Bloated frog - help?

[Gemma]

My friend had to downsize his tank so I've ended up with one of his African clawed frogs. When I got him I noticed that his belly and the top half of his legs are swollen (all on his underside - no swelling is visible from above). My friend had just thought that the frog was getting fat and first noticed it about 3-4 weeks ago now. I checked the other 2 frogs that he lived with and they look fine.

There's no discolouration, he's behaving normally and eating normally, but I can see fluid moving around under his skin when he moves. He's not balloon-like like some frog pictures I've seen online but he is definitely bloated. The bloated areas are very soft - I only need to touch him very gently and the bloated areas get pushed inwards. This doesn't seem to bother him at all.

I don't know what to do with him. Since I don't know what the cause is I don't want to put him in with my frogs in case they get affected by it. I've got him on his own in a 60 litre tank at the moment. I've been in touch with an exotic pet vet who agrees that he is developing oedema and ascites (bloat). The vet said that a lot of people recommend adding salt to the water to treat bloat but that I shouldn't do this because it can be dangerous. Does anyone know if there is any truth in this? I've seen lots of posts from members on here whose advice I usually trust (and on other forums too) telling other members that salt should be added. The last thing I want to do is put the frog in danger, but I don't want to leave him alone to get worse. Can anyone give me any advice on how I can help the frog?



I've answered the 'trouble in the enclosure' questions as well as I can for his set up before I got him, and his temporary set up that I have him in now...


1. Tank Size and volume of water in it (full, 1/2 filled, etc.)?
Tank was about 3ft x 2ft x 1.5ft, filled almost to the top (not sure about volume, sorry).
Now I've got him in a 2ft 60 litre tank.

2. Number of inhabitants including all frogs and any fish?
Lived with 2 other ACFs.
Now alone.

3. Water source and any conditioner treatments?
Tap water conditioned with Prime.

4. Water Temperature and how is it heated (if so)?
21 - 22 degrees C with aquarium heater.

5. Water chemistry levels: pH; Ammonia (NH3); Nitrites (NO2); Nitrates (NO3)?
I tested the water he was in. Ammonia was 0, nitrites were 0 and nitrates were 10ppm-ish. PH was 7.4.

6. Describe any filter system including model and media?
Internal filter of some sort. Looked like one of the fluval U series ones but I can't be sure. Don't know what media.

7. Substrate type?
Sand then. None now.

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?
Had wood, plant pot hides and rock ornaments. Don't know about preparation but I don't think anything new was added recently.

9. Main frog staple food and any treats? How often you feed?
Apparently every 2 days with reptomin and/or earthworms (from his own colony) as staples. I can't seem to get him to eat reptomin though. He just spits it back out and I don't think he's swallowing any. He'll eat earthworms with no problems.

10. CA, vitamins, and any other additives used (how often)?
None.

11. Lighting set-up and hours it's used?
Was for 8 hours a day.
I've got him in a room with big windows so he gets enough daylight without me turning his lights on.

12. When is the last time frog ate?
Yesterday.

13. Have you found poop lately?
No, but that could be down to the filter sucking it up.

14. A picture would be helpful including frog and tank (any including cell phone pics are fine).
My phone's broken, but I'll get one as soon as I can.

15. How old is the frog?
At least a year and a half old.

16. How long have you owned him/her?
My friend had him for a year and a half.
I've had him a week.

17. Is the frog wild caught or captive bred?
Captive bred.

18. Any medications in the water (treatment dosis and for how long)?
No.

19. Any salt in water (how much)?
No.

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

21. Describe tank maintenance to include water changes, cleaning, media changes, etc.).
Old tank - A quarter a week and sand siphoned. Media swished in a bucket of dirty tank water if the flow slowed down.

[elliotulysses]

It sounds like "soft bloat", which I do not believe is fatal (if treated) or contagious. Look more up on it, then you can be certain and try to find a vet that deals with amphibians. Even if they don't, it's a fairly simple procedure, where you drain them with a syringe. Hell, I've even heard of some brave souls who just do it themselves with some insulin needles!

You could also try to set up a little hospital tank with a little bit of aquarium salts and see if that does anything while you search around for a vet.

Also this talks a bit about soft bloat. It may go away with the salt bath!
Xenopus Disease

Information is your friend!