Two Weeks Later - RETF still hasn't eaten...

[snoopfrog27244]

Looks good . Well planted.

It's hard to see, but I would remove all moss. If accidentally ingested, he'll end up in trouble.

Mist good (75-80%).

You can do a nice refreshing Pedialyte soak to give him some electrolytes while waiting for him to eat.

Take 1 part clear, non-flavored Pedialyte to 10 parts distilled or dechlorinated water. Pour some into his water bowl before he wakes. He can soak in it for about 15-20 minutes. Then rinse out his bowl and add fresh dechlorinated water. It's not as good as eating, but it will give him some vital electrolytes. You can do this a few times a week, every couple of days for a week. It isn't something you can do too much of, but it can help. It's a bit like getting an IV bag of nutrients. Hopefully he'll start eating soon .

I agree on getting a fecal test done if he does poop. Dr. Frye' office does them for around $20 or so. You just get a clean fecal sample in a new baggie. It's best to wear gloves so you don't contaminate the specimen. Send it to their office with a check, the name of the frog species, and the test you want done (frog fecal test for ova/parasites).

http://milanareaanimalhospital.com

Thank you so much for the encouragement! Yes, it is sphagnum moss (I thought it was great for humidity retainment, but a lot of people warn against it for the same reason you did--injesting). I am going to remove the moss this afternoon while he is still sleeping. As for the bath, do I need to place him in the dish with it after he wakes or should I simply use that in there and let him enter/exit at his own leisure?

Thank you for the suggestion! I also found a vet that specializes in exotic amphibians (specifically RETF and the like) so perhaps I will give them a call as well. Just want the little guy to be happy! It's no fun when you don't feel like eating.

[Heatheranne]

Yep, he can just sit in it. Or you can drop a few drops on him with a dropper while he's sleeping.

Nice to have a herp vet close by .

[Heatheranne]

It's not uncommon for them to stress for a week or two when you first get them. Travel can be stressful also. Sometimes they just need to relax and get used to their new homes. If he's not sick and his tank husbandry is right, he should adjust. He looks good though.

[Heatheranne]

It's definitely relieving when they eat.

[snoopfrog27244]

It's definitely relieving when they eat.

thank you so much for being so incredibly kind and helpful. I love the frog community. Going to do the aforementioned and get him some ped., remove the moss, and keep his enclosure covered all night.

I'll report back!

[Heatheranne]

Great! Crossing fingers for you .

[flybyferns]

Hi,
Hopefully he eats soon

Can you possibly post a current photo of the frog.

Is the top of the enclosure 100% screen?

If you are afraid he is not getting into the soaking dish , you can dribble ( many drops) of the pedi solution or de-chlorinated water on his back. Do this-- ever-so gently -- in the middle of the day when he is sound asleep as you don't want to wake or startle him. A dropper from the supermarket - from the baby isle- works good for this.

Just want to be sure---- you are using de-chlorinator ---- right ? ( sorry if I missed it reading through )

How big is he ? - you can measure him from the outside of the glass --- snout to vent ( tip of his nose to his bottom - not including his legs)

What size crickets are you purchasing?

Do you mind sharing where he come from?

[snoopfrog27244]

Hi,
Hopefully he eats soon

Can you possibly post a current photo of the frog.


Is the top of the enclosure 100% screen?

If you are afraid he is not getting into the soaking dish , you can dribble ( many drops) of the pedi solution or de-chlorinated water on his back. Do this-- ever-so gently -- in the middle of the day when he is sound asleep as you don't want to wake or startle him. A dropper from the supermarket - from the baby isle- works good for this.

Just want to be sure---- you are using de-chlorinator ---- right ? ( sorry if I missed it reading through )

How big is he ? - you can measure him from the outside of the glass --- snout to vent ( tip of his nose to his bottom - not including his legs)

What size crickets are you purchasing?

Do you mind sharing where he come from?

I hope so too!

Last night was still not a success. I'm starting to wonder if the bowl bothers him. Once again, this morning, both crickets were still alive and moving around the bowl and he was sleeping on the bottom of the big leaf RIGHT above the bowl--I mean c'mon, little dude! How much closer can you get?

The top is 100% screen, but if needed I do cover half with a damp paper towel (always fresh) to maintain humidity throughout the day.

I do know that he soaks in the dish and it is always fresh/purified water. I only use distilled to mist the enclosure. He is probably around 2 inches--he doesn;t ever sleep on the glass anymore--always on the big leaves inside his enclosure.

I have tried pinhead crickets to medium-sized crickets with no success from the bowl method.

I am not sure where he came from. I purchased him from a local reptile shop, but after visiting a few more times after and seeing that they don't really seem to take care of their animals, I am starting to think he was wild-caught.

[LilyPad]

I keep 3/4 of my RETF tank screen covered at all times. It's the only way I can keep the humidity and temps up where they need to be.

[snoopfrog27244]

I keep 3/4 of my RETF tank screen covered at all times. It's the only way I can keep the humidity and temps up where they need to be.

I'm starting to lean toward that method as well. After removing the sphagnum moss yesterday I may need to start doing that to see how that maintains humidity through out the day while I'm away.

However, all I can really think about is him eating a cricket. Just. One. Sure, it isn't enough, but that would be a huge win! Haha

[Heatheranne]

You can cover part of the screen top in Saran Wrap. It helps to keep the humidity up by trapping the moisture droplets in .

Do you use a deborinator for his water bowl water?

[snoopfrog27244]

You can cover part of the screen top in Saran Wrap. It helps to keep the humidity up by trapping the moisture droplets in .

Do you use a deborinator for his water bowl water?

Thanks for the suggestion! I think I'll give that a shot if the humidity didn't hold up today .

I have been using purified drinking water for his water bowl and distilled for misting.

[Heatheranne]

Ahhh... Purified water often has chlorine in it . Can you use tap water and add dechlorinator to it? Some spring water is safe, but could have heavy metals in it. Most dechlorinating solutions also detoxify heavy metals.

Chlorine and chloramines in water are toxic to our frogs. They need to be neutralized. Aquatize, Stress Coat by API, Seachem Prime are all safe dechlorinators/heavy metal water treatments. The easiest way is to use a water jug and make up a gallon at a time.

Distilled water is perfect for misting. Because distilled water has no minerals in it, it is not good for soaking and can actually cause electrolyte imbalance loss through their skin. Frog skin is a bit like a sponge or blood vessel lining in that way. Kinda neat .

[snoopfrog27244]

Ahhh... Purified water often has chlorine in it . Can you use tap water and add dechlorinator to it? Some spring water is safe, but could have heavy metals in it. Most dechlorinating solutions also detoxify heavy metals.

Chlorine and chloramines in water are toxic to our frogs. They need to be neutralized. Aquatize, Stress Coat by API, Seachem Prime are all safe dechlorinators/heavy metal water treatments. The easiest way is to use a water jug and make up a gallon at a time.

Distilled water is perfect for misting. Because distilled water has no minerals in it, it is not good for soaking and can actually cause electrolyte imbalance loss through their skin. Frog skin is a bit like a sponge or blood vessel lining in that way. Kinda neat .

YIKES! I was under the impression that the water I had been using was free of chlorine! It is purified spring water, but maybe that isn't good enough! Oh goodness. I need to get him some better water then!

[Heatheranne]

Most spring waters have no chlorine/chloramines. They may or may not have heavy metals.

Not all purified waters are spring water and vice versa. How confusing, isn't it?

[Heatheranne]

It might be fine. You can get test strips in the aquarium section of a pet store .

[snoopfrog27244]

It might be fine. You can get test strips in the aquarium section of a pet store .

I'd rather be safe than sorry! I'm going to buy some conditioner and make sure It's right. No time for mistakes . Thanks for your consistent help! It means so much.

[Heatheranne]

You're welcome

[snoopfrog27244]

So, I started trying something new last night. Since I rid my enclosure of moss, only have Eco-Earth now, I decided to give my little guy a try at actual hunting by putting two small/medium crickets in last night without a bowl.

I think it might have worked. I scoured the enclosure this morning and couldn't find any trace of them...I looked for a good 15-20 minutes. Also, I noticed this morning, when the lights came on, he was still awake and looking around--I'm wondering if he was still hunting. Soon after he found his way back to the underside of his favorite large leaf and went to sleep.

He seems to look pretty healthy still...

[snoopfrog27244]

So, since I am still not sure that this issue is resolved, should I try feeding my frog in a separate enclosure/QT tank tonight? He is active each night and I might have even heard him call last night, but I am still so unsure if he has eaten anything in two weeks.

I tried for a couple nights without a bowl and managed to find at least two crickets (and remove them) this morning.

I hate just playing the waiting game-- is it time to try something new?

Here is a pic from this morning: