LLL Reptile - My experiences

[Cliygh and Mia 2]

Asian black toads are always WC, except maybe in the for sale section here, and on Caudata.org

[LilyPad]

There is always a risk with WC (if they were wild caught.) WC usually need immediate treatment. Did you get them tested for parasites or other things right away? Did you get vet treatment for the ones that were ill? Not saying that could have saved them, but it might still save your clown tree frog. I only have 1/8 tree frogs that are willing to tong feed, it's not unusual for them not to, I feed them from a bowl. Also, all new frogs should be in a quarantine enclosure, damp, unprinted paper towel as substrate that are changed every 1-2 days and a water dish for soaking. This way you can monitor their eating and defecating to make sure everything is normal. This way you also would know exactly how many you have left, this does sound like very poor monitoring for a new animal that had to go through the stress of shipping. This is where you should move your remaining frog(s) and toad now (separately of course.) Wild caught species should have fecals sent in for testing, especially if they're having issues, so that they can be treated quickly. If they are carrying any parasites, you will need to break down your enclosures and get them sterilized. Good luck and let us know if you need more help. Did they refund your money for the toad that passed away quickly?

[gut]

I had something similar happen to the Asian Spectacled toad I ordered from them this February as a bday present to myself. I had her [him?] in a simple set up in a different room from the other frogs for quarantine, she was doing awesome, and then within a few weeks she'd developed weird lesions on her body and became lethargic/weak. Took her to the vet but the vet wasn't even sure what was causing it, in the end I had her put to sleep because she was just going downhill fast. Not sure I'd order any other toads from them because of this, I'd be afraid of them being exposed to whatever her condition was. [Maybe that's overly paranoid? i dunno]

Anyhow, good luck with your remaining fellas, I hope they turn around.

[Malduroque]

There is always a risk with WC (if they were wild caught.) WC usually need immediate treatment. Did you get them tested for parasites or other things right away? Did you get vet treatment for the ones that were ill? Not saying that could have saved them, but it might still save your clown tree frog. I only have 1/8 tree frogs that are willing to tong feed, it's not unusual for them not to, I feed them from a bowl. Also, all new frogs should be in a quarantine enclosure, damp, unprinted paper towel as substrate that are changed every 1-2 days and a water dish for soaking. This way you can monitor their eating and defecating to make sure everything is normal. This way you also would know exactly how many you have left, this does sound like very poor monitoring for a new animal that had to go through the stress of shipping. This is where you should move your remaining frog(s) and toad now (separately of course.) Wild caught species should have fecals sent in for testing, especially if they're having issues, so that they can be treated quickly. If they are carrying any parasites, you will need to break down your enclosures and get them sterilized. Good luck and let us know if you need more help. Did they refund your money for the toad that passed away quickly?

I know it's many months later but thank you for your reply. In answer to your questions:1) In my 50+ years of herping I have never taken a specimen to the vet. It would make the hobby unaffordable for me. 2) I normally do put new arrivals in bare bones quarantined tanks. This one time I did not. My error. 3) I did not report the ones that died early to LLL since all dealers seem to have a live arrival guarantee at most.

Final update, all frogs and toads from that purchase are dead. One of the toads lasted about eight weeks while the others demises were much swifter.

You mention 1/8 tree frogs of yours tong feed. Are you referring to clown tree frogs only or any species?

[LilyPad]

To be honest, my opinion is always that if you cannot afford vet care, you cannot afford the hobby. I would never let my cats die a slow death without even attempting treatment, and neither would I let my frogs die a slow death without attempting treatment. You should especially be aware that wild caught animals usually definitely need vet care. The stress of captivity can allow pathogens they could normally fight off or keep at bay in the wild to take over. All of my wild caught frogs, at the very least, had fecal testing and parasite treatment. I do not believe that should be 100% on the buyer though, a company should be shipping out healthy animals to begin with. My captive bred frogs are just watched for normal fecal movements and that they're eating well.

I'm glad you know to do a bare bones qt tank, hopefully it helped out with this next round!

I would have still reported to LLL regardless of whether or not they were willing to process a refund. They should be made aware that they sent out ill animals. I'm not sure if there would be any point to it at this time though.

I'm so sorry for your loss, I would be very upset about losing every single one. That definitely shows poor quality animals that should have never been shipped out. I'm glad your new ones are doing much better.

Tong feeding, I mean out of all my tree frog species. Only one has ever been willing to take food from a tongs. That is not really that uncommon, but I gave up working with them on it long ago. Bowl feeding seems to work really well for my guys. If tong feeding works well for you, that's great too. So long as they are being fed, it's good