Hello, I am have recently been given a Tree Frog that has white patches dotted over it's body but also some almost purple coloured marks on it's face. Another thing that troubles me is whether the frog is too skinny.
Please look at the photos below and I would appreciate any help or advice on what the problems are and what I can do to cure/prevent them.
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Not sure WHAT that is, but sure doesn't look good. I hope you have a herb vet close by, I wouldn't waste anytime getting him/her checked out. But then I'm very overprotective of my critters. Hopefully someone with more experience will chime in.
Rest in peace Rosie 5-31-12
Rest in peace Rufus 2-7-14
Rest in peace Morph 8-14-15
Hello, Coopera, welcome to the forum.
If I were to guess I'd say it looks as if he has both a bacterial and fungal infection. Your best bet is to get systemic antibiotic drops and fungal medication from a vet. Are there any herp vets near by?
When I adopted my red-eyed tree frogs they had both types of infections with similar skin lesions. My vet prescribed Metronidizole, Baytril and silversulfadiazene cream. These are great medications which must be prepared and dosed by a vet. Too strong of doses can cause problems also, especially the Baytril.
The sooner treatment is started, the better the outcome. Infections can make them weaken quickly. It is likely he can be healed and will be fine if you can find a good vet to help. Crossing fingers!
For tonight, get some Original neosporin WITHOUT pain reliever. The type with pain reliever is toxic to them. Use only the Original type. Apply it to each area gently with a new Qtip, daily. A gentle twisting motion is easier to apply than rubbing. I do not think this will be enough to cure him but it should help prevent any new bacteria from entering the wounds.
I am only guessing, but it looks as if the frog was attempting to get out of his previous enclosure and developed a bit of nose rub and back scratches from the top of the tank. No way to know for sure though.
Keep him in a hospital tank. Use new unprinted paper towels for the floor and change daily after wiping out the tank with dechlorinated water. Provide a water bowl for him to soak his butt in. Rinse daily with hot water, allow to cool and refill with dechlorinated water. Cover the back and 2 sides of the tank with a green background. This reduces stress and makes them feel safer. Mist the tank twice a day with dechlorinated water or spring water. You'll need a thermometer and hygrometer to keep track of his hospital tank settings. Be sure to wash your hands and rinse well before handling the frog or any of his supplies. Humans carry staph and strep on our skin which could infect him worse. I'd actually recommend using non-powdered gloves. Nitrile gloves are very nice. I use them often. Be sure to wash your hands again after caring for him.
Please keep us updated and I hope you can get him the treatments he needs. They are great pets when healthy.
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I agree with heather, and possibly try a honey bath? Wouldn't know for sure but it perks up my frogs. Use only a bit of honey in some water though. Not too hot or cold, warm.
Definitely do Neosporin. Make sure no pain releiver.
Heather pretty much covered it.
good luck!
Thanks very much Gail, Heather and rikkitiger for your help! I will get some medication for it from a local herp vet ASAP and will try and find another tank to put the frog in for the time being. There is however a lack of space where I live and the only tank I have available is one that is more wide than it is tall- not suitable?
I will consider a honey bath or maybe dabbing the sores with a honey/water mixture. I also thought it looks quite skinny- any good foods to help build it up a little? I've already got some vitamin supplements.
Does anyone know what gender the frog is and also what the exact species is as I've not been told by the previous owner and I'm not an expert... any help would be much appreciated.
Hi Coopera,
Could this be an older frog??
Why? the bony area on its -- shoulder blades .
I’m thinking……that the whitish spots are from something that may have pressed against his skin?
Your thoughts ?
Lynn
Current Collection
Dendrobates leucomelas - standard morph
Dendrobates auratus “Costa Rican Green Black"
Dendrobates auratus "Pena Blanca"
Dendrobates tinctorius “New River”
Dendrobates tinctorius "Green Sipaliwini"
Dendrobates tinctorius “Powder Blue"
Dendrobates tinctorius "French Guiana Dwarf Cobalt"
Phyllobates terribilis “Mint”
Phyllobates terribilis "Orange"
Phyllobates bicolor "Uraba"
Oophaga pumilio "Black Jeans"
Oophaga pumilio "Isla Popa"
Oophaga pumilio "Bastimentos"
Oophaga pumilio “Mimbitimbi”
Oophaga pumilio "Rio Colubre"
Oophaga pumilio "Red Frog Beach”
Oophaga pumilio "Rio Branco"
Oophaga pumilio “Valle del Rey”
Oophaga pumilio "BriBri"
Oophaga pumilio "El Dorado"
Oophaga pumilio "Cristobal"
Oophaga pumilio "Rambala"
Oophaga “Vicentei” (blue)
Oophaga sylvatica "Paru"
Oophaga sylvatica "Pata Blanca"
Oophaga histrionica “Redhead”
Oophaga histrionica "Blue"
Oophaga lehmanni "Red"
Oophaga histrionica "Tado"
Ranitomeya variabilis "Southern"
Ranitomeya imitator "Varadero"
Ranitomeya sirensis "Lower Ucayali"
Ranitomeya vanzolinii
http://www.fernsfrogs.com
https://www.facebook.com/ferns.frogs
try feeding gut loaded mealworms, smaller ones, my frogs LOVE those as a treat. also maybe smaller crickets? by the looks of the bruising on it's nose it might not be able to open its mouth as wide.
how is it today? did the honey bath help any? post some pics i would love to see progress.
any hospitalized tank is ok! just section it off. i know the feeling of no tank to go to and a sick frog. i even went to the liberty and bought another cricket keeper while mine was sick.
and you probably wont be able to tell the breed until it gets better. might change color even. looks a bit like my frogs, but i don't see the stripe and i don't know how big it is.
how big is it?
A few more questions...
Is he/she eating? Pooping? Active at night? Lethargic when awake? Can he/she hop and climb easily?
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Coopera,
How is your frog today ?
Could you tell us a little more about him:
Did he escape or get trapped behind anything recently ?
Or, has he been trying to fit into a spot in the enclosure?
His nose looks irritated( nose rub?) so hopefully the vet was able to give you something for that
Is it possible he was rubbing on something?
1-size of enclosure
2-# on inhabitants - specifically ( if there is another frog ---size differences ?)
3-humidity
4-temp
5-water - type - for both misting and soaking dish
6-materials used for substrate including the back ground
7-enclosure set up i.e. plants( live or artificial) wood, bark etc -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, specifically, being used to maintain the temperature of the enclosure
12-when is the last time he ate
13-have you found poop lately
14- how old is the frog
15-how long have you owned him
15- is the frog wild caught or captive bred
You could make the pedi soak ( 1 part -unflavored - plain- pedialyte and 10 parts distilled water ) It could be dribbled on his body while he sleeps. ( not his face) Dribbling works well so the frogs does not have to be handled. They typically will not wake up during this. Both the pedi and the distilled water are found in the supermarket.
Thanks ......we will check back later![]()
Last edited by flybyferns; September 3rd, 2013 at 06:58 PM.
Current Collection
Dendrobates leucomelas - standard morph
Dendrobates auratus “Costa Rican Green Black"
Dendrobates auratus "Pena Blanca"
Dendrobates tinctorius “New River”
Dendrobates tinctorius "Green Sipaliwini"
Dendrobates tinctorius “Powder Blue"
Dendrobates tinctorius "French Guiana Dwarf Cobalt"
Phyllobates terribilis “Mint”
Phyllobates terribilis "Orange"
Phyllobates bicolor "Uraba"
Oophaga pumilio "Black Jeans"
Oophaga pumilio "Isla Popa"
Oophaga pumilio "Bastimentos"
Oophaga pumilio “Mimbitimbi”
Oophaga pumilio "Rio Colubre"
Oophaga pumilio "Red Frog Beach”
Oophaga pumilio "Rio Branco"
Oophaga pumilio “Valle del Rey”
Oophaga pumilio "BriBri"
Oophaga pumilio "El Dorado"
Oophaga pumilio "Cristobal"
Oophaga pumilio "Rambala"
Oophaga “Vicentei” (blue)
Oophaga sylvatica "Paru"
Oophaga sylvatica "Pata Blanca"
Oophaga histrionica “Redhead”
Oophaga histrionica "Blue"
Oophaga lehmanni "Red"
Oophaga histrionica "Tado"
Ranitomeya variabilis "Southern"
Ranitomeya imitator "Varadero"
Ranitomeya sirensis "Lower Ucayali"
Ranitomeya vanzolinii
http://www.fernsfrogs.com
https://www.facebook.com/ferns.frogs
Lynn:
Well I have only had the frog for two weeks and I he's had these problems since I got him so I can't tell whether they are old wounds.. The owner before had it for 5 years but I do not know how old the frog may be.
Yes the bony shoulder blades, I take it that is supposed to be that way?
It may of been, it did like to sleep in a small crevice area at the top of the tank but recently it has been sleeping on the glass- is that normal that it's changed sleeping areas?
rikkitiger:
I have been feeding mine waxworms which it seems to enjoy, I also put in crickets, flies and some moths but I'm not sure whether he takes those or not..
The frog still looks the same after the honey bath; to be honest the abrasions don't seem to be bothering it much- maybe they are old wounds?
The frog is still very active at night so I wasn't sure whether a smaller tank would do him more harm when he jumps about? The frog is about 3 inches long when he/she is asleep.. I can't see any stripes.
Heather:
Yes it's been eating waxworms and possibly flies, crickets and moths which have also been in the tank. I found a poo yesterday that was quite wet and very smelly (is that normal?). Very active at night; jumping on the glass and branches and walking about.. sleeps during the day but I thought that was the norm.
Lynn:
The frog is just the same, the abrasions haven't improved or got worse but overall it doesn't seem to bother him/her.
He used to sleep in a small crevice area but he seemed to fit with no problems- the top of the cage is mesh- should I cover it? I can't think of what it's nose could be rubbing on especially near his eyes?
There is a fire-bellied toad in his tank and they've been together for 5 years and I've been told by herp shops that if the water is filtered properly there should be no problem especially with only one toad however I'm not too sure and am currently looking for another enclosure for either of the frogs.
I spray the enclosure twice a day but I am currently looking for a new humidity meter. The water for spraying and bathing is from an outside tap that is left outside for a day or so to remove chemicals.
I will take a photograph of the enclosure- this will soon be changed however because I've read that Tree frogs like little water whereas the owner before as set up the tank with the Fire-bellied toad in mind with a layer of water on the bottom which I'm not too keen on.
The frog is fed on Waxworms but I also put in Flies, Crickets and moths but I'm not sure whether it eats them.
I recently bought a vitamin supplement for him/her which I put on every other feed.
2 x 35 watt bulbs is the lighting which also provides the heat however this isn't pressed against the mesh it's probably held about 4 inches above it.
He ate yesterday (waxworm)
I did find poo, it was wet by still in a round ball but was very smelly.
I do not know how old the frog is exactly but the owner before had it for 5 years, I however have had it for 2 weeks at he/she had the problems when given to me.
I don't know whether the frog is wild or captive bred for sure but the owner before bought him.
well, i am glad to hear he is active at night! time might just have to tell how bad his wounds are, or if they bother him. you know how sometimes you get a bruise and you dont find it until somebody says, wow that must have hurt! and then your like, what is this even from? they might just fade away, and it might take a bit.
my advice is to start a blog, then keep us updated on how he comes along.
Looks like rubs to me. Healing ones at that. Nice frog none the less.
Hi,
<The frog is fed on Waxworms but I also put in Flies, Crickets and moths but I'm not sure whether it eats them.>
You could feed him from a bowl. ( like a Pyrex glass bowl ) with 3" sides - Clear glass works well .
This way .......you will be able to keep track of what he is eating.
You will have to modify the moths. I pull the legs off... It's just terrible( I have a very hard time with that)
Use your own wax worm mothsThey culture very easily.
It is typically recommended not feeding moths, flies, or crickets that are caught from outside.
Be careful of too many wax worms. ...but the wax worm moths are a great treat for him.
Calcium dusted crickets ( from a hep supplier ) , and home-cultured wax worm moths will fatten him up.
Did the vet give you something for his nose and nostrils?
Does he still look irritated there ?
Lynn
Current Collection
Dendrobates leucomelas - standard morph
Dendrobates auratus “Costa Rican Green Black"
Dendrobates auratus "Pena Blanca"
Dendrobates tinctorius “New River”
Dendrobates tinctorius "Green Sipaliwini"
Dendrobates tinctorius “Powder Blue"
Dendrobates tinctorius "French Guiana Dwarf Cobalt"
Phyllobates terribilis “Mint”
Phyllobates terribilis "Orange"
Phyllobates bicolor "Uraba"
Oophaga pumilio "Black Jeans"
Oophaga pumilio "Isla Popa"
Oophaga pumilio "Bastimentos"
Oophaga pumilio “Mimbitimbi”
Oophaga pumilio "Rio Colubre"
Oophaga pumilio "Red Frog Beach”
Oophaga pumilio "Rio Branco"
Oophaga pumilio “Valle del Rey”
Oophaga pumilio "BriBri"
Oophaga pumilio "El Dorado"
Oophaga pumilio "Cristobal"
Oophaga pumilio "Rambala"
Oophaga “Vicentei” (blue)
Oophaga sylvatica "Paru"
Oophaga sylvatica "Pata Blanca"
Oophaga histrionica “Redhead”
Oophaga histrionica "Blue"
Oophaga lehmanni "Red"
Oophaga histrionica "Tado"
Ranitomeya variabilis "Southern"
Ranitomeya imitator "Varadero"
Ranitomeya sirensis "Lower Ucayali"
Ranitomeya vanzolinii
http://www.fernsfrogs.com
https://www.facebook.com/ferns.frogs
rikkitiger: Okay yes I'll do that and keep everyone updated.
RichardA: Thanks Richard, that's good to hear.
Lynn: That sounds like a good idea, I'll get hold of a bowl. Well I've managed to dust the crickets with a vitamin and calcium supplement which should do the trick and I will be sure to feed him some of the Waxworm moths!
The vet said they appeared to be old wounds and didn't seem to be bothering the frog but gave me something similar to Neosporin just to be safe.
That's good to hear.
Lynn's glass bowl feeding tip works great!![]()
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