Tiger-legged frog sick, possible bacterial infection. New Frog!

[elly]

Oh man, I wish I'd asked about what kind of water you were using. Or taken a close look at the "trouble in the terrarium" post. I'm very glad you found a vet.

As far as plants go, anything tropical that is short and can withstand soggy soil and dim light from a hydroponic light works. Tropical houseplants are good.

But before you go into plants, it would be a good idea to put down LECA or aquarium gravel or something as a drainage layer. You're right about that. I don't think clay would allow much drainage, unless you meant clay balls.

There's a whole thread on making a live plant vivarium in the Terrariums section. That route means you won't have to change the substrate at all unless the frog gets sick. You might have to take the frog poop out, but with the plant roots and drainage the pee will break down and won't turn into ammonia.

Or if you just want plants you could put potted plants into the substrate and change the dirt every couple of months or so.

[Heuchera]

Its completely okay! I read a lot of care sheets (and though I hate blaming) this is the only one that mentioned a water type, so I followed their directions....http://www.joshsfrogs.com/catalog/bl...pochondrialis/ of course, I am really pissed to find out that its completely false info (at least regarding water).

I already ordered some hydroton, which are the clay balls you were referring to. =) They came recommended from a new friend who keeps darts, so i'm hopeful these will work in his terrarium. I plan to disassemble it tomorrow and perhaps wash some of the surfaces. I've heard bacteria can build up if there isnt enough drainage, and im realizing now that can affect him as well.

I have isopods and springtails in the soil already so hopefully after the clay is added it will be all set. =) I really appreciate your replies and feedback. I feel like I stepped into deep water with this little one and the back and forth gives me sanity haha.

[elly]

Heh, no worries, it seems like you have a good idea what to do now.

Distilled water can be used in spray bottles. Lots of people do that because it doesn't leave buildup on the glass. I notice that elsewhere Josh's frogs recommends "conditioning" the water, that is, putting electrolytes and minerals into the distilled water. That seems like a little extra work, but some people have bad enough tap water they want to do that.

With an amphibian's porous skin, distilled water can draw minerals out of them. This is the article I always direct people to about distilled water.

Like I said, though, it seems like you've got a handle on what to do, hope your frog feels better and starts eating soon.

[Heuchera]

Ahh I see! I misread the information then. It was confusing because before I actually got a frog...I would go to josh's frogs to ogle at vivarium supplies and plants, so in my head they were a good source of information. I'm glad its still true. =) Thanks for linking the article! It's precisely what the vet said. I knew that amphibians had porous skin, but I just....wasn't even thinking about how empty distilled water is.

I will update once he starts feeling better!

[Heuchera]

Alrighty...update time.

So, the heat/humidity index has been perfect for the last few days. 78-80 during the day, and 75 slowly going down to 72 degrees by morning. Humidity hovers around 50-60% throughout the entire day.

Yesterday: I purchased a fruit fly culture (D. hydei) and planned on releasing them an hour before lights out. However, at that time I saw that my little guy had gone from his deep shade spot to sleeping out in the light. I freaked out a little bit and thought maybe he was stressed, so I let him sit there for about 15 minutes and then ended up shutting the lights off two hours early. Threw the flies in and a deli cup with two dusted crickets. He ended up sleeping in the same spot with the lights off and I went to bed around 10pm, 4 hours later.

Today: No crickets eaten, unsure about if he ate FF. Couldn't find him, checked underneath his outer fabric shades, no luck, but wasn't worried. About two hours later, lifted up one of the shades to see him trying to sleep in the dirt near the rear end of the tank, thought that was extremely odd behavior but didnt both him. Now I check on him again, once more 2 hours before lights out, and he's awake (?) out in the light again! Could he be searching for fruit flies, or is this a really, really bad sign?

I'm attaching a picture. He hasnt eaten since sunday and does look thin, but is no longer the dark brown/green he was before. Unfortunately I couldn't get a good look at the spots on his head. I'm refusing to interfere since I know being a helicopter mom is *not* what he wants in his life.




Edit: I am sad to report that my poor little guy took his last breaths. I looked more closely and realized he was barely hanging on, and so I placed him his very shallow water dish, 10 minutes later his body tensed up, his legs curled and I knew he was gone. :'( I am really, really upset.


Was it the distilled water? The stress? a bacterial infection? What could have taken him so quickly? It's so upsetting; I thought my environment was acceptable, but perhaps that was the culprit. I don't know that I will jump into having a frog for a while, not until I can guarantee that every iota of its environment is correct. So sad...

[Heuchera]

I am posing pictures of his face so folks can see the spots. This was well after he passed away.



I hate to say it...but I did handle him with bare hands after he passed away and, though thoroughly washing my hands at every point in time, now have a paranoia that if he did have a very extreme case of flesh-eating bacteria, if that could potentially harm myself. Ugh....this is just all so stressful.

[elly]

I'm sorry.
If it helps, frog skin is very delicate and it's unlikely your skin would be as easily infected. Especially if you washed your hands.