New: Some advice

[1beataway]

I believe that quite a few frog owners become a little devastated when they find out they should only house one type of frog in each tank. Just like some people would love to stick 30 fish in a tiny tank so it looks good, a lot of people would like to have a few types of frogs in a tank because it will look good. But with all the problems that can erupt, and the possibility of ending up with very sick frogs, and all the horror stories that exist, why risk it?

It may just seem like we're some people on the internet saying not to mix frogs, but several people on here know what they are doing. When you have people who have kept frogs for decades, who have studied them for decades, who have worked for professional institutions that house frogs, and who are respected enough to be asked to lecture or to write articles, etc., then their "opinion" shouldn't be so easily dismissed. Kurt may seem a little harsh in his posts, but at the same time, he is pretty smart.

I'm also not trying to offend anyone, though. It just seems to be a pretty big gamble. CaptainMorgantown, I did notice that you have started several threads asking with help diagnosing problems with your frogs. Your last one even included several people telling you to take the frog to the vet ASAP, and there was no update (by the way, how is your frog doing?). Has nothing so far seemed like a strong enough sickness to separate the frogs? In my friend's mixed tank, all the frogs seemed completely fine for several months (perhaps even over a year), and then suddenly one day, one of them had red-leg. A few months later, a frog was dead. If you're waiting for that, when it does happen, it may be too late to separate and nurse back to health.

Because something can be done does not mean it should be done. Sure, you can put a goldfish in a bowl (or let's be less cruel and say a 10 gallon tank), or a goldfish and tropical fish together in a tank, but it is not the best situation for the pets and is not recommended, even if you likely wouldn't notice any problems for quite awhile.

[CaptainMorgantown]

I'm also not trying to offend anyone, though. It just seems to be a pretty big gamble. CaptainMorgantown, I did notice that you have started several threads asking with help diagnosing problems with your frogs. Your last one even included several people telling you to take the frog to the vet ASAP, and there was no update (by the way, how is your frog doing?). Has nothing so far seemed like a strong enough sickness to separate the frogs? In my friend's mixed tank, all the frogs seemed completely fine for several months (perhaps even over a year), and then suddenly one day, one of them had red-leg. A few months later, a frog was dead. If you're waiting for that, when it does happen, it may be too late to separate and nurse back to health.

Yes, I have had problems with some of my frogs before. I bought two red-eyed tree frogs with their own tank and everything. I had him for about a week when I became concerned that he had not ate yet (the other one seemed to be doing fine), which is when I came here. I waited another week then took him to the vet. It turns out that he had worms, and the vet tried to give him some sort of vitamin medicine while I was there since it had not ate yet. He died about two days later. I ended up selling my other red-eye to (ironically) my vet. I was too nervous about keeping him. Apparently, he ended up dying too, and the vet had two of his own red-eyes before he bought mine. It seems like something that I had no control over since I only had him for about two and a half weeks, if for that long.Now the thing I posted where people told me to take my frog to the vet ASAP was my golden tree frog, but it turns out it was just an ear infection that about a week of taking meds fixed. She is doing better than ever.To answer your question, no. With the frogs that I have housed together, an ear infection does not seem like a major enough problem to separate them. You're making it sound like I have all of these different species in a tiny tank. I have two different species in a 35 gallon custom tank. It's not like they have no room to get away from each other. Also, red-leg is usually caused by a parasite, so I doubt that it was anything related to mixing species if the other frogs did not get it.

Listen, I didn't want to cause a big fuss or anything, and I'm sorry that I even posted on here. If the day comes that any of my frogs die for reasons I cannot explain, then I will gladly admit that I was wrong. I am currently going to veterinarian school, so I'm not some jerk that doesn't know anything about what they are talking about. Admittedly, I knew very little about frogs when I first started keeping them, but over the past few months I have read dozens of books, magazine articles, and different things on the internet. I'm not saying that I am an expert by any means, but I do know what I am doing.

[1beataway]

I'm sorry if you think I was implying that they were kept in a tiny tank. I used the fish examples only because that was the best common mistake I could think of that was comparable (It was 4:30 AM. I'm surprised I wrote out as much as I did. lol). I also did not wish to imply that you knew nothing about frogs at all.I simply wanted to refer to what seemed to be immediately dismissing the advice of experts on here. The person who started this thread seems to be seeking some advice on frogs, a hobby he has not been a part of for awhile. If you have done plenty of research and you feel are in the right, then that is fine. I applaud you for doing as much research as you did, and you're not just one of those people who stick 5 different species in a tank and after two weeks say, "Look, it can be done."

But 99% of us don't believe that frogs should be mixed, are trying to help the person, and do not wish to be taken as lightly as "just someone over the net." Between Kurt and John alone, there is so much expertise on the subject, and then with all the numerous people who are often in this forum, there's many, many years of experience. When someone is new to the hobby or has serious questions, this forum is a pretty great place to get answers.

As far as red leg goes, I thought I had heard that it could be caused by mixing species in a tank; however, as I do not know as much on the subject, I will not state this with confidence. I will research more on the subject, and will appreciate people commenting on it.

I think this forum thread should return to its intentions, helping the person who started the thread. Rokit, what have you narrowed your list down to? Is there any species of frog you are really interested in learning more about? Is there a certain "personality" you're looking for? White's Tree Frogs are great for something that is easier to handle and fun to watch, but most of the fun does not happen till the lights go out (though I have noticed them moving some in the day, and in the evening before the lights go out).

[Kurt]

Red-leg (a form of septicemia) is a bacterial infection of the skin. It can be quite contagious and spread like wild fire through a collection. It is not caused by keeping different species togther and neither is an ear infetion. However, the keeping of multiple species in the same tank can lead to a break down in a frog's immunity system, thus opening it up to a infection or other illness.

Gastrointestinal worms are not treated with vitamins, but with fenbendazole. I would think using vitamins to treat an infestation would be like putting out fires with gasoline.

[John]

Red leg is a septicemic disease (this means it is found throughout the body) - it's just that we see symptoms on the skin sometimes, hence the name red leg.

[bntz]

White's are not found in Asia. Indonesian White's come from Irian Jaya, which is the western half of New Guinea. Goldens may be found Indonesia, but the closest they come to New Guinea is the island of Suluwesi.

Come to the NEWC or the Havard Museum of Comparative Zoology and they will back up what I am saying.

Both Whites and Golden tree frogs are found in Indonesia, so they are both found on the same continent and are in the same country. The breeder that I bought all of my frogs from told me that he has housed goldens and dumpys together for years and has never had any problems. I asked him if there would be any trouble with putting them with my dumpy, and he said that if they were the same size, there would be no problem. I feed all of my frogs individually, and all of them are eating, none are lethargic.

I am not trying to be a jerk or anything, but the only people that I have heard say not to house frog species together are the people on the internet. I have two friends that own frogs, and they have two different species mixed also and one has had her frogs for years. I just think it's not a big deal as long as you are smart about doing it :/

I'm honestly not trying to offend you or anything. You pretty much said that my opinion was wrong, I know that you didn't say those words, when all I gave at first was my opinion. But you pretty much just proved my original point: Whites and Goldens are found in the same habitat. Yes, some Whites live and thrive in very different conditions, but they CAN live with Golden tree frogs. It's not a crime to put different species together if they don't eat or hurt each other, so please don't act like I'm a cruel person.

Also, when my other Whites tree frog was a baby, I did have him in a tank with a green tree frog, and they are both still alive and well.

Allright, since I'm from Indonesia I can explain about fauna distributing in Indonesia. They are 3 of fauna distributing region like in the map below



A = Asian Region
B = Shift Asian-Australian Region
C = Australian Region

In Asian region the faunas are similar like in Asia. We can find Asian Elephants tigers, asian rhino and other animal in land of Sumatra. In java there is java rhino and buffalo. In this region there is thick jungle that can support big animal to live. Especially in sumatra and kalimantan (borneo).

In shift asian-australian there is the famous komodo dragon, tarsius and many more. This area are mountains, high ground and scrub like in komodo island.

In australian we can find fauna like in australia, Like Litoria Caerulea, Litoria infrafrenata, GTP (Green Tree Phyton), Blue tongue skink, and kangaroo

hope this will help

[Deku]

Allright, since I'm from Indonesia I can explain about fauna distributing in Indonesia. They are 3 of fauna distributing region like in the map below



A = Asian Region
B = Shift Asian-Australian Region
C = Australian Region

In Asian region the faunas are similar like in Asia. We can find Asian Elephants tigers, asian rhino and other animal in land of Sumatra. In java there is java rhino and buffalo. In this region there is thick jungle that can support big animal to live. Especially in sumatra and kalimantan (borneo).

In shift asian-australian there is the famous komodo dragon, tarsius and many more. This area are mountains, high ground and scrub like in komodo island.

In australian we can find fauna like in australia, Like Litoria Caerulea, Litoria infrafrenata, GTP (Green Tree Phyton), Blue tongue skink, and kangaroo

hope this will help

Really? I didnt know any of that. When I thought of india I thought of jungles yes. But I didnt think aussie, or asia. Though india is technically part of asia. But you know what I mean. I thought there would be animals that are only native to india weird. Are they introduced animals perhaps? Well whatever this is, Iam learning new stuff daily. Lol. Now if I could only see places like india, madagascar, columbia, argentina, etc. Places that have alot of fauna would be nice. Id be exploring trying to catch animals then releasing them. I sometimes catch frogs where I live to look at them momentairly and then release em within 5minutes of staring at them. I think they call this "herping".

[bntz]

Really? I didnt know any of that. When I thought of india I thought of jungles yes. But I didnt think aussie, or asia. Though india is technically part of asia. But you know what I mean. I thought there would be animals that are only native to india weird. Are they introduced animals perhaps? Well whatever this is, Iam learning new stuff daily. Lol. Now if I could only see places like india, madagascar, columbia, argentina, etc. Places that have alot of fauna would be nice. Id be exploring trying to catch animals then releasing them. I sometimes catch frogs where I live to look at them momentairly and then release em within 5minutes of staring at them. I think they call this "herping".

Indonesia is in the middle of Asia and Australia so it have both Asia's and Australia's faunas. You can find both asian elephant and kangaroos in Indonesia . And many reptiles and amphibians popular pet are live in Indonesia like the crocodile skink, emys tortoise, blue tounge skink, green tree phyton, white's tree frog, white lipped tree frog, and reticulated phyton. 16% reptiles, 12% mammals, 17% birds, and 25% fish species worldwide are live in Indonesia.

Litoria caerulea are very cheap here, its just $3 (USD)