sick Simon

[gab]

Does anyone have any other ideas? She seems to be floating around the top of the tank more and more. Once in a while, she'll sit on the bottom for just a few minutes. I bought her some crickets and wax worms to try to entice her, but she wasn't interested. With no food for a month now, I don't think she will last much longer.

[mpmistr]

Honestly man I would treat this frog with Maracyn and Epsom salt baths.

Use a separate container, like tupperware. Add 1 teaspoon of Epsom Salt to every gallon of water that is in your bath container. Make sure the temperature is the same and let the frog soak in there for 1 hour a day.

[gab]

Thanks for the suggestions. I have tried Maracyn and epsom baths, but not together. I did the epsom soaks in a bucket for an hour per day for 10 days, then I was advised to stop all meds. At this point, I think I'll try again and do them together this time. If I could figure out how to force feed her, I think I'd try that too. I can't seem to get her to open her mouth and I don't want to injure her trying. Keep the ideas coming, I appreciate every one of them.

[mpmistr]

Well I advised to stop the meds only because I didn't know what was wrong with the frog. He certainly does look bloated and floating plus no appetite is not a great sign.

It could be an intestinal blockage too though, have you noticed any poop at all?

[gab]

I wasn't complaining because you said to stop the meds. I realize it's best to use the right med, but with these guys, if hard to know what to do.
No, I haven't seen any poop, although I rarely saw much even when I had the two healthy frogs in the tank. I think the fish in there probably broke any up and then it was taken away by the filter. But, if it is a blockage, is there anything I can do? I'm going to the pet store tonight after work if they may have something I can use. I'll check back after work this evening. Thanks.

[rodsboys]

Earth worms or night crawlers always seem to be irritable and really help with the whole pooing thing.

[Jenste]

Poor thing does seem to be suffering from bloat.

While reading your summary in your first post - you stated you had no Ammonia, Nitrate and Nitrite. A cycled tank will always have *some* nitrate - it is the end result of the cycling process. Combined that with a 10 year old frog passing away - they can live well past 20....I am suspecting something relating to the system might be a culprit. Are there any tank/system changes with in the past 6 months? I was first a fish keeper then a frog keeper so I always look first to analyze the "aquarium" part of the setting.

I would do daily Salt baths, if anything they will at least relieve a bit of the pressure that is going to be building up with in her.

Would you say Simon's bloat appeared gradually...say over the course of a few weeks? Or suddenly...over the course of a few days? Sudden bloats, where the frog has a sudden swelling of the body and often spends most of it's time floating is often an internal bacteria infection and sadly usually fatal. Attempt treatment with daily salt baths and Maracyn II/Maracyn Plus. This bloat looks like air is building up under the skin like a balloon - skin is taught, very little wiggle to it.

The gradual bloat is a slow "puffing up" - think of the Stay Puff Marshmallow Man. This frog looks like a water bed and jiggles and wiggles all over the place. It is sometimes thought to be linked to kidney disease or genetic abnormality where the body starts being unable to process the exchange of fluids between the skin barrier and water is retained under the skin. A few salt baths a week can help this frog live on for quite a long time after being diagnosed.