Quote Originally Posted by Gnag the nameless View Post
Thanks for the help, guys. Alright, Heather. I'll begin setting up the quarantine setup tomorrow. ...

As for disinfecting, I can disinfect Bumpy's tank properly; I'm able to carry it downstairs, and I can clean everything in it. I'll probably do that 2-4 times over a course of 2 weeks.

Disinfecting Gnag's tank is the biggy. I CANNOT move it from its current position, period. That's the solid fact in my way.

As for the bleach idea, I'll try it, but I'm worried that I won't wash it enough, or some of the bleach will stay in the tank despite how many washes I do. Also, do you mean with all the decor (small pond stones, driftwood, etc) out of the tank, or in? If I have to take it out, that brings the worry that the setup will be ruined, and it'll be extremely difficult to put back together again.

And, Carlos, for me, the frogs always come first. If there's a day with no big exams, I'm going to try and take it off so I can work on disinfecting the tanks.

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Hi Caspian! Curious about it so I read some more and found the species affecting frogs is G. Agilis and it does affect most or all amphibians . Also found out their cysts resist chlorine. However; they will dry out in a week after water sources are removed and substrate is dry. Also, high temps will accelerate their metabolism so they will survive for couple weeks instead of couple months.

Was thinking about your situation and think figured out a possible solution . It does have couple caveats though! First, you need to move Gnag into a hospital like enclosure. Don't need to be anything fancy, a sterilite or rubbermaid type plastic tub with damp paper towels (change daily) should do. The second step would be to raise Gnag's enclosure temperature to at least 90F and let it dry out by increasing ventilation. That would make Gnag's enclosure environment unfriendly to Giardia and either speed off the cysts metabolism and "burn them out" due to lack of host in a few weeks or just dry them dead. I would keep this up for 30 days and by then the medication treatment should be done on frog too.

Have no idea how much decor you got in there or if live plants are involved; but think this will work to sterilize an enclosure that can't be moved. Everything that is not part of a glued in background should be removed to help dry out enclosure. Get in there with a vacuum and go over every wall to get all loose substrate off the wall. Removed plastic stuff can be washed and air dried for couple weeks; cork/wood boiled for 10 minutes; pebbles, rocks etc. baked to 250 for 1 hour and left in oven to cool overnight. Imagine you got lots of time and effort decorating Gnag's home... but sadly to sterilize it need to take it down and everything that can be removed should be.

I would also get some Metronidazole (fish department at pet store) and make a 1 litre 4X concentrated solution. Use that to spray Gnag's whole enclosure and then start dry out process. Also, can use same type solution to clean the hospital tanks with paper towel soaked on it a couple times a week. Doing all this will take time but if you can at least move the frogs to hospital tanks this week; then can handle the enclosure once tests are over. Also be aware that if you have handled your other amphibs enclosures without washing hands first after dealing with your sick frogs or share maintenance items; there is a big chance their enclosures are infected with Giardia too . Good luck in your tests .