Stinky.. Help :(

[Heatheranne]

When frogs pee for defense it has a different scent than their usual excretion. I'm sure if researched we would find that they excrete a pheromone of some sort as a defense mechanism. I find this particularly true with tree frogs.

With your frog passing this excretion so frequently my first thought would be parasites within the intestinal system. Parasites should be medically treated by a vet. All frogs living together should be treated for a full treatment length and the vivarium stripped down and decontaminated. This can be done by bleaching the tank with 10% bleach to water. Soak a minimum of 15 minutes. All decor and plants must also be decontaminated or tossed. Dechlorinate any bleached items with extra dechlorinator after soaking or wiping down the tank. I rinse first before dechlorinating. Bleach is toxic to frogs. I rinse again after dechlorinating and dry the tanks with paper towels.

If the frogs have parasites they should go into a hospital tank with only paper towels as flooring (changed daily). Wipe down tank daily with hot water and paper towels. Water bowl should also be rinsed down in hot water daily and refilled with fresh water. No porous items should be used in the tank until the parasites are gone. A smooth, fake, rinse-able plant may be used.

How to know if it's a parasite? Send a poop sample to a vet to be tested for ova (eggs) and parasites. Many parasites can be treated with Panacur or Ivermectin. Both should be dosed by weight, by a vet. It generally takes about 4 weeks to kill parasites with medication, occasionally up to 6 weeks. Caution is used to keep the tank very clean to not reinfect the frogs. The treatments are not difficult.

If it is a parasite, it will not go away on its own. It will eventually cause the frog to quit eating, they will develop nutritional deficiencies, become weak and will eventual pass.

Fecal exams are easy to do and are relatively cheap. You collect a new poop and send it in a new baggie to the vet.

If you are in the states (I did not look), Dr. Frye will have a fecal test done for you and will send you medications via mail. Outside the states a local exotic vet should be able to help.

Call or email Dr. Frye's office prior to sending any samples. Send a label with the frog species and date of specimen. Send a fresh poop sample as soon as it's deposited. If he is not pooping, you can try sending a paper towel with the liquid on it if there is enough, though a fecal sample is better.

Dr. Frye is in Michigan



You best bet is to get the fecal sample sent. Then you will know for sure. If it is negative, no harm done and you'll have peace of mind.