:( Please Help if You Can - Strange Behavior

[meeper]

My girlfriend has two frogs. One is a large leopard frog, at least several years old, and a year or so old peacock tree frog.

Tonight, both frogs were moved from their usual 29 gallon tank to the smaller temporary tank, while we cleaned the 29 gallon and all the things in it (fake tree thing, little ponds, etc) and the tank itself using Wipe Out one cleaner. Everything was rinsed very thoroughly, with a higher pressure setting handheld shower head.

After we moved the frogs to the temporary tank with just one of the cleaned ponds and new moss, everything seemed fine. The tree frog was even croaking like he often does. However, after we finished cleaning and rinsing everything, we moved the frogs back to their normal tank, with the layout of things slightly different than it had been. The two little ponds are on opposite sides now, the one fake tree the large frog likes to sit in is on the opposite side, etc. Again, new moss on the ground, and de-chlor water in the ponds.

After a little while, the tree frog starting acting weird, hopping around from side to side of the tank, and then i realized he was trying to hop INTO the lamp on top. He kept doing this. After so long, it got my girlfriend and I so concerned, we moved him back to the temp tank, and put the night lamp back on there. Again he starts trying to climb the sides of the tank, in an attempt to hop toward the lamp.

I paid close attention to him, and noticed him actually trying to push up the lid of the tank. So, I cant tell if this is his really wanting to get out, or if he's attracted to light or what. At the moment, I've removed the lamp so he doesn't try to go after it, but it seems like he still is on a mission to get out.

So, two different tanks, same thing. He never acting like this before. He'd climb the walls and sit in a familiar spot all the time, but never hop around like this and try to get out, or jump into the lamp.

Please, if you can offer something, do. Eastcoast, and can't call a vet for another 7 hours. :/

[IgbyKibbits]

Meeper -

I'm so sorry to hear about your troubles, and unfortunately, I've not had something like this happen before - so I hope someone else can offer better advice.

The first thing I would wonder about is the temperature: given that you just cleaned the tank (and are on the east coast which means that you are just hitting that fall weather), any possibility that the tank hasn't "warmed up" to it's normal temps? Hence, the reason that the frog is going towards the light/heat?

How is he doing now that there has been some time? Calming down at all?

[meeper]

Thanks, anything right now helps.

I thought the same thing you mentioned, maybe things were a little cold. But, I checked the temp strips on the enclosure, and they read mid 70s. The house has central air, and should be right around 74 room temp.

With no light on him and some time, it doesn't appear that he has relaxed. I am in the other room, in an attempt to let my girlfriend sleep without hearing her frog jumping into the ceiling and from wall to wall. I have checked on him a number of times, and each time he's just stuck to a wall. I am about to go sit in that room and see what I see/hear movement wise.

I should point out, I checked him out for any color changes or weird spots or anything, and don't notice a thing. He looks fine. His eyes are all bugged out, his pupils large when its dark and a slit when we had the light on last.

[meeper]

Nope. He's still jumping into the roof of the enclosure... :/

Man I'm worried about this.

Should I put a light back on him? Put the tank back the way it was? Put the warmer daybulb on him and say screw the night cycle incase he needs the heat?

[IgbyKibbits]

Quick clarification: Is he in the "cleaning tank" or the permanent tank?

l wouldn't put the day bulb on him. He's used to a light cycle, and I would think the sudden change would be more stressful. Stick with the night light. Sounds like you are monitoring the temps well (and within the proper night-time temps), and the resulting behavior is not a seeking of "warmth."

[meeper]

He's presently in the temporary cleaning tank. It was cleaned out, fresh moss put in, one pond with dechlor water, a fake plant thing which was also cleaned, and a fake tree which was cleaned.

I just watched him climb up the glass wall, reach the top, then grab the mesh and try to get a grip, maybe push on it, etc. Keep in mind that right now there is no bulb on him.

I think now I'm also worried he's going to keep doing this until he hurts or exhausts himself, before I can get him to a vet (if they tell me to bring him in).

[Julia]

My girlfriend has two frogs. One is a large leopard frog, at least several years old, and a year or so old peacock tree frog.

Tonight, both frogs were moved from their usual 29 gallon tank to the smaller temporary tank, while we cleaned the 29 gallon and all the things in it

I would advice leaving the tree frog in a separate tank. Mixing species is unhealthy. The frogs are slowly poisoning each other with the toxins in their secretions. If you already have two tanks, then why make them suffer?

For more information on the ill effects of mixing species use the search option at the top of the page and type in "mixing species."

Good luck with your frogs.