Help! African Clawed Frog advice needed!

[Me]

For the past few days, my frog has been acting strange. It seems to have more trouble staying on the bottom, and it's not interested in food. He doesn't seem to be sweeled or bloated, but he's gone through stages of being fatter and then getting thiner since he was a tadpole. When I look at him from the side, his stomach seems more 'caved in' than usual, almost like he's hunched over.

I've had him for going on five years now, and I got him when he was a tiny tadpole. I've been feeding him the same food since he became a frog (some type of amphibian pellet). The same decorations have been in the relatively same position since I moved him to a bigger tank two and a half years ago. I did switch tanks a month ago, but the only real difference between them is the old one was plastic and the new one is glass.

Usually when someone walks in the room he freaks out and swims all over the place, but he barely reacts now. He would also go after food like he hadn't eaten in years, but doesn't even flinch when I repeatedly touch it to his nose. There are no vets that will work on a frog anywhere near me.


Please, someone help. I love my frog and I really don't want anything to happen to him.

[Louis Charles Bruckner]

Do you have a water test kit.

if so what are the parameters PH, ect ect
Use a new small ziplock sandwich bag to collect some water and take it to a local
fish store, Not a petsmart or pet co go to a small pet store they will be happy to test your water.

What are you using to keep the tank warm.
Did you change the location of the tank.
is it close to a air conditioning vent?

[Me]

Will a pool test work? I haven't put the tank in a new spot in years. The room I have it in is usually around 70-75 degrees all year

[Louis Charles Bruckner]

Sorry but pool test is not going to do much you really need a freshwater aquarium test kit so just take the water like I said to a local fish store they will be more than happy to test the water for you

[Me]

I don't have a place around me that will do it (disadvantages of living in the middle of nowhere) but I did change the water completely (I've done this a few times and my frog is fine with it). It's stomach is even more caved in and there is a whiteish filmy substance coming off its skin. He still doesn't show any interest in food, although he still seems to be able to stay on the bottom with a little effort.

[rodsboys]

Can you provide a pic of him and some details of the tank?

[N3XU5]

For the past few days, my frog has been acting strange. It seems to have more trouble staying on the bottom, and it's not interested in food. He doesn't seem to be sweeled or bloated, but he's gone through stages of being fatter and then getting thiner since he was a tadpole. When I look at him from the side, his stomach seems more 'caved in' than usual, almost like he's hunched over.

I've had him for going on five years now, and I got him when he was a tiny tadpole. I've been feeding him the same food since he became a frog (some type of amphibian pellet). The same decorations have been in the relatively same position since I moved him to a bigger tank two and a half years ago. I did switch tanks a month ago, but the only real difference between them is the old one was plastic and the new one is glass.

Usually when someone walks in the room he freaks out and swims all over the place, but he barely reacts now. He would also go after food like he hadn't eaten in years, but doesn't even flinch when I repeatedly touch it to his nose. There are no vets that will work on a frog anywhere near me.


Please, someone help. I love my frog and I really don't want anything to happen to him.

Please set the country you are in.

[tgampper]

Thanks for the photo and answering Carlos' post. The information is quite helpful. In my opinion, there doesn't look like any indication of disease or injury. The body of the frog seems to be well-proportioned for a male. The biggest problem keeping this species is maintaining water quality. I don't see any husbandry problems.

From reading all the posts on this forum, bloating seems to be the most serious problem.

FYI - there are two kinds of bloat affecting ACFs. Hard bloat is caused by an internal bacterial infection. The skin on the frog becomes stiff as a board. This problem is nearly 100% fatal and treatment is difficult. Soft bloat is quite obvious, the frog taking on the appearance like the "Michelin man". This bloat is easier to cure using a combination of salt baths and antibiotics and the frog has a greater chance of survival.

At this moment in time, there is no need to worry. Keep up the good work. If your frog seems to be stressed out, cover the tank with brown wrapping paper for a few days and see if the frog settles down. Good luck