Problem with some squirrel Frogs.

[Kurt]

The tanks is a sealed tank. with small vents in the top. It's actually a converted fish tank, with a black plastic canopy, The humidity levels upon them been added to the tank were very high, I gave the tank a full 1/2 litre of misting before the frogs were introduced, and they received more misting later that evening. There is enough humidity to cause full condensation in the tank when the evening temps drop.

Treefrogs require good ventalation and this set-up does not appear to provide that. Also, you mentioned they had been kept in small containers that they had arrived in at the store. I assume we are talking about dehli cups, which also do not provide much ventalation. In my experience, treefrogs that are kept enclosures without proper ventalation have a tendency to wither away and die. This usually takes more than a week to happen.
I am guessing that stress, along with poor ventalation, and quite possibly an increased gastrointestinal parasite load due to the previously mentioned conditions, may have killed these frogs, but I can't say for sure. I would've had to observe them or examine them to be certain. Just FYI squirrel treefrogs, Hyla squirrela are wild caught, which would play into what I had just mentioned.

[John]

It's a tough one to guess what's going on here. Kurt may be right, and Daydreaming may be right too - both are equally likely. Another possibility is that they picked a disease at the pet store and you taking them home was the final nail in the coffin.

In any case, sorry for your loss - Squirrels are a nice little frog. I hope the last one makes it for you.

[Iceni]

Yeah that probably makes sense. I'll go in and have a word with the store owner and see if he can come up with a solution. chances are he will be able to have a word with the supplier and get the facts for me!

I'm almost certain these frogs haven't gotten a disease from the store, they were keps well away from the other frogs. The small container may well have been the problem tho, The first thing they did upon been relesed into the bigger tank was jump arround like looneys. They didn't seem to settle for about 45 minutes, i was fully expecting them to stay asleep and explore later.

[daydreaming]

also be aware that is your existing frogs have had any contact with the new frogs you may have a problem with your existing frogs esp if there was an underlined illness.

i would also say the vibrations from the fridge may not be such a good thing either they do normally prefer quiet areas. i keep my 3 wtf away from anything that invloves too much vibration. i know in the uk we have to dispose of fridges/freezers properly as they can give off chemicals and they do tend to be very hot where the pipes are.

[Kurt]

Dawn, you keep impressing me with your knowledge.

[Iceni]

The good news is we have ruled out any illness. The frogs are captive bred due to some laws in the uk that make it hard for wild caught frogs to be sold. I went into the shop and he admitted that upon arrival at his store 2 of the 8 he had ordered had died just like mine in 24 hours. There is apparently an illness that has been spreading that has caused a lot of problems and the shop i use actively endorses all measures to prevent the spread of this illness. He also will not trade in any animal that he suspects of been wild caught.

He has put it down to stress, and has gone so far as to place another of the same species, and replace the deceased. He also told me that it's nothing to do with the setup i was using just these frogs been skittish and susceptible the been stressed.

As for the fridge its a big heavy old kelvinator, As far as i have been able to tell it is almost silent and gives of no vibration i can feel when the compressor is on. I'll keep an eye on the 1 remaining STF to see if it stop eating. I fed him a minute ago after getting in from work late at night and he seemed active and feeding.

I've also placed an order for a pair of wire tops for the tanks to improve ventilation, there going to take a few weeks to arrive so in the meantime i will dremmel the tops of the existing lids and use some fruit netting we have for the raspberries! It should provide an imediate solution to the ventilation concerns that were raised

If i think the fridge is stressing the animals i will make provisions to have them moved to a quieter part of the house, I already have space upstairs but i like the see the frogs on a morning in the early morning sun! Makes me all happy to see the dumpys cute little face peering at me making the coffee!

[Kurt]

The good news is we have ruled out any illness. The frogs are captive bred due to some laws in the uk that make it hard for wild caught frogs to be sold.

This the first time I have ever heard of this species being captive bred. Unless this guy is a vet, I wouldn't rule out disease. Just be careful and make sure these frogs and anything they come in contact with do not come in contact with your other frogs. Quarantine them for a period of no less than 30 days, preferably in another part of the house.

I've also placed an order for a pair of wire tops for the tanks to improve ventilation, there going to take a few weeks to arrive

Excellent, but doesn't your local shop stock them?

Makes me all happy to see the dumpys cute little face peering at me making the coffee!

Your frogs make coffee? Mine only sit around and eat all day. You're so lucky!

[Iceni]

Excellent, but doesn't your local shop stock them?

not for the smaller size tanks i have, he always stocks a good selection of tanks and vivs, but he generally stock pre-constructed glass viv's and wooden vivs. The one i will buy eventually for the frogs will be one of these but funds for the minute will only permit modifying the tanks i already own. The tanks i have for the STF's are hand me downs from when we upgraded the firebellys enclosure, the firebellys currently have a 24x12x12 tank with a fixed acrylic shelf and 12 inches depth of water loaded with fish and snails. The firebellys love there tanks and all the animals are on a rotation to something bigger in the near future.

The tank the STF's are in atm is less than ideal. But it's better than a cheap plastic one that the cats can knock over. The rotation as i have planned will be the modification of a 24x12x12 for the whites so it stands on one end with a door and sealed lip. Then the STF will get the whites old tank till i can afford another 2 foot tank for the STF's. The actuall tanks i plan to use are reasonably priced but the deccing them out and getting them right should tripple the cost of each tank. there will need to be a water filter, and a depth of water at the bottom of each tank so i can use a waterfall feature, and bogwood, more silk plants, rocks ect all bump up the price.

I think it's one of the problems with using a smaller independant store over a higher turnover petstore, although his stock and knowlege are great sometimes a little DIY is needed as he only has the space for generic items rather than everything! He also isn't a dedacated frog store, in fact untill recently he wasn't stocking any frogs as there were no young frogs comming from his suppliers. Generally the store has a limited selection of reptiles, a good selection of fresh water fish (nothing marine or salt water as he doesn't trust those suppliers), and a few snakes, He will get inverts to order but does not stock them directly. The biggest problem he has tho is he has no warehouse or storage space in the store so he can only use a limited shop frontage to stock everything! so things do tend to be a little less animal specific from him!


That been said I'm also a firm beliver in making something fit for purpose rather than buying a ready made finished product.

This the first time I have ever heard of this species being captive bred. Unless this guy is a vet, I wouldn't rule out disease. Just be careful and make sure these frogs and anything they come in contact with do not come in contact with your other frogs. Quarantine them for a period of no less than 30 days, preferably in another part of the house.

i'll chase him up and see if i can get the breeder out of him.

Your frogs make coffee? Mine only sit around and eat all day. You're so lucky

I wish lardie wouldn't make tea for his grandmother! lazy fat blob of love he is!