What's wrong with my Frog?

[PineappleProducer]

Greetings, everyone. As some of you may realize, this is pretty much my first post on this site, and I joined specifically to write this. I bought an Albino African Clawed Frog, who is named Claude, just shy of five months ago. And he (she?) was doing well up until a few weeks ago when it started exhibiting concerning signs. Firstly, he had some red sores pop up on his left foot and a particularly nasty looking one on his head, right behind his eyes. I wasn't sure what it was - I tried using some fungal medication, and it had no effect (only thing it accomplished was dying the water a fluorescent green). But the other day I decided to put some aquarium salt in the tank, and it actually seemed to work to an extent (the sores weren't as red, and the one on his head actually seemed to go down). Unfortunately this is not the only problem my poor frog is experiencing right now.

I noticed several days ago that Claude wasn't eating anything. I have tried several times to get him to eat, but he simply won't do it. Now he is staying at the top of the tank much more than is normal. He is still able to keep himself at the bottom of the tank, but I noticed that he is floatier than usual. But about three days ago, I witnessed the most disturbing display from the poor ol thing - he was at the bottom of the tank, and he started spasming and he regurgitated this green looking gunk (which the fish made quick work of), but afterwards he didn't act any different and he hasn't done it since. From what I've read, I'm thinking he may be constipated and simply can't pass any waste. I wanted to post here to get some second opinions and advice on what I should do. If you all need pictures, just ask and I'll take some. That frog has given me so much grief and I don't want him to die. Please help if you can. Thank you.

[mpmistr]

Greetings, everyone. As some of you may realize, this is pretty much my first post on this site, and I joined specifically to write this. I bought an Albino African Clawed Frog, who is named Claude, just shy of five months ago. And he (she?) was doing well up until a few weeks ago when it started exhibiting concerning signs. Firstly, he had some red sores pop up on his left foot and a particularly nasty looking one on his head, right behind his eyes. I wasn't sure what it was - I tried using some fungal medication, and it had no effect (only thing it accomplished was dying the water a fluorescent green). But the other day I decided to put some aquarium salt in the tank, and it actually seemed to work to an extent (the sores weren't as red, and the one on his head actually seemed to go down). Unfortunately this is not the only problem my poor frog is experiencing right now.

I noticed several days ago that Claude wasn't eating anything. I have tried several times to get him to eat, but he simply won't do it. Now he is staying at the top of the tank much more than is normal. He is still able to keep himself at the bottom of the tank, but I noticed that he is floatier than usual. But about three days ago, I witnessed the most disturbing display from the poor ol thing - he was at the bottom of the tank, and he started spasming and he regurgitated this green looking gunk (which the fish made quick work of), but afterwards he didn't act any different and he hasn't done it since. From what I've read, I'm thinking he may be constipated and simply can't pass any waste. I wanted to post here to get some second opinions and advice on what I should do. If you all need pictures, just ask and I'll take some. That frog has given me so much grief and I don't want him to die. Please help if you can. Thank you.

I think some pictures would help here but I have a few questions.

1. What size aquarium is this frog kept in?
2. What type of filtration is being used?
3. How often are water changes being performed and how much water volume is replaced at a time?
4. What type of water conditioner are you using?
5. What does the diet consist of for this frog?
6. What temperature is this frog kept at?
7. Do you have a water test kit? Do you know the pH, ammonia, nitrite, nitrate levels of your aquarium?

This sounds like some kind of bacterial infection, it could be reg leg, which is often fatal.

Epsom salt baths can help with constipation. You just need a tupperware container or a small spare aquarium if you have one. Add a gallon of dechlorinated tap water and half a teaspoon of epsom salts (make sure it's not scented or anything). Let the frog soak for one hour and and then return him to the aquarium. Do make sure the water is as close to the aquarium water as possible, because sudden swings in temperature can damage a frog.

[Bog]

Red sores, loss of appetite, odd swimming behaviors; it definitely sounds like a bacterial infection (which is why the anti-fungal treatment wasn't helping). Please do take pictures and answer Michael's questions, because poor water quality is a likely cause for bacterial infections. Also, you said you have fish, but is Claude your only ACF? Do you have a spare tank to place him in? It would be easier to clean and medicate if he was in his own hospital tank.

I would suggest treating the bacterial infection with Maracyn II or Maracyn Plus. Do you have those two medications in your LFS? And if you don't, thankfully they're both on Amazon! Remember, if your filter contains any carbon, to remove it before you start the medication.

I'm so sorry Claude isn't feeling well (by the way, I love the name Claude!), and I hope he gets better soon.

[PineappleProducer]

^There he is. I apologize for the bad quality, but I don't have a decent camera on anything I own. To answer those questions:

1. He is kept in a 20 gallon long tank
2. I'm using a carbon filter
3. I typically do a 25% water change once a week, but I did a larger water change a week or two ago.
4. I'm not exactly sure what constistutes as a water conditioner, but I use API Stress Coat+ every time a water change is done.
5. When I got him, he was eating fish flakes (which is what he was being fed at the pet store), but I bought some frog pellets from xenopus express several months ago, which he quickly switched over to eating.
6. I don't have a thermometer in the tank, and the water heater doesn't have a way to tell what the temperature is set to, but I would assume it is low to mid 70s.
7. No, I don't have a water testing kit.

I do have two spare tanks, a 10 gallon and a 1 gallon. I set up the 10 gallon a few days ago to move some baby plecos into it (they were in the 1 gallon tank originally). I'd gladly move him to the 10 gallon, but i don't have a heater or filter to go to it. The closest pet store is about a 40-45 minute drive, but I am considering driving up there Thursday to stock up on supplies like the things you all mentioned. And yeah, he is the only ACF I got.

[mpmistr]

No the quality is fine. Here's what I think.

The gravel may be a problem if ingested, that could cause him to be impacted.. but that doesn't explain the sores.

What's a carbon filter? Sorry for my ignorance on this one. The way most filters work is the water is cycled over media and eventually that media grows beneficial bacteria and it breaks down your frogs ammonia into relatively safe nitrates. Carbon can be helpful for some things but it in itself isn't filtration really. Do you know what make and model the filter is? I don't think they make carbon only filters though yours may have a carbon component (keep in mind this carbon media typically only lasts a few months at most).

One last question.. who else inhabits this tank with this frog? You it's not a pleco is it? Those can be aggressive and attach the slime coat of a frog when hungry (they're territorial too!).

BTW Stress Coat isn't bad, you get more bang for the buck with SeaChem Prime though (and it's better at removing ammonia).

[PineappleProducer]

Probably a bad choice of words on my part. The filter media is a cartridge and its inside a filter that hangs on the back of the tank. A Whisper 10-30i, to be exact. The plecos are in a separate tank. I do, however, have six tetras (1 rosy, 3 white skirt, and 2 red serpae) that also inhabit the tank the frog is in, and they've never bothered each other.

[Bog]

The gravel is definitely worrying. Have you played with the idea to switching to extremely fine sand, large river rocks, or even a bare bottom tank?

Because the cartridge comes with carbon (and therefore you can't remove it without getting rid of your beneficial bacteria), I recommend moving Claude to the ten gallon (and of course moving the baby plecos already inhabiting it) and treating him there. Xenopus laevis shouldn't need a heater unless your home is abnormally cold, and with daily water changes, you can get away with not having a filter until he is better.

Also, just be mindful of the fact that tetras, when stressed, have the tendency to nip, so it's a possibility that instead of the water quality, they themselve caused the sores which then got infected. Just a possibility, nothing more.

[mpmistr]

Probably a bad choice of words on my part. The filter media is a cartridge and its inside a filter that hangs on the back of the tank. A Whisper 10-30i, to be exact. The plecos are in a separate tank. I do, however, have six tetras (1 rosy, 3 white skirt, and 2 red serpae) that also inhabit the tank the frog is in, and they've never bothered each other.

Whispers are fine, I've used them in the past. I think the tetras may be nipping this frog, but it's just a hunch. Tetras are pretty nippy fish aren't they? There's a good chance it just happens when you're not watching.

If it's not the fish nipping, it's a water quality issue. Have you considered just getting a 20 gallon for this frog and keep it alone?

[mpmistr]

I think he needs to go into a hospital tank and be treated with maracyn 2 or maracyn plus immediately.

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