For about a month now, I've been the proud owner of an African Dwarf Frog. His name is Speckles, and I love him! He's been living in a 30 gallon community aquarium, but I have a 5 gallon on the way to house him away from the other fish (it'll be easier to ensure he gets his food). He's been doing fine in there, eating well, happy and active. I put a piece of nylon mesh over the intake of the aquarium filter, as I've read that there is often trouble with them getting their feet stuck in there. He's never had any problems with the filter. . . it was a just in case move.

Until today...

This morning he was fed (along with his tank mates) and I went about my business with the morning human family rush. By the time I got a bit of time to sit down and check in on my little guy, it was around 12:30. At that time I saw that the entire bottom of the filter had fallen of into the tank, leaving behind only an open tube into the aquarium. Speckles was nowhere to be seen.

Of course I found him INSIDE of the filter box, out of the water, kind of attached to the side wall. I put him right back into the aquarium. At first, I thought his leg might be broken, but after further observation, I now think his limbs are sound. I don't know if he has suffered any internal damage, but he was definitely stressed beyond belief. He had gone VERY pale, his skin looked covered all over in tiny white pimples, and he was having trouble swimming. He also looks like his skin might be shedding (possibly from drying out?) He was still managing to get up to the top of the tank (18" tall) for air, but he was unable to swim in a direct line. Looked like he was kind of floating and unable to control his movements. He was flipping from side to side on his way to the top.

The only obvious WOUND that I can see is that the webbing on one of his back flippers has been torn.

I moved him, along with a boatload of Hornwort (plants) into my 10 gallon 'hospital tank,' which is in a dark and quiet room of the house (inhabited by 4 female guppies to keep it cycled). I dosed the tank with Prime, which eliminates all toxins in the water and also helps with the slime coat. I kept the hood lights off, and observed him quietly off and on for several hours. He was still very pale, and not swimming well, and was having trouble with the very low filter on the 10 gallon tank - even after I planted a jungle of hornwort around it to baffle the flow a bit, he would get sucked in and stuck to the filter from halfway across the tank. I turned the filter entirely off for the rest of the afternoon, and added a bubbler, instead. I attempted to feed him periodically, but he refused to eat.

By around 8:30 this evening he is looking MUCH better. His color has returned, he is swimming much more strongly, and is somewhat active again - though still refusing food. I ran to the petstore and got a divider screen to put in the tank to keep him far away from the filter overnight, just in case he continues to have issues with it. They couldn't recommend anything for frogs for stress or wound care, which brings me to this site.

I've looked all over the universe for information on this little guy, and have had a very difficult time finding ANYTHING. I populate aquarium sites, though, so I guess I was looking in the wrong place! If anyone out there can help give me some idea what to do to help my little Speckle out - how to treat his wound, what to add to the water for stress, how much - ANYTHING! I'd really appreciate it, and take any advice to heart! I really want to do everything in my power to keep him alive and healthy. . . please help!

At the moment, I have on-hand only medications used for fish in aquariums. But I'm unsure if any of these will work on or help or harm a frog!

I have API's Primafix, Melafix, and Stress Coat (which is a dechlorinater + slime coat + damaged fin repair (with aloe))

Any advice? It's been a harrowing day!