Toad is almost black. Is there something wrong?

[Frogman1031]

Hi everyone! My newest toad, Selene for a couple of weeks i have noticed that her coloring is very dark, almost black. Not sure if she is American or Fowler's but from i have seen neither species is this dark. Is something wrong?

[Mentat]

That color does not look right; was toad like that when you initially got it? Please answer below questions to see if anything is amiss. 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. 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. 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. Frog food- how often and if it is diverse, what other feeders are used as treats
20. How often the frog is handled
21. Is the enclosure kept in a high or low traffic area
22. Describe enclosure maintenance (water changes, cleaning, etc)

by Lynn(Flybyferns) and GrifTheGreat.

[poison]

What color was it when you got it?

Could be a melanistic

[Frogman1031]

1. Ten gallons
2. 2. Her tankmate is a quarter inch larger
3. Usually 30-40 percent
4. 70-80 most times
5. Bottled for soaking, distilled for misting
6. Eco earth that is damp but not wet
7. One dracaena one pothos and a cork round for hiding. She was already here when i dampened the substrate, took out the fake plant and added the pothos
8. Crickets
9. Calcium most feedings, vitamins once or twice a week
10. Repti glo 5.0
11. Nothing it is room temperature. When it gets hot i place a cold, damp paper towel over the enclosure
12. Today
13. Yes often
14. See original post
15. She is just darker than she should be
16. She is probably less than a year, probably part of last years brood
17. Maybe a month and a half
18. Wild caught (from my basement)
19. Every other day
20. Few and far between
21. Low they are alone most of the day
22. Change water every day and gut the tank and wash everything once a month
I can't remember how she looked. I dont think she was black though

[Frogman1031]

Luckily my mom just told me she snapped a pic when i first caught her in the basement. Its on her computer so when my dad is done using it i will look to see what she looked like

[Frogman1031]

I found the pic. Im not sure who is who but you can clearly see that neither of them are black. sorry that i took a pic of a pic.

[LilyPad]

I would start with lowering your temps to the 65-70 degree range, 80 is getting too hot. Make sure the substrate is damp enough. I've seen them that dark around my yard, but I"m not sure if that is indicative of bad health or not.

[Mentat]

Myself would run fecal analysis by either a local herp vet or a lab online. That dark color could be a response to many things; including temps, humidity, or even internal parasites making frog feel sick. Also; stop using that bottled water and use dechlorinated tap (Seachem Prime or ExoTerra Aquatize) for it's water dish. Bottled water is made for humans to drink; not frogs to bath on. It could be over-filtered or even include chloramines depending on city codes .

[Frogman1031]

Is Poland Spring water bad??!! My water comes from a well and while it doesn't have chlorine it does have high amounts of copper and water softening chemicals and who knows what. Will the declorinator work on that stuff too? I will isolate her so that i can locate a poop and see if anyone will analyze it.

[Mentat]

http://www.frogforum.net/vivarium-te...hing-else.html! Unless Poland will share with you how they filter water and what they add to it; think you are safer using well water with Seachem Prime.

Here is a couple vet locators and a lab: Arav; Herp Vet Connection; and Repti-Labs - Fecal Float Testing.

[DIDITHEDAD]

No, not that I can tell. I have a toad that is black also, and he is perfectly healthy.

[victorsgrace]

Per my personal experience he doesn't look ill by the judge of his colour alone.

My guys go from light brownish colours when they temps vary or when they've just shed. Otherwise they are a shade of very dark brownish, with
lighter bellies with spots

Louis here, light.
Louis (right) with Birger (left), in dark/black shades.