EMERGENCY: African Bullfrog Dying?

[jjchance]

I have a 6 m/o African Bullfrog and he/she is in a 40 gallon tank with a 50 watt infrared bulb on 24/7. He is about the size of a small deck of cards. His tank is about 75f. The humidity is in the 80%. He usually eats superworms, small crickets, and once every couple of months, a pinkie mouse. I believe he at only one small cricket the other day. Since then he hasn't eaten for weeks. I really do not know if he has pooped or not. I use coconut fiber as a substrate that is moist. He has a huge water dish. I am hoping to post pictures, so if you could also tell me how to do that. That would be great. I spray him constantly. He hasn't been eating and it appears that his skin is peeling off. Today I was trying to see if he could still hop around and he cannot walk. He falls over and can't get up. Help! Please! I am begging you. I love him. If there is nothing I can do about it, what can I do to at least make him comfortable? Thank you so so much!

[Jimifrog]

When did he eat the mouse last? Do you feed him in the substrate? It is possible he is impacted. He will shed his skin, so peeling skin might not be a big deal; however, not being able get up or walk is. Have you tried to put him in a warm bath? That can help your frog poop.

[jjchance]

[jjchance]

He ate a mouse over 3 months ago. Not since then. I do feed him in the substrate. I haven't tried a warm bath.

[frognerd101]

I know a little on African Bullfrogs, but I am no expert. What I would do is try introducing new foods. I had a pacman that ate crickets, and then totally stopped eating crickets. So I gave him nightcrawlers, and he loved those.

If you feed him in the substrate, he could accidentally ingest some substrate. Tree feeding him in a small plastic tank.

Your frog does not appear underweight, but what I would do is decrease the humidity. 80 percent is way to much, especially because these guys come from a naturally dry region of Africa that gets little to no rain.

If none of these suggestions work, try a warm bath. If that does not work, I would advise getting your frog to a vet to see what the problem is.

I hope your frog gets better.

[Jimifrog]

That first picture looks like he is shedding. He doesn't look skinny, which, after not eating for weeks, might indicate he is impacted. That happened with a couple of my frogs when I had them in coconut. They got very listless, didn't want to eat, and, eventually, one threw up his stomach and the other prolapsed his intestines. Both are fine now, so, I am not trying to scare you.

[GrifTheGreat]

I do not own a Pyxie nor am I and expert. If you suspect impaction which is quite possible when feeding rodents. A lot of the time they become constipated due to amphibians having trouble digesting mammalian tissues. This is not a medical treatment but a way to help the frog pass the rodent. Prepare a soak of De-chlorinated water luke warm to warm. Around 80 degrees. Disolve 2 to 4 drops of honey in the water. Be sure the water is no deeper than up to your frogs chin.

Also I would try night crawlers or Hornworms as another food item. Much easier for your frog to digest. If he doesn't eat soon you will have to force feed. If you need help with this just ask and we will be happy to help. Try the soak and keep us posted.

[GrifTheGreat]

If he can't walk or hold himself up you will have to hold him in the water so he does not drown. Watch him carefully. Now this is very important. Do you dust your frogs food with a multivitamin and calcium dust with D3? Your frog may be suffering from MBD(Metabolic Bone Disease) if you do not do this. If so you must see a vet immediately. If you wait to long to seek treatment you may lose him. Not being able to walk is one of the symptoms.

[jjchance]

I have not dusted any of his food. From now on I will.

[jjchance]

Where can you get nightcrawlers? And what do you do with them if he doesn't eat them?

[jjchance]

Really? Honey? You're not trying to be funny right? Sorry, I just really want him to get better.

[frognerd101]

Usually nightcrawlers are available at places like petsmart or pet supplies plus, but if they don't have them there you can find them at any regular fishing store. They should have nightcrawlers as bait.

If he doesn't eat them, you can take them out and try again another day. But a worm bin online. That way you can feed them and keep them healthy until your frog starts eating again. You can also catch worms outside, but they usually wont be as big as nightcrawlers.

[GrifTheGreat]

Really? Honey? You're not trying to be funny right? Sorry, I just really want him to get better.

I don't joke when it comes to a life understand. I am not a smart***. This is serious buisness. Do the treatment and keep us posted. I would definetly take him to a vet since he can't walk. Don't wait til its too late.

[Jimifrog]

Where can you get nightcrawlers? And what do you do with them if he doesn't eat them?

Walmart sells nightcrawlers.

[Mikey]

To be honest the rodent part did not scare me as much as the superworm part. superworms should be avoided with pixies as they are excellent at impacting. Plus the frog you posted is a dwarf african bullfrog, they tend to be much more fussy (from my experience) than true giants. I would soak him in slightly warmer than room temperature water, and contain him in an area that he is forced to be warm. 82-84 degrees provides the best results.

I may have missed it but when was the last time he ate and crapped.

[jjchance]

The guy who sold me him at an expo told me he is an African Bullfrog. He's only 6 months old. So, I don't think he's a dwarf.

[Mikey]

I was trying to be helpful.
The frog you posted is an edulis, not an adspersus. The feeding response from edulis or dwarf pixies is much less than that of an adspersus. A temperature drop could have turned him off from food as they have given me trouble with feeding in the past.

You are from Mass. correct? im assuming u purchased the frog from either the white plains reptile show or the hamburg reptile show. ( I am from albany, NY). Vendors at these shows will sell you "African Bullfrogs" with out specifying what species its very common I see it all the time, as I vend at the PA show.

Regardless Hope everything turns out well...

[GrifTheGreat]

pyxiecephylus Adspersus grow pretty fast. At 6 month old he should be much larger than yours is, but the reason why he is stunted is because you haven't dusted his food with a calcium supplement which they have to be given or else they develope MBD. This eventually causes them to not be able to move their extremities and or be able to feed. If not treated quickly to give your frog a chance to survive you need to see a vet that specializes in amphibians and reptiles so you can try an reverse the process.

If it is MBD and he is not treated soon he will die. I'm not trying to sound harsh, but its true.

[Malachi]

This frog is a smaller species of african bullfrog. I own this species (i was told it was a giant as well) and the "true giants" Unfortunately there is a little information on any species of africain bullfrog other than the "true giants" from south africa. There seem to be multiple species of pixie frog all mushed into the "dwarf african bullfrog" label. The bad thing is we don't really have a good information on where these frogs are from and what is their habitat. For all we know they could be from cool mountain streams in Tanzania.

I have learned from trial and error on this species;

The frog likes it at around 75 day and 68 or so night. Any hotter and he starts to bury its self.

The frog likes water, it will spend all its time in water. It likes to be nearly fully submerged. if the temperature is too hot it will leave the water and bury its self.

The frog estivate quickly and stay that way for much longer then my South African species.

Feel free to PM me if you have further questions. I have kept my guy alive for 2 years now.

[Mikey]

pyxiecephylus Adspersus grow pretty fast. At 6 month old he should be much larger than yours is, but the reason why he is stunted is because you haven't dusted his food with a calcium supplement which they have to be given or else they develope MBD. This eventually causes them to not be able to move their extremities and or be able to feed. If not treated quickly to give your frog a chance to survive you need to see a vet that specializes in amphibians and reptiles so you can try an reverse the process.

If it is MBD and he is not treated soon he will die. I'm not trying to sound harsh, but its true.

The frog is not stunted, its not an Adspersus so his size is fine. I also doubt it has MDB, thats jumping the gun completely. I have never once dusted any of the food items I offered my frogs. between rodents, worms, roaches, insects they will have already recieved all the nutrition ie. calcium they need.