A Devastating Day for Pyxie Project: Warning Graphic Image

[Jeff Kennedy]

On our end absolutely not. The substrate is a 50/50 blend of co-co fiber and all natural top soil (no additives, etc.). All of our feeder insects are kept in sanitary bins that are cleaned every couple of days with a scrubbrush (no cleaners). If he ingested something toxic, it could have only came in the form of another insect that might have made it's way into his enclosure, i.e. a spider or ant, etc. This sucks. I've been in a fog since 5PM.

[Ebony]

Im so sorry to hear that Jeff... Im not sure how true this is but Ive heard that frogs can vomit up their stomach to empty out. Ive never seen or experienced this my self though. It would be worth finding out. I hope this is just a one off. Im glad the project will still go a head. Good luck.

[Jeff Kennedy]

Thanks Ebony. Yes, that is what we are finding out through research. That it can be anything from indegestion to toxicity. It also mentions that sometimes it can prove fatal which obviously was the case here. I'm pretty sure you can rule out the toxic thing because they just don't come in to contact with anything else. The indigestion or upset stomach is a possibility as he didn't eat like he normally would have today. Plus there were other contents from yesterday regurgitated in his enclosure. It's like he was trying to empty his entire stomach and couldn't get it back in or have the know how. Either way we are tore up here and it helps to have the encouragement because at times like these you just want to throw your hands in the air and say "to hell with it".

[froggiez]

so sorry for your loss

[Jace]

I am so sorry to hear about your loss, Jeff and Ella. Even with a project as big as yours, it can be hard to keep that distance when you come to know them. When you have big hearts on top of it, well, that can make it downright devastating. I hope this is the worst you have to experience. Hugs to you both.

[pixiefrogman]

So sorry for your loss. After taking such good care of the frogs, I can only imagine how you feel when one passes.

[Jeff Kennedy]

Thanks guys for all the condolences. We are starting the day today, trying to be optimistic, but I can't say that it feels much better. We are mad that we lost one of our prime specimens to some freak thing and we are on edge now, waiting for it to happen again. After rearing all of the froglets out of that fragile, froglet stage, we thought that we were in the clear with these guys now. I hope you are right Jo-Anna. I hope this is the worst that we will experience because this alone has been a severe blow to our morale. After all of the endless hours that we put in daily on the project alone, I'm not sure if we can withstand another blow such as this. Ugh.......sooooooooo frustrating.