Feeding a malnourished Firebelly toad?

[Hoppity100]

Well put. This frog may not make it if he has that spot and is that thin. Wish an attempt was made sooner. Good luck.

[Gnag the nameless]

I hope he makes it best of luck, hopper!

I am sorry, I cannot sugarcoat this for you - I must be brutally honest: Always put your frogs before yourself. If you've no food for them, go outside and get earthworms. If you're too lazy to get crickets from the store or even earthworms from outside, you shouldn't be owning frogs. I once had to dig through my compost bin, all the way to the bottom, to find earthworms for my frogs. Oh, and I had to do it in the dark, with only a weak flashlight. It wasn't fun, wasn't easy, and it was spooky too, but I wasn't going to let my frogs starve. That's the kind of dedication a frog owner should have to his/her frogs.

If you simply forgot about the frog... I have no idea how you'd do that. I can't not think about my frogs for even 2 hours, even if I'm at school doing a test, on the computer playing a game, doing anything anywhere. Not once have I forgotten about my frogs for over 2 hours, and if you can forget about them for a week, once again, unless you really change your ways, you shouldn't be owning frogs.


Once again, I really hope your frog makes it. And I beg of you, no matter if he does or doesn't, never let something like this happen again.

[Hoppity100]

Now that I think about it, I don't know the history here: how long did owner have this frog or was it shipped this way or was it someone else's first? In any event, when a frog is getting thin to this point it needs help now. I check my frogs many times every day, as well as my other tanks. I feel bad when I see this. I feel bad when I see bettas stressed out in those little cups at all the stores and many are dying and the employees never notice! Same thing when I find hamsters without water. I've found hermits without water, too. I wonder about this frog.

[Gnag the nameless]

That concerned me too... a photo of the tank would help. In it's current condition. Not right after you cleaned it, or when you first took a photo of it, but the closest time to when the frog got sick.

I check my frogs a lot. I don't do physical examinations or disturb them, just come out at night and use a dim flashlight, looking under the water to see their underbellies [I also check the water at the same time. A tiny bit green or looking off, and I refresh it ASAP], and look from above to see their backs/heads.

I always get that stabbing, pained feeling when I see unhappy animals at pet stores. The bettas in the cups are some of the worst to see, but hamsters without water and frogs with empty water bowls or really dirty water...

[Hoppity100]

Yeah I always check my frogs and other critters. I've taken in many bettas and feel bad for the ones left behind in the cups with their fins all tattered. One day I took every cup that had an inch of water in it and added more! No one said anything and I felt better. I'd give them each a plant sprig so they have something to look at. I've asked the pet store close to me if they could take all the feeder fish out of the huge tank and put in it the bala sharks and other shark fish because they were bullying each other in their tiny tank. The store could divide the feeder goldfish among the smaller tanks but they won't do it and always give me a blank look like they don't see a problem.

[sjham16]

Well, the frog was never like this for the first 3 years I got it. I took care of it, but then one week I just forgot.
I clean the water with a filter. Maybe it is because a cricket was rotting in there that caused it...? I'm gonna clean the tank soon....

I emailed Dr. F and he replied with a couple of medicines I could use.
I used some Neosporin which he said was a sort of alternative to the meds he recommended.
I applied the Neosporin on the infected area (not on the eyes (should I apply it on the mouth??)
He seemed more active and started swimming around after I applied it! I don't know if it actually works that fast or if it even worked so...

Thanks for the support and lecture stuff! I'll try to keep you guys updated

[Hoppity100]

Oh, glad you wrote. One cricket in the water should not cause this, do you recall when you had changed water prior to the illness or dead cricket? He may have stopped eating before you forgot about him for a week? Could it have been more than a week? A topical ointment does not work fast and how would it stay on if he gets wet? Is his skin any worse? You are going to start medication? what form, liquid? I have to ask alot of questions, otherwise I won't know. Did he swim because he ate or the water was changed? I can't figure out why he swam either. Maybe you can write and give more details? Thanks

[sjham16]

Oh, glad you wrote. One cricket in the water should not cause this, do you recall when you had changed water prior to the illness or dead cricket? He may have stopped eating before you forgot about him for a week? Could it have been more than a week? A topical ointment does not work fast and how would it stay on if he gets wet? Is his skin any worse? You are going to start medication? what form, liquid? I have to ask alot of questions, otherwise I won't know. Did he swim because he ate or the water was changed? I can't figure out why he swam either. Maybe you can write and give more details? Thanks

Yeah, I changed the water before that!
And I think the white spot thing got bigger. But he seems more active?????
I used Neosporin to treat the infected areas. I think the med would stay on because he keeps his head above water.
Dr. F recommended me some medication things, and I'm trying to scrap up money to buy them.
I hope that answered your questions....

Here are some more notes on the frog.....

He smells kinda funny???? He smells like his tank. Should I somehow give him a "bath" (no soap and water, just pouring water on him)? Or is he just a frog being a frog?
I'm going to try to force feed him tomorrow (if it works).
His skin color changes into 50 different shades of green.

[Hoppity100]

So you don't have enough money to care for him? If your tank smells and he smells then something is wrong. Mine don't change into 50 shades of green. I'm not convinced that you know what you are doing. Can't you take everything out of the tank then rinse it and change the water? Did you let your tank go? No I'm not sure you answered my questions.

[Sasha]

You need to put this frog in a CLEAN quarantine tank with a large water dish with clean dechlorinated water that should be changed at least DAILY. I don't keep firebelly's myself but I see them in the pet store all the time in just a large bowl sitting in it and hanging around the edges, so this should suffice until you can clean his tank. The frog needs a sterile environment while it's healing. While he is in there you need to tear apart his other tank and completely sterilize everything that is in there. You can clean the tank with 1 part bleach to 10 parts hot water. Then rinse, rinse, rinse until you don't smell the bleach anymore. When you think you don't smell it, rinse it 3 more times. Then when you think you don't smell it, ask someone else to smell it! Then dry it out real good. He smells funny because he has an infection on his head and he's in a dirty tank. Don't clean the tank "soon" clean it NOW!

You did good by contacting Dr. Frye and scraping up the money to get the medicine needed. Hopefully all of this is going to help your little buddy.

[Hoppity100]

Yep, this is what I would have done except I take care of my frogs every day, just got back from buying crickets in fact.

[Heatheranne]

Hi. Yes, please remove the frog from the enclosure and scrub it out. Use the 1/10 bleach water solution and a paper towel to wash it. Rinse it out several times and then rinse it twice more with dechlorinator, with a double dose of the dechlorinator, to neutralize the bleach. The bleach is toxic to him so it must be completely out of the tank. It should feel squeaky clean. No residue or slime at all. If it it still slippery, rinse it again, try using a clean paper towel to rub it off, then follow with the double dose dechlor rinses to be sure the chlorine is neutralized.

Rinse all decorations and rocks in boiling water and /or rinse with the bleach solution, as above.

Another option is to just start over with another tank, washed with very hot water.

I am concerned your frog has a fungal infection. He is swollen and uncomfortable at his mouth and lips, making him not want to eat. This needs treated. He needs SSD cream and possible systemic anti fungal treatment. It is likely he may also be carrying a parasite, which would require panacur. You can get these meds from a local vet or Dr. Frye. Dr. Frye will often send them to you after a brief summary of the situation and photos via email and phone.

You can still cure him, but the weight loss is not good. The more weight he loses and the more the infection be able to spread he will not be able to fight it.

To not be upset with yourself. Let's move forward and get him better.

I myself would get some reptaboost and syringe feed him. He will not have to chew it. Just be careful to only put in small drops at a time so he does not aspirate (choke) on it.

How big is he from snout to vent in inches?

I'll be waiting to hear. Good luck! Keep in mind that these interventions have to be done very soon or he will not make it.

[sjham16]

The length of snout to vent is about 1/12 inches.

Thank you for the cleaning procedures! I will use them ASAP

[sjham16]

Hello everyone!

I left 4 crickets in his enclosure and two of them were gone! I think he ate them.
He also seems to be prowling around for more.

The white spot on his head seemed to get smaller! The 'muck' also seemed to fade away a little.

Thank you for giving me ways to clean the tank!

I'll try to give an update everyday.

[Heatheranne]

You're welcome.

Do you have a local vet that treats amphibians?

I would email Dr.Frye, even if just for an opinion.

Try the reptaboost if you can.

[Hoppity100]

That's good to hear, please change his water often and feed him. I'd still watch him for white spot(s) coming back, his weight and appetite, and brown muck. Hope everything turns out okay.

[Gnag the nameless]

Very glad to hear he's getting better

Heather, Patsy, and Hoppity100 have been giving you excellent advice. If you want your frog to live, you must do as they say, such as answering questions, no matter how embarrassing or grim the truth may be, working hard, and if need be, spending every last penny on saving the frog.

This is no time to be upset, or feel guilty. This is the time for action. Hope is there, and it is getting stronger. Now, lets make your parents proud, and save that little guy, with, or without their help!

[Hoppity100]

Well said, thanks!

[Sasha]

That's great that he seems to be doing better. Don't give up though, be religious with cleaning and the Neosporin. You might be tempted to slack a little because he looks better but don't. Listen to Heather, get some Reptiboost. He's lost some vital nutrients that a few crickets aren't going to help regain them.

[sjham16]

He died today..... RIP nameless froggy.