help! whats wrong with my frog???

[gemzjames]

Hello
My female Xenopus muelleri is ill. She hasnt eaten (which has been seen) for nearly a couple of months. She has lost alot of weight, she is constantly shedding skin, and her behaviour has changed alot. My frogs now live in Dublin so this is the first time ive seen them since mid november last year. my boyfriend looks after then and he noticed something wasnt right with her about a month ago, so I told him to quarintine her and make sure the water quality was good andsuggest HelloShe didnt eat again of what he noticed the 2 weeks she was in quarentine but her activity did increase so we asdumed she s on the mend and out her back into her tank. She lives with one other male and he is absolutely fine.

The one thing that has struck me since seeing her again is she has lost s huge amiunt of weight and barely moves at all. She will stay in the same position all day and has little reaction when you put your hand in the tank as normally shell swim away and hide. I am very worried about her.

Can anyone help and suggest anything? I am going to clean them out again today but feelas though it is not a water issue as the other frog is ok? I thought that maybe it is a nematode infection due to rapid weightloss and ecsessive skin loss? Either way i will quarentine her again. Is there a particular food type thry cannot resist? And maybe i was thinking it sas a lack of vitamins and minerals intake? But again i have other frogs and theyare all fine, but what would you suggest as a good food to provide adequate vitamin and mineral intake as a precaution?

I hope someone might have some ieas as ive never had a frog act in this way before in the 6 years ive had them.

Many thanks
Gemma

[Mentat]

Hello Gemma and sorry your frog is sick ! Need to know more information so pasted below some questions below that will help describe situation. Nematodes are very contagious in an enclosed system; so if present the other frogs would probably have them too. Make sure you answer the questions regarding water quality and maintenance. Thank you !

“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. Tank Size and volume of water in it (full, 1/2 filled, etc.)?

2. Number of inhabitants including all frogs and any fish?

3. Water source and any conditioner treatments?

4. Water Temperature and how is it heated (if so)?

5. Water chemistry levels: pH; Ammonia (NH3); Nitrites (NO2); Nitrates (NO3)? Note that if you do not have test kits, most aquariums/pet shops will do complimentary tests if you take a clean water sample.

6. Describe any filter system including model and media?[/COLOR]

7. Substrate type?

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?

9. Main frog staple food and any treats? How often you feed?

10. CA, vitamins, and any other additives used (how often)?

11. Lighting set-up and hours it's used?

12. When is the last time frog ate?

13. Have you found poop lately?

14. A picture would be helpful including frog and tank (any including cell phone pics are fine).

15. Describe frog's symptoms and/or recent physical changes; to include it's ventral/belly area.

16. How old is the frog?

17. How long have you owned him/her?

18. Is the frog wild caught or captive bred?

19. Any medications in the water (treatment doses and for how long)?

20. Any salt in water (how much)?

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

22. Describe tank maintenance to include water changes, cleaning, media changes, etc.).

By Lynn(flybyferns), GrifTheGreat, and aquatic questions added by Carlos(Mentat)

[gemzjames]

“Trouble in the Frog Enclosure”[/B]

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. Tank Size and volume of water in it (full, 1/2 filled, etc.)?

TANK SIZE 60L AND ITs FULL WITH WATER

2. Number of inhabitants including all frogs and any fish?

ONE OTHRR FROG WHO IS MALE AND SAME SPECIES. NO FISH

3. Water source and any conditioner treatments?

TAP WATER AND TREATED WITH AQUASAFE

4. Water Temperature and how is it heated (if so)?

TEMPERATURE AVERAGE 25 DEGREES CELCIUS HEATED BY INTERNAL HEATER IN TANK

5. Water chemistry levels: pH; Ammonia (NH3); Nitrites (NO2); Nitrates (NO3)? Note that if you do not have test kits, most aquariums/pet shops will do complimentary tests if you take a clean water sample.

TEST KIT INDICATES ALL IS GOOD BUT PH LEVELS ARE SLIGHTLY ON THE ACIDIC SIDE BUT WILL GET SOMETHING FOR THIS TOMOROW.

6. Describe any filter system including model and media?[/COLOR]

FILTER IS AN INTERPET INTERNAL FILTER CORRECT SIZE FOR VOLUME OF TANK.

7. Substrate type?

GRAVEL SUBSRATE

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?

ARTIFICAL TANKS AND ORNEMENTS INCLUDING PLACES TO HIDE. EVERYTHING IS WASHED USING COLD WATER BEFORE PUTTING INTO TANK.

9. Main frog staple food and any treats? How often you feed?

FED OX OR LAMBS HEART.MAINLY MEAT DIET. WAS FED THIS DIET AS THISIS WHAT THEY HAD BEEN FED ORIGINALLY BEFORE I GOT THEM SO KEPT DIET THE SAME BUT DO FEEL AS THOUGH HEY MAY NEED OTHER SUPPLEMENTS. FED ABOUT EVERY 4 DAYS GIVEN ABOUT 4 PIECES EACH NOT THAT IT IS ALL EATEN SO LEFTOVER FOOD REMOVED DAY AFTER TO ALLOW THEM TO SCAVENGE.

10. CA, vitamins, and any other additives used (how often)?

NO

11. Lighting set-up and hours it's used?

NATURAL LIGHT FROM OUTSIDE

12. When is the last time frog ate?

MAYBE ABOUT 2 MONTHS AGO WHEN WAS SEEN TO PHYSICALLY EAT.

13. Have you found poop lately?

RARELY EVER SEE IT FROM ANY OF THE FROGS I HAVE

14. A picture would be helpful including frog and tank (any including cell phone pics are fine).

15. Describe frog's symptoms and/or recent physical changes; to include it's ventral/belly area.

LOSS OF APPETITE, RAPID WEIGHT LOSS, sHEDDING LOTS OF SKIN,STRUGGLE TO SWIM TO SURFACE TO BREATHE, LACK OF ENERGY AND DOES NOT RESPOND TO HAND IN TANK, VERY FRAGILE AND WEAK DOES NOT STRUGGLE WHEN BEING PICKED UP.

16. How old is the frog?

About 9 -11?

17. How long have you owned him/her?

6 YEARS

18. Is the frog wild caught or captive bred?

WILD CAUGHT FROM SOUTH AFRICA

19. Any medications in the water (treatment doses and for how long)?

NO

20. Any salt in water (how much)?

NO

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

HIGH. ITS IN THE LIVING ROOM

22. Describe tank maintenance to include water CHANGES.

FULL TANK CLEAN MONTHLY DUE TO IT NOT BEING GOOD FOR FROGS TO BE IN CONSTANTLY CLEAN WATER, HENCE REGULAR TEST KIT IS USD TO MONITOR IONS ETC IN WATER.

By Lynn(flybyferns), GrifTheGreat, and aquatic questions added by Carlos(Mentat)

I hope this ok.

[gemzjames]

I also have a second tank with 3 xenopus laevis which have the same tank care and maintenace as the muelleri but these guys are absolutely fine.