Shedding issues.

[BeckyM]

Stickyfeet has started doing the strangest thing. He'll begin to shed then stop and pick it back up again several hours later.

I think this is what happened the other day when I found him all dry and gross.

He started doing it again today (before noon) so I left him alone. Thinking he was done, around 8:30 PM I picked him up and put him in for a nice soak. The moment he hit the maracyn water, he started yawning and wiping his body down with his arms. I put him back in his tank and left him alone once more. Now he's just staring about stupidly, not moving.

Why is he having THIS much trouble shedding? Normally it takes him 20 minutes and he's done. Is there anything I can do to help him shed easier?

[DonLisk]

How is the humidity in the tank?
If your humidity is in the 60 percent range then the only thing I can say is to let him go at it when he feels he should or can.

Oh, what water do you mist with and do you spray him when misting?

[BeckyM]

I never did get a humidity gauge for his tank. It stays around sixty percent or higher in my house so I'm assuming it might be just a tad higher than that in the tank...because it's SO wet in there.
I use all natural bottled spring water. No chlorine, no fluoride, no salts in it, just water. Probably some natural minerals in it too (which I heard are great for grays)

I pour a few drops of water on him and around then tank every so often. I keep forgetting to buy a spray bottle. >_<

[JHansson514]

I have read that excessive shedding is due to low humidity. Just because the tank is wet, don't assume it is humid (speaking from experience). I would definitely get a hygrometer just so you can know for a fact what the humidity is. It's not worth risking your frogs health/happiness, especially when the fix is potentially easy.

[BeckyM]

Will I need a heating device of some sort with that? I'll see if I can get something. How much do hygrometers run? It wasn't until this December that he started acting odd. I've kept him for seven years in a ten gallon tank with no substrate, heating device or humidifier.

Yesterday (because he started doing this AGAIN) I put his travel container in the bathroom and just let him sit in the steamy room. It seemed to help a bit until the air cooled down. Now, I've got him soaking in a container of warm water. He needs to finish shedding so he'll eat. Just when it was feeding time, he insists on shedding. >_< Ugh.

[JHansson514]

Generally heating devices are a good idea for tree frogs. Yes, they can withstand cooler temperatures for a limited amount of time. What is the temperature in the tank? A cheap, gauge hygrometer is usually around $8 (give or take depending on the store. Here's an example: Petsmart.com). Substrate is also important in the tank because it helps hold the humidity. Do you mist him with water daily? Another thing to keep in mind is that the tank needs to be warm and wet, because that makes it humid. Cold and wet makes it damp and that's not good for any frog or person.

[BeckyM]

Temp runs about 72-74 degrees. Yes, I mist him daily. I've never used substrate. I'm kind of scared he'll get it in his mouth and choke on it.

Now, I saw something at work that would work wonderfully under my tank...in theory. We sell these little flat...planter heating things. Would that go over well with a 10 gallon tank or do I need something frog specific? (He's STILL shedding by the way. I put him someplace warmer and...nope. He's still at it.)

Where I used to live was VERY hot and humid. Then I moved to the cold. I've been here three years and this is the first winter he's had issues. It's also the first winter we've had very little snow.

[JHansson514]

I'm not sure what a plant heater looks like, but I know there are under tank heaters intended specifically for reptiles and they stick to the tank. If it's also the same lines I would think it should work, just make sure it doesn't get too hot. If you do an under tank heater you need to make sure the tank is slightly elevated so that air flows underneath the tank and heater, so excess heat can escape and so the tank won't crack (the zoomed brand heat pad comes with little rubber feet to elevate the tank). If you do use a heat pad that makes substrate more important because it acts as an insulator so the frog doesn't sit directly on the pad and risk burning himself. If you don't want to use substrate (or if you do and it turns out the frog is a digger) I would recommend putting something over the heat pad, inside the tank, so that if the frog does sit/dig in that area he cannot get to the heat pad. Reptile carpeting/terrarium liners are what is usually recommended. I use a glass cooling plate (which also has rubber feet to raise it off the floor of the tank) because I think it is easier to clean and hold less bacteria. If you do go with reptile carpeting/terrarium liner make sure you do have substrate on top of it because the lining itself can irritate the skin of the frog.

As for eating the substrate, yes it does occasionally get ingested. That's why most people used a ground coconut fiber (EcoEarth) substrate or something else that is safe if it is accidentally ingested. My White's do sometimes get a mouthful of substrate since they're clumsy hunters, but the usually spit most of it back out.

I haven't had much snow at my end of the country either. Never thought I'd say it, but I miss the snow. Even though it is warmer, I wonder if it somehow that has an impact on frog health (even though their tanks stay consistent), like they can sense it or something. The world needs winter for a reason.

Sorry to write such a book. But of course you do whatever you think is best for your little guy. Hope it helps.

[BeckyM]

I'll see what I can manage as far as heaters go. I think the plant heater was a similar concept, but I'm not sure how warm it gets. I wonder if a heat lamp would be effective...


Yeah, I think it has too. Though, it's weird here. Less snow means it feels colder. And it's dryer too. >_<