Recent Toad Death, Possible Causes?

[Elphie]

I have had my Eastern American toads for over 3 years and have always kept the two larger ones together with no problems. One is male and one is female. The male has always spent about 75% of his time in amplexus with her, even when she isn't in the water (best to be prepared, I guess). She's never seemed all that irritated by it and I just always gently unpried him from her when it was time to eat. Their tank is set up with hiding places so they can get away from each other if they wish. The only time I have ever seen them act even remotely violently toward each other is when I feed them and they will occasionally flick at each other instead of the food initially. But that's all its ever been. I have not recently changed their tank set up in anyway. Basically the same digs they have lived together in for 3 years.

I left home on Sunday and didn't return until Wednesday evening. My husband was here, but told me he actually hadn't checked on them while I was gone, because of work he hadn't spent much time in the house, either. I fed them before I left and there were some crickets in their tank, too. The water was fine as well. I found the toad lying in the middle of the tank, not hidden. His eyes are how I knew something was wrong. They were sunken and obviously not those of a live toad. I got a pair of gloves and picked him up. When I turned him over, he had several red areas on the bottom of his tummy and legs. His body was not stiff, but he was definitely dead. He had also began to smell a bit. I knew he hadn't just died, because of the smell and how his eyes looked. I am heartbroken and just not sure what happened. I did some research and came up with red leg syndrome. The problem is that I don't know if the blood spots on his tummy and legs are a sign of that or if they are injuries from being attacked by his tank mate or if they are a normal sign of being dead long enough for the blood to pool (as it does in human bodies). I don't know how old he was when I got him. But like I said, I have had him for around 3 years with no previous problems of any kind. I'm concerned if it was red leg that got him, that his tank mate has likely caught it. She does seem larger, like maybe she is bloated. And she wouldn't eat earlier when I tried to feed her. When I discovered him, I did move her to a new tank with almost the exact same set up as the previous one. She does not have any red areas that I can see on her abdomen or legs. Unfortunately, the only vet that can see her is about an hour away and I understand that Red Leg is often a stress disease and even when treated with antibiotics, is almost always fatal. And I understand that putting her in a small tank and transporting her to the vet would only increase her stress. She has partially burrowed in her tank and seems mostly normal right now.

I know it impossible for anyone to tell me definitely what happened to him without a lot of information that I just don't have because he was fine when I left and then gone when I got home. And I have no idea what happened in between.

I will ask that anyone who wants to post to tell me what a horrible person I am, please refrain from doing so. I am completely heartbroken and that won't help. I just need some input as to what may have been the cause of death and what I should watch for in his tankmate. I appreciate any help you can give me.

[eric048]

what are you feeding them? do you filter/condition/ change the water daily? there can be a lot of causes, what was the temp and humidity?

[Elphie]

The conditions they were in at the time that whatever happened to him, happened, were the exact same conditions they had lived in for the past 3 years. It doesn't make sense that anything in his environment would be responsible for the death since nothing in his environment had changed.

[GrifTheGreat]

The conditions they were in at the time that whatever happened to him, happened, were the exact same conditions they had lived in for the past 3 years. It doesn't make sense that anything in his environment would be responsible for the death since nothing in his environment had changed.

Red Leg is a possibility. Once it progresses to where the blood vessels burst and dark blood spots appear benieth the skin there is little time for treatment. It can be fungal or bacterial in nature. Stress weakens the frogs immune system which makes them prone to such diseases.

I wish I could explain more, but there is no sure way other than an autopsy being performed by a vet what cause of death may have been.

[Elphie]

Thanks, and I pretty much already knew that. I do appreciate your reply.

[GrifTheGreat]

Thanks, and I pretty much already knew that. I do appreciate your reply.

I'm sorry for your loss