need to put the frogs in the natural sea salt permanently. And 2 grams of salt per liter of water, then increase to 2 grams every day, to finish with 6 grams. I have to wait seven days to see an improvement in the condition of the frogs. If after 7 days have passed, there is no improvement, I must increase the salt up to 12 grams per liter.

Here is the original text (it is in German):

" Kurze Salzbäder sind völlig falsch, diese eigenen sich nur gegen Parasiten.

Der Frosch braucht mindestens 6g/L bis maximal 12g/L und dieses dauernd bis die Symptome vielleicht aufhören.

Ich würde den Frosch im Salzbad halten und mit 2g/L heute anfangen und jeden Tag 2g mehr hinzufügen bis er 6g/L hat und dann ca. 7 Tage abwarten, falls es nicht besser wird dann weiter erhöhen und genau beobachten.

Kein Epsom, sondern nur natürliches Meersalz! "



What say you? Should I proceed this way?

[frogged]

Were you reading on a freshwater fish website? What really are you reading from?

Patience is a virtue my friend, but so is determination in getting something done!

I say this once more, follow the advice on this website, stop looking for shortcuts, research them AFTER they have been treated, or just euthanize them humanely.