Death paranoia

[into]

Ever since losing two toads last spring and own a scarred up (WC?) whites from a dirty Petco, I find that I am constant checking that the frogs are alive when I get home from work. Today I found my WTF on the bottom of the tank in a shady area with his head completely down... he look inflated. I quickly washed my hands and moved him. He was alive but limp. I picked him up and he sprang to life desperately trying to get back to bed and he seemed really annoyed that I took him out. I would be too if someone dragged me out of a deep sleep to see if I was still alive.

Is this a newbie thing? I guess I'm not used to animals that don't move for hours and you cant even tell if they are breathing.

Will I ever be able to relax?

[Kurt]

You just have to get over your paranoia. Paranoia, will destroy ya! In time with experience on your side you will begin to be able to tell the differences between a healthy and unhealthy frog. In the meantime, there are herp societies and vets you can get help from. I strongly recommend that everyone reading this join a herp society. There you find like-minded people, a lot of which will have the experience to help you out and give you advice. Plus they can actually look at your animal and tell whether or not it needs to see the vet.

[lraulston]

I think you start to get over it. When I first got my WTF (granted, I had an awful experience losing a sick frog), I thought everything int he world was wrong with mine. You have to get comfortable with it, just like you would a new baby or a puppy or something. Losing animals makes you scared about these things for sure, but the key is to learn to be cautious from these things, not paranoid. hope that helps, lol. Oh and just so you know. I am still paranoid at times, it is not just you

[Kurt]

I am still paranoid at times, it is not just you

That feeling never really goes away, you just learn to control it.

[Jace]

I had two frogs die on my suddenly and unexpectedly-an African Clawed frog and a Fire-legged Running frog-and I was devestated. I vowed that I would never ever get another frog again and that I was not meant to have frogs as pets. Then I came across the cutest little Pyxie in the petstore and had to have him; 6 months later, another pyxie that had been sitting in the petstore for months also tugged at my heart strings and I brought her home too. I worry about them all the time and I have to stop myself from posting even the most basic silly questions on this Forum. My frogs are healthy and I know that if I did have a real problem, the great members of this Forum would be here to help.

Your pictures show very happy, healthy pets. They are very lucky to have a dedicated owner like you. The feeling never really goes away but the one postive thing that can come from it? No-one will ever take as good of care of those frogs as you and you need to have faith in that. Best of luck.

[into]

Thanks for the replies everyone, It's good to know that I'm not alone in my feelings. I don't think I worried so much until I started looking into frog forums (this and a couple others) and seeing all the posts about sick/dying frogs. I think I even read a post somewhere in a reptile forum where a poster stated that "frogs are hard to keep alive" and that had me wondering what I got myself into. I've had ferrets and parrots in past and I don't remember ever wondering if they would still be alive when I got home.

I recently upgraded their terrariums and they seem happier and more relaxed everyday. Dumper, my WTF has grown a half inch in the 3 weeks that I've had him and his color gets better all the time (he was a little splotchy when I bought him) and his scars seem to fade a little more everytime he sheds.

Anyway, I probably have a million more pictures than I have posted here and will add more as I get time... I love taking pictures of them. I don't feel so worried now

[John]

Chris, your photos of Dumper are fantastic - please keep us updated on him .

[Kurt]

Excellent. I think the reason some people have trouble keeping amphibians is because they just don't understand how an amphibian lives. They have kept mammals and birds, so keeping an animal that is more dependent on enviroment conditions in an alien concept to them. If they have kept reptiles, then they are familiar with this concept, but nearly as much so as an experienced amphibian keeper is. So I guess a lot of people just think they are just too difficult to keep, but once you know what you're doing, its not too hard. You just can't make as many mistakes as you can with a dog or cat or even a snake.

[into]

Chris, your photos of Dumper are fantastic - please keep us updated on him .

Dumper's doing really good He's very vocal tonight in his new home. He's up toward the top and I think he likes that he can look down over his new kingdom.