AFC not quite right

[Drag0nfly]

Hi, I am new to this site and need some help. I have a 7 1/2 year old albino afc that isn't quite acting normal in my opinion. He eats well (reptomin) every day and sings at night. He is in a 10 gal tank with nothing on the bottom. It is filtered with a Whisper internal power filter for a 10 gal tank. I do a water change every week (25%). He is normal size but he has a bulge on one side of his body (left). He swims fine but when he goes to rest on the bottom, he kind of floats on one side(the right). He has been doing this for a few months. He also has what I can only describe as a type of seizure every few weeks. The water peramiters are fine. Well water, all test results are good (ph is 7.4 , no ammonia, no nitrites and nitrates less than 20). The tank has been going for 4 years. He is not bloated so I can't think of what it coud be ( possibly a tumor?) Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

[Mentat]

Hello and welcome to FF. Don't think a tumor due to frog listing to side with bulge; which indicates its not solid, but has gas. From description and if condition is stable last couple month does not sound like bloating. Seizures can be related to bulge if it's displacing internal organs against the frog spine.

Have you tried to carefully palpate bulge? Maybe can do so and describe what it feels like and if it displaces or is hard/soft? Do you have a veterinary with amphib experience locally? An x-ray and surgical draining might be required.

Sorry if can't be of more help; but if condition is chronic and stable it's kind of hard to figure out. Please do take a look at this questions and see if anything here points to a possible problem. Also, has a recent test of your well water shown any heavy metals? Good luck !

“Trouble in the Frog Enclosure”
The following information will be very helpful if provided when requesting assistance with either your frog or enclosure. To help with your questions, please utilize the below list and post the information in the proper forum area to get advice from FF members that keep the same frog. This will allow for little confusion and a faster more informed response.


1. Tank Size and volume of water in it (full, 1/2 filled, etc.)?

2. Number of inhabitants including all frogs and any fish?

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?[/COLOR]

7. Substrate type?

8. Tank set-up (plants (live or artificial), driftwood, hide outs and other decor? - How were things prepared prior to being put into the tank?

9. Main frog staple food and any treats? How often you feed?

10. CA, vitamins, and any other additives used (how often)?

11. Lighting set-up and hours it's used?

12. When is the last time frog ate?

13. Have you found poop lately?

14. A picture would be helpful including frog and tank (any including cell phone pics are 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. Any medications in the water (treatment dosis and for how long)?

19. Any salt in water (how much)?

20. Is the tank kept in a high or low traffic area?

21. Describe tank maintenance to include water changes, cleaning, media changes, etc.).


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

[Drag0nfly]

Hi, thanks for your reply. I don't have a vet that would know anything about afcs so that's out. I can't tell if the bulge on the frog's side is hard or soft because it won't let me touch it. Now he is having a hard time staying on the bottom. He floats to the top unless he goes in his hides or stays near the filter. Could this be a internal bacterial infection and could I try using Marycin 2? Thanks.

[Louis Charles Bruckner]

Seeing that he is having buoyancy control issues, I will wager that the bulge is gas.

Since the frog is eating well I would think that would rule out any intestinal bolus.
As that would also cause a blockage. and the frog wouldn't be well at all and not eat.

If you can get a good picture and send it to Dr. Fry along with answering Carlos's questions above
that will give a better picture of what is going on.

[tgampper]

Hi Carlos:
Sick frogs tend to have buoyancy problems. Tap on the side of the tank. A healthy frog will dive and seek cover quickly. A sick frog is slow to respond or not at all (healthy frogs are very sensitive to wave motion). Sick frogs have been known to swim upside down, swim in circles or swim with a whole body tilt to one side or another. The problem is determining what the problem is (if there is any at all). Typically, bloat affects the entire body or the extremities, sometimes called "hydrops". The bulge is most likely some sort of bacterial infection, such as mycobacteriosis, but it will be hard to make a determination without a picture or vet analysis. Good luck and hope your frog gets better. ACFs are tough frogs.

[Drag0nfly]

Hi, I will try to post a picture of the frog ( not sure how ) , But if it is bloat, what can be done to help? Thanks.

[Drag0nfly]

Here are the answers to the list of question "Trouble in the frog enclosure".
1. 10 gal. tank filled 2" from the top.
2. one acf.
3. well water, no conditioners.
4. 72-74 degrees F.
5. PH 7.4-7.6, ammonia 0, nitrite 0, nitrates 10-20.
6. Whisper internal filter for 10 gal tank.
7. no substrate.
8. one terra cotta pot, one resin hide that looks like a log.
9. Wardley reptile sticks. Feed every day 3-4 sticks, take out food not eaten.
10. no vitamins or supplements.
11. natural lighting.
12. frog ate today.
13. poop yesterday.
14. working on pictures.
15. frog is about 7 1/2 years old.
16. have had him 4 years.
17. no sure. bought from pet shop.
18. no meds in water.
19. no salt in water.
20. tank kept in low traffic area.
21. 25-30 % water change every week, filter pad changed every month.

[tgampper]

Soft bloat is fairly easy to treat, this is when the frog looks like the "Michelin man" (balloon-like). A salt bath is recommended and for the most part the frog will make a recovery. There is another kind, hard bloat, the legs and arms look like they are "muscle bound". This type of bloat is caused by a bacterial infection and most likely fatal is not treated quickly. Adding an antibiotic, like Maracyn (erythromycin) or Maracyn 2 (minocyclin), will help along with a salt bath.

Thanks for the tank info. The water quality and habitat are perfect. I am concerned about the "tumor" and the fact that the frog has swimming problems. If this is caused by a bacteria, then a use Maracyn 2 or Maracyn Plus, to treat the infection.

This is very confusing: Maracyn, Maracyn 2 and Maracyn Plus are available at pet shops specializing in tropical fish. There are three different medications for various types of bacteria. Best thing to do is have a vet check out the frog.

[Drag0nfly]

Hi, thanks for the info. His body or legs are not swollen so I don't think it's bloat. This may sound crazy but it's like if he doesn't concentrate on what he is doing he has the swim problem (I don't know if they have that kind of capability), and other times he is just fine and has control. Strange little creature . He didn't come from an ideal situation, he belonged to my young neice and she didn't take very good care of him (small tank, dirty water, food left in, not good). She had him for 3 1/2 years and then didn't want him anymore so I adopted him. I'll try to download some pictures.

[tgampper]

From your description, the frog may have a bacterial infection. ACFs have a remarkable way of protecting themselves from diseases. Their skin slime contains magainins which have antiviral, antibactrial and antifungal properties. This slim coat becomes ineffective if the frogs are kept in poor conditions. You are keeping the frog properly. The big question is whether or not the frog was saved in time. I have included a couple of sources that might help you come up with a treatment plan. Of course, a vet should be consulted.

Frog Forum - Basic Frog First Aid
POLLYWOGS WORLD OF FROGS

[Drag0nfly]

Hi, I adopted the frog 4 years ago and he has been fine except for this latest thing. He was having trouble with staying on the bottom but that seems to have passed. Maybe gas? Now he just has trouble staying horizontal sometimes. About the Maracyn 2, would it hurt him if I did treat him with it ? (as I don't have a vet with any herp experience.) I posted some pictures of my frog but I put them on another post. Sorry, not that computer savy.