Really need some help with sick WTF

[KimW]

My sons Whites tree frog has become very ill. I did a lot of reading and looking through frog forums and came to the conclusion he is most likely suffering from a bacterial infection I've seen refered to as "green spots of doom". I set up a hospital tank, and started him on Baytril. He is weak, and alarmingly thin. I have also been giving him pedialyte baths, I am wondering how often I should give him the pedialye soaks?. I am also wondering how long I should keep him in the hospital tank. I plan on treating him for 14 days on the Batril (we are on day 5). If he makes it, when can I safely put him back into his (of course cleaned out)regular house? I could use any relevant advice regarding this situation. Thanks.

[Heatheranne]

Hi Kim. The pedialyte soaks will help. Reptaboost/repta-aide works great too. Have you seen any decrease in the spots yet? Is the frog still eating?

[KimW]

Hi. Thanks for reply. I think there has been a decrease in the spots but its hard to assess as, rather then large green splotches, he has small polka-dots and freckles. No, he is not eating and hasn't for some time. He is a sad little sac of bones. Very worried and bummed. We have had him for almost three years. How often do you think I should give him pedialyte baths? At what point is is safe to return him to his regular house after the Baytril treatment is done? What is reptaboost and how is it used?

[Heatheranne]

Reptaboost is a supplement made for amphibians and reptiles when they are not eating. It's similar to formula. It's a powder you mix with dechlorinated water or spring water. It can be used as a soak or fed. If used as a soak you should do a plain soak afterwards.

Pedialyte soaks are great, depending on the frogs condition, you can do them every 1 to 2 days, but this is a short term solution. The reptaboost is best, but is best when given orally due to some minerals not being very permeable. It comes with a small syringe.



If you can see when the frog sheds you can place a cricket in its mouth. It is often easiest if you remove the legs of the cricket or you can use cut up worms. He will need the protein from foods to help him heal.

Think you might be able to sneak a cricket in? If he is too weak though, I would use the reptaboost. It is usually sold in the reptile section of a pet store.

You're welcome. I hope I can help.

[KimW]

I actually have been successful in getting a few crickets in. When this all started (me realizing he was sick, not eating, and getting thin) the first recommendation I got was to treat him for parasites with panacure. I gave him a cricket injected with it, and I figured since I was going to be stressing him by doing that, I might as well try to get a few in. I used canned crickets and it worked. Yesterday, I tried to use his regular crickets. I got two in, but a few min later, he had spit them out. I know this is stressful for him and I have been treating it as a last resort. I think I will try one more time with crickets, if he spits it out, I will get the reptiboost. Thanks so much for your help. Any idea at what point I can return him to his regular house. Its really hard to keep the humidity correct in his hospital tank, plus I think he hates it.

[Heatheranne]

I usually wait 2 to 4 weeks after all lesions and spots are healed, once they're eating on their own, and pooping normally.

I did add a pothos plant in my hospital tank. I thoroughly rinsed it and repotted it in Eco earth substrate in a plastic pot. This allowed my frogs to feel comfortable, but kept the vivarium from being infected.

[KimW]

I looked at a pic I took just before starting treatment and compaired it to now, and I do see a decrease in spots. Yesterday I gave him one of his regular crickets and he didn't spit it out. Today he actually WENT AFTER a live cricket. He didn't get it, but that is the first interest he has shown in quite some time. A glimmer of hope. I'm not sure where to get a pothos plant but I will look into it since it seems he's gonna need to be in there for a while. Thanks so much for the info.

[Heatheranne]

Great!

The interest in food is a good thing. Keep sneaking crickets in while he sheds. Even if you can only get one in every couple days it should help. Be sure to calcium/vita D or multivitamin dust on the appropriate days. Have you seem any poop?

I'm glad the spots are fading. It can take a while.

Just keep doing the treatments and monitor. Try to limit your time in his tank to just treatments, feeds, and water changes/paper towel changes to minimize his stress.

Keep up the good work!