Results 1 to 8 of 8

Thread: Firebelly Toad Sickness or Infestation?

  1. #1
    Techie
    Guest

    Default Firebelly Toad Sickness or Infestation?

    Hi Everyone:

    I bought two firebelly toads 6 months ago to give my other two firebellies some friends. I think the new additions may have been sick when I got them. I thought one -- Chubby -- was a little fat because she eats like crazy. She beats all the other frogs to the food. So, I isolated her for awhile and didn't feed. She didn't lose weight, in fact, she looks fatter. What medication should I give her?

    The other frog I bought -- Kermie -- has the opposite problem. He has gotten very thin and barely eats. What medication should I give him?

    I cannot afford to bring them to a vet. Any suggestions would help.

    Thank you,


    Leianne

  2. # ADS
    Circuit advertisement
     

  3. #2
    Flying Dutchman
    Guest

    Default Re: Firebelly Toad Sickness or Infestation?

    Hi Leianne,

    Is Kermie able to eat? Maybe he can't eat because the others beat him to it. Maybe you should feed him apart from the others. Chubby is the opposite I understand. I also have 4 fbt and there is also a smaller one. But I make sure he gets enough. He stays small, but he is healthy. Can Chubby swim under water or does she fload when trying to swim? She can have gas in her colon.

    I think (but I'm not a vet) that there is not much wrong with your fbt's.
    If they have enough room to swim of hide they will be fine.

    Tell us more about your tank.

  4. #3
    Techie
    Guest

    Default Re: Firebelly Toad Sickness or Infestation?

    Hi Johan:

    Thank you for your response. Yes, Kermie can eat but usually on eats one of whatever I am feeding him and then calls it quits. Chubby hasn't swam in the water lately but when she does. She doesn't float.

    I have a 5 gallon tank that has medium pebbles as base material which sits on a thin filter pad. Under the filter pad is a layer of ceramic balls. This is all covered with approx. 1.5 filtered water. At the right back covering 25% of the floor is a flat rock which is above the water. To the left back covering 25% of the floor and reaching in an angle to the right top of the tank is a driftwood log which is covered with plastic leaves. The back wall of the tank is covered with cork board. The right side of the tank in the water is a very small, live lucky bamboo. On the left side of the tank glass suctioned to the to and hanging down to the water is a plastic plant that looks like a vine. This all provides areas that they can hide but most except for Kermie are out in the open most of the time.

    Most of the frogs play with each other but in general have left the female alone. The mainly hold her down when it comes feeding time. Other than that she is usually alone out in the open. The other three frogs usually hang together.

  5. #4
    Moderator Mentat's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2011
    Nationality
    [United States]
    Location
    Virginia Beach, VA USA
    Posts
    5,939
    Picture Albums: Member Photo Albums

    Default Re: Firebelly Toad Sickness or Infestation?

    Hello Leianne and welcome to FF! If I understand this right, you had 2 FBTs in a 5G and added 2 more and now things are not going well. Kind of late advice; but you should have quarantined the new arrivals for at least 30 days to ensure they were healthy and would not contaminate the other frogs and your established enclosure. Can read more about quarantine in here: http://www.frogforum.net/general-dis...uarantine.html.

    Four FBTs in a 5G tank are overcrowded and should be kept in a 10G or preferably a larger tank. In the case of a timid frog like your small thin one, it will be stressed, and that will affect its immunity system inviting pathogens that will first attack it and then all the others. Here is some more information on their care: Frog Forum - Fire-Bellied Toad Care and Breeding - Bombina orientalis and relatives.

    If a veterinary is not an option; then recommend you get a 10G for the 3 larger frogs and leave the small one in the 5G to see if it will relax and eat better. If you want to move the decor to bigger tank and then set the 5G as a hospital for the small one that would be fine too. The Quarantine linked article explains how to set hospital tank.

    Also, for the little one, can use unflavored Pedialyte or similar baby electrolyte solution as a bath to try and perk it up. To prepare, you mix 90% 80F dechlorinated tap with 10% Pedialyte and prepare a bath no deeper than chins depth. Place frog in it (a small critter keeper or plastic bowl with holed up top works OK) and let it be for 20 minutes daily then return to hospital enclosure and try feeding it. Besides crickets, you can feed Night Crawlers available at Walmart or bait shops. Get the plain ones (not dyed) and can cut worm in small pieces frog can handle from pointy end (worm will heal).

    In the case of Chubby; it could be overweight, or suffering from edema. Does frog feels solid as in fleshy or jelly like? If just fat can diet; if edema it could be cause by bacteria or kidney failure. Medicating a frog without knowing the cause and pathogen involved is risky and can make things lots worse.

    To get a clear idea of whats going on you could answer the below questions and we will take it from there. 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. Size of enclosure
    2. # of inhabitants - specifically other frogs and size differences
    3. Humidity
    4. Temperature
    5. Water - type - for both misting and soaking dish
    6. Materials used for substrate
    7. Enclosure set up i.e. plants (live or artificial), wood, bark and other materials.
    - 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 being used to maintain the temperature of the enclosure
    12. When is the last time he/she ate
    13. Have you found poop lately
    14. A pic would be helpful including frog and enclosure (any including cell phone pic is 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. Frog food- how often and if it is diverse, what other feeders are used as treats
    19. How often the frog is handled
    20. Is the enclosure kept in a high or low traffic area
    21. Describe enclosure maintenance (water changes, cleaning, etc)


    by Lynn(Flybyferns) and GrifTheGreat.
    Remember to take care of the enclosure and it will take care of your frog !​

  6. #5
    Member Hellsrage's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2013
    Nationality
    [United States]
    Location
    Southern California
    Age
    30
    Posts
    67

    Default Re: Firebelly Toad Sickness or Infestation?

    I'm sure someone a lot more knowledgeable than me will chime in. (I see Mentat is browsing )

    But from what you just said, I think a 5 gallon tank is a little small for 4 FBT's, you should consider getting a 10 gallon for that many.


    Edit: Sooo close, but so far, Mentat the Great beats me to posting. lol

  7. #6
    Moderator Mentat's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2011
    Nationality
    [United States]
    Location
    Virginia Beach, VA USA
    Posts
    5,939
    Picture Albums: Member Photo Albums

    Default Re: Firebelly Toad Sickness or Infestation?

    Quote Originally Posted by Hellsrage View Post
    I'm sure someone a lot more knowledgeable than me will chime in. (I see Mentat is browsing ) But from what you just said, I think a 5 gallon tank is a little small for 4 FBT's, you should consider getting a 10 gallon for that many.
    Edit: Sooo close, but so far, Mentat the Great beats me to posting. lol
    Thanks Cody ! Had not laughed in a couple days (been under the weather) and your post cracked me up .
    Remember to take care of the enclosure and it will take care of your frog !​

  8. #7
    Member Hellsrage's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2013
    Nationality
    [United States]
    Location
    Southern California
    Age
    30
    Posts
    67

    Default Re: Firebelly Toad Sickness or Infestation?

    Quote Originally Posted by Mentat View Post
    Thanks Cody ! Had not laughed in a couple days (been under the weather) and your post cracked me up .
    I feel ya, just got done being sick. Laughing always helps, even if you have to laugh internal because your throat is killing you. haha

  9. #8
    Flying Dutchman
    Guest

    Default Re: Firebelly Toad Sickness or Infestation?

    On topic: FBT's are easy going toads. They tollerate each other, in the wild they can live in large groups even in the smallest puddles. But not all the time. They need room to swim, and they need a hidding place. Were is the tank at in your home? Places with lots of traffic are very stressfull.

Thread Information

Users Browsing this Thread

There are currently 1 users browsing this thread. (0 members and 1 guests)

Similar Threads

  1. Firebelly Toad pics!!
    By MantisMan in forum Fire Belly Toads (Bombina)
    Replies: 21
    Last Post: April 17th, 2013, 10:18 PM
  2. Feeding a malnourished Firebelly toad?
    By sjham16 in forum Fire Belly Toads (Bombina)
    Replies: 46
    Last Post: February 23rd, 2013, 02:59 PM
  3. Help! Firebelly Toad has Cloudy Eye, not responding to treatment
    By KayIS in forum General Discussion & News
    Replies: 21
    Last Post: May 23rd, 2012, 11:45 AM
  4. Introduced new firebelly toad - did not go so well...need some advice.
    By sojourner in forum Fire Belly Toads (Bombina)
    Replies: 9
    Last Post: January 10th, 2012, 02:31 PM
  5. Mushrooms in Firebelly Toad Tank
    By natlang in forum Vivarium, Terrarium & Enclosure Discussion
    Replies: 1
    Last Post: September 20th, 2010, 11:28 PM

Tags for this Thread

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •