Sick/deceased Toad

[Charlie]

I have (had) 4 firebellied toads that I got as tadpoles a couple years ago. They have all been healthy and good until about 1 1/2 weeks ago. I noticed one swimming on his back, I flipped him over and he kept tilting to the left. I put him in a sick tank with about 1.5 inches of water. He seemed to have problems with his left leg and when hopping would fall over on his back. After a few days he seemed fine (a little tippy in the water) so I kept him in the sick tank for a few more days. The last couple of days he looked fine so I put him back in with the other toads. This morning I found him upside down at the bottom of the tank and figured this was it he was dead. I went to get him out and he was very limp and felt like gelly BUT he moved! I put him on some paper towel and he lifted his head up but his back legs were straight out and he did not move them at all and didn't try to get away. I felt really horrible and was worried he might be suffering (not sure at this point if he had eaten in the last couple days). So I took him to the vets and had him put down, I didn't know what else to do and did not want him to suffer a slow death.

The other three toads seem to have bloated bellies - not sure if they are sick or have over eaten - I will be watching them closley.

[Mentat]

Hello and sorry for your frog's death Charlie ! Did veterinary performed a necropsy to try and find out what was problem with sick frog?

Next time an event like this happens, keep frog quarantined in hospital for at least 30 days or until receive a clear health report from vet, before returning to enclosure with other frogs.

Just to make sure all is well in enclosure, please review the care article (Frog Forum - Fire-Bellied Toad Care and Breeding - Bombina orientalis and relatives) and make sure their requirements are met. Also, recommend keep a watch on the remaining frogs since they shared the enclosure with sick one after symptoms manifested. If see anything abnormal in remaining frogs, please answer the questions below and we will try to help. Good luck !

1. Size of enclosure
2. # of inhabitants - specifically other frogs and size differences
3. Humidity
4. Temperature
5. Water - type - for both misting and soaking dish
6. Materials used for substrate
7. Enclosure set up i.e. plants (live or artificial), wood, bark and other materials.
- How were things prepared prior to being put into the viv.
8. Main food source
9. Vitamins and calcium? (how often)
10. Lighting
11. What is being used to maintain the temperature of the enclosure
12. When is the last time he/she ate
13. Have you found poop lately
14. A pic would be helpful including frog and enclosure (any including cell phone pic is fine)
15. How old is the frog
16. How long have you owned him/her
17. Is the frog wild caught or captive bred
18. Frog food- how often and if it is diverse, what other feeders are used as treats
19. How often the frog is handled
20. Is the enclosure kept in a high or low traffic area
21. Describe enclosure maintenance (water changes, cleaning, etc)

For Aquatic side (if more than a dish):

1. Tank Size and volume of water in it (full, 1/2 filled, etc.)?
3. Water source and any conditioner treatments?
4. Water Temperature and how is it heated (if so)?
5. Water chemistry levels: pH; Ammonia (NH3); Nitrites (NO2); Nitrates (NO3)? Note that if you do not have test kits, most aquariums/pet shops will do complimentary tests if you take a clean water sample.
6. Describe any filter system including model and media?
7. Substrate type?
18. Any medications in the water (treatment dosis and for how long)?
19. Any salt in water (how much)?
21. Describe tank maintenance to include water changes, cleaning, media changes, etc.).

By Lynn(flybyferns), GrifTheGreat, and aquatic questions added by Carlos(Mentat)

[Charlie]

I have had them since they were tadpoles, in a small 2.5 gal tank, then moved them to a 20 gal long tank a few weeks after they became toadlets. They have been in the same tank ever since, with the same conditions.

1. 20 gal long
2. 4 fire bellied toads
3. don't know
4. 72 deg F
5. 4 inches approx, tap water decloranated
6. no substrate
7. Enclosure - mostly water, with a turtle dog, a bridge, and "fake" log, a log with a live plant and 2 plastic hanging plants
8. crickets
9. calcium - dust crickets every 2nd feed
10. regular light bulb, 40 w
11. water heater
12. feed every 2 days (never sure who gets what out of the 4 toads so feed more often then probably should) Tried the removal of toads to a "feeding" bucket but they would just freak out and not eat, so gave that up)
13. yes
14. will post pic of tank set up
15. toads are approx 2 1/2
16. 2 1/2 yrs
17. tadpoles from PetSmart
18. mostly just crickets, have tried wax worms but they don't seem too interested and with a mostly water tank the worms tend to wiggle into the water and drown
19. Only handle toads if doing a complete tank clean - not very often
20. On a high shelf, in a small daycare setting (the kids can only see in the tank if I lift them up
21. Water is changed once a week (about 1/4 to 1/2), scrub sides with magnetic brush. When it is time for full-tank clean, I soak and rinse everything with hot water.

[Charlie]

These are older pics but the same basic set-up, just moved things around a bit. Had some fish in the tank for about 1.5 years, I moved the last 2 into their own tank

[hrbone]

My frirebelly is sick!!! She's there years old and has been fine till a few days ago. She developed a clear/white lesion on her head, She's not eating and behaving strangely. Is there anything I can do??