Help, Whistling tree frog Sick?

[jtay]

Hi all,
Today I thought I had better look for one of my two Whistlers (Litoria ewingii) for I had not seen it as much as the other. I found it alive under some moss, it hopped when I nudged it, but then lay with it's back legs stretched out and did not want to use them. I put it in some water wondering if perhaps it was dehydrated, and it did not try to move. I removed it out of the water and it sat on my finger, still with it's back legs out. After a minute or two it pulled them in. I have put it in quarantine and it appeared ok. After a few hours it still has not moved far from the spot I placed it down and has just started what seems to be gasping - opening it's mouth wide. He has no real interest in eating the fruitflies around him. I'm very worried. There are no abrasions or discolourations on the skin... My other Whistler is perfectly fine missioning around their terrarium. Perhaps he got a bit crushed but I would expect to see some abrasion or deformity. Oh he is a little darker in colour. He is about 8 weeks old - very small!
Anyone have any idea as what could be/cause the problem?
Thanks

[jtay]

He has moved and has appeared to have stopped gasping, yay! Things are looking better

[Ebony]

Hi Jess, Welcome to the forum.

I would keep a close eye on your frog just to be sure. Is he eating? If so then its probably OK. It may have gotten a fright and gone into a sort of shock state. I have heard of this happening. I have a neighbor who has a young Southern bell that used to go into a seizure type state for a few seconds when its desturbed out of hiding. Ive seen it happen and it really worried me, Its legs were stretched out like you said your frog did but it was also twitching. It had done this about 5 times in the first 2 months as a frog,but that was quite a few months ago and its doing fine now without seizures. Growing and eating well too.

How many Whistlers do you have? I also have Whistlers and I love them to bits.

[John]

Welcome to the forum, Jess. It does sound like it was shocked. This "freezing" of the body is a reflex. Ebony is our Whistling Tree Frog expert so I will defer to her .

[jtay]

Welcome to the forum, Jess. It does sound like it was shocked. This "freezing" of the body is a reflex. Ebony is our Whistling Tree Frog expert so I will defer to her .

Thanks John, I had hoped it was just surprise/shock but behaviour has continued without provocation - me annoying it

[jtay]

Hi Jess, Welcome to the forum.

I would keep a close eye on your frog just to be sure. Is he eating? If so then its probably OK. It may have gotten a fright and gone into a sort of shock state. I have heard of this happening. I have a neighbor who has a young Southern bell that used to go into a seizure type state for a few seconds when its desturbed out of hiding. Ive seen it happen and it really worried me, Its legs were stretched out like you said your frog did but it was also twitching. It had done this about 5 times in the first 2 months as a frog,but that was quite a few months ago and its doing fine now without seizures. Growing and eating well too.

How many Whistlers do you have? I also have Whistlers and I love them to bits.

Hi Ebony,
Thanks for the advice. My frog seemed to be doing well but then an hour ago I noticed he was lying with legs stretched out again. I picked it up and is still alive. Not eating - well not when I'm looking anyway. Very lethargic, I'm thinking it may die soon .
I have 2 Whistlers, my second pair now. I have found them difficult to care for. I'm not sure why as I provide them with a lovely, clean, safe environment with all they could need. This is the second one that has got sick for no apparent reason, I have only had this one for about 2 weeks - perhaps the pet store does not have healthy ones?
My Green and golden bell frogs are great (had them for over a year now) so I don't think it is anything I have done wrong.
Since you have Whistlers could you outline to me what they require? There is not much information out there that I can find about keeping them as pets.
Thanks

[Kurt]

This is the second one that has got sick for no apparent reason, I have only had this one for about 2 weeks - perhaps the pet store does not have healthy ones?

It's a distinct possibility.

[Ebony]

Hi Jess, Im sorry to hear your frog is not doing well. It sounds like your frogs were purchased with problems as you have only have them a short time. What is the frogs colouring like? Is there any thing different?

Im in no way an expert on these frogs. Ive had these guys for a few years and Ive been lucky and they have breed. I keep mine in an outdoor enclosure. Very old unatractive enclosures but what the whistlers like for breeding. They are in two large tanks that are joined together with a tunnel which separates the land and the water. Their tank is situated in a place that has about two hours of sun each day and is filtered through a hedging archway. I will put up some photo's for you tomorrow as its dark outside now.

I feed them every day. They get a variety of food...Meal worms, Moths, Locusts, Flies, young Katydids. I give them enough for two helpings each.

I'll get back to you tomorrow on the tanks photo's.
I hope this may have helped a little.

[jtay]

That looks really cool! Is it outside all the time? I have mine in an exo terra terrarium inside.
I took the moss out yesterday and will clean out the enclosure tonight after my test at uni.
Here are pics of mine

[Ebony]

Very nice Jess.That's a great set up. Those enclosures are perfect for inside. I have three of these tanks (to my partners disgust) in my lounge for my young whistlers, young Southerns and the largest is for Mork and Mindy, my young Green and Golden's. You can see them in my album. I would love to see some photo's of your frogs, you said you had Green and Golden's as well, how old are they?

[jtay]

Thanks. I have had my pair of green and golden for just over a year now, I got them as tadpoles. They were just torturing themselves looking at the Whistler and scampered when I opened the door to give them caterpillars-silly ones. I have searched and found some pics but they are not the best.
Oh yeah, they are due for a terrarium upgrade as they are too big for their current one now. I have got them an explorarium so they can play outside on nice days

[Ebony]

Oh...sooo...cute.

I forgot to answer a previous question sorry...Yes my whistlers are permanently out side. They were my first frogs and i just assumed they live out side so that's how it started. I have to be careful when it rains though. I let a certain amount of rain water in but gotta watch for flooding. They naturally go into hibernation so it works well. My adult Southerns are outside as well.
Here's Mork and Mindys home.

[jtay]

Wow that looks awesome, your frogs look so happy and healthy! How old are they?
I'm not sure about this hibernation thing... What exactly happens? Are they still active just not as much and eat less? Cant say I really noticed mine hibernating but then again they were my first frogs...
I would love to have permanent outside enclosures but I live in an apartment which means not much of a garden. One day when I move I will set one up

[frog boy]

Hi jess

I am sorry to hear your frog has dieded. I have had the same problem twice. Once with a southern bell who dieded because i didnt know how to help him second with a whistler. he would do the same as you discribed. she is now fully grown and very active. when this happened to me again i didnt want the loss of another frog. eventurly i found out it can be lack of vitamin D3 which frogs and humans get from the sun. since they are nocturnal they dont get much sun. so i brought some calcium power with vitamin D3 in it and my frog has been happy ever since

[jtay]

Hi Frog Boy, Thank you and sorry for your losses too.
Yes D3 and or calcium issues could have been the cause, I did have and use calcium powder though. Considering I only had the frog for 2 weeks before it died I think that maybe the care it received at the pet shop was inadequate - perhaps they did not dust the food?
The frog was about 2 months old - I'm not sure mbd would have presented itself that early?.
Anyway, thanks for the advice , and I'm glad to hear your Whistler is going well.

[Kurt]

Actually, humans produce vitamin D2. I only know this, because before I did my lecture today, I sat in on another lecture, on veterinary medicine.

[lordoftheflies]

its chytrid fungus the one that ive seen kill every single ewingii metamorph that i had from a pond in chch, and also some bells except a few more resistant ones i had from another pond, read up on the symptoms of chytrid, its where they came from