Early Stages of Bloat Treatment

[Jenste]

One of my adult albino females, Phoenix, seems to be in a very early stage of bloat...over the past four days I have noticed a slight swelling in her abdomen and upper thighs.

I observed her for the past few days and the swelling definitely seems to be steadily (although slowly) increasing.

I did a salt bath last night and have begun a course of Maracyn II.

She is separated into her own ten gallon tank for treatment.

I was unable to take a picture as of yet (the swelling is barely noticeable yet except that I see her everyday and know what is not her "normal" appearance.)

Is there anything else you could recommend for me?
She is one of my personal favorites - very responsive to being "pet" and the female of my first successful breeding.

[Dejavudoo]

I believe Terry usually suggests that you can also give them salt baths. I think its about 1/2 teaspoon per gallon of treated water at 72 degrees F. Let it dissolve, and then let her soak for 30 minutes to an hour.

I hope your froggie gets better!!!

[Jenste]

Thank you dejavudoo....I actually have done the salt bath..I listed as one of the treatments I gave tried so far

[Dejavudoo]

Oops. Sorry then. For some reason I didn't see that part.

[Jenste]

no problem
I did another salt bath tonight...

besides the salt bath and Maracyn II I cant think of much else to do, can you?

[Dejavudoo]

As far as anything that I've read about bloat, I think you're pretty well covered. Except maybe for some prayers.

What I don't understand is that I keep hearing that ACFs are suppose to be such hardy frogs. But even people like you that I know keep wonderful care of their frogs have issues. What's going on???

[Jenste]

A few of the sites I have read said it is a kidney function failure which can strike any frog with weak kidneys - so I dont know.
I just know that if I lose her I am going to be beyond crushed. I hope I caught it early enough where it can be stopped.


I remembered to take a photo - - this is the angle that has me worried (remember - I said it looked to be in a very early stage so don't think I'm crazy!)


her thighs look huge to me....

[Dejavudoo]

Hmm. I had also recently joined a Yahoo group exclusively meant for dealing with ACFs. Lots of them have had problems with what they believe to be strokes. They believe that Bibbit and Freckles were also victims of strokes and that they are usually caused by bad water conditions. Just seeing lots of sick lil froggies.

Those thighs do look pretty thunderous. I truly hope she pulls through for you. I know you'll give her all the love and care she needs. It already speaks that you caught it so early. You're on your game. With it being so early I believe there's a very good chance she'll recover. Just hang in there. I've been playing frog doctor for a month so I know how difficult it can be. Good luck!!!

[tgampper]

Hi Jen:
I hope everything goes alright with your frog! I know that she'll get the best of care.

These frogs are tough and able to live through extreme conditions. Unfortunately, IMHO, they are victims to two major foes - genetics and atrazine. Since the 1930's, Xenopus has been used in pregnancy testing and genetic studies. I am sure that over the years, a "bad gene" has gotten into the mix, reducing their capability to adapt. Also, the herbicide, atrazine, is commonly used and getting into the water supply. This chemical is known to cause sex changes in Xenopus and probably a leading cause of neurological disorders, like strokes. I am afraid that we as frog keepers are going to experience more and more problems with clawed frogs. And to make matters worse, they are carriers of chytrid.

I suggest that all clawed frogs keepers use what I call the "super-trio", Stress-Coat, Lymnozyme and Stresszyme! Hopefully, this will reduce problems.

[Jenste]

some more pictures....

[tgampper]

Thanks for the pictures. Continue the salt and medication treatment until it clears up. She is a beautiful frog.

[Jenste]

see? I do believe her thighs are significantly less thunderous

I will continue to treat her for the next week as a precaution - will most likely release her back into the 72 gallon on new years eve (maybe at midnight haha)

[tgampper]

The frog is looking good! I think she will be ready for the 72-gallon soon.

[Jenste]

unfortunately the bloat is back and getting worse. Now when she swims her whole body jiggles due to the fluid under the skin. I am charging the camera now when she is in a salt bath. I will upload pics and hopefully a video in a couple hours. my hopes aren't high this time...it is already worse then it was when she had first gotten it in december.

Terry - any suggestions? Do I do another course of Maracyn II or just stick to salt baths this time?

[blueangel459]

Jen I am so sorry to hear she is worse. I can not offer any help as you know I come to you with all my questions. I know how much you love her. I'll keep you and Phoenix in my prayers.
Job 12:10 In HIS hand is the life of every creature and the breath of all mankind.

[Zephyr]

I have been told by both Xenopusone and Xenopus express that both beef liver and beef heart can be fed as staple foods as long as you manually remove the fat from either.
If she is eating and you have access to tetracycline *sp in the last post* I would highly recommend you try their method. Allowing the medicine to soak into the food and then offering it to the frog is much more effective than topically or environmentally treating. If you absolutely cannot feed the frog liver/heart you could soak the reptomin sticks in tetracycline, however to my knowledge it is only available in powdered form.

[Jenste]

[Jenste]

YouTube - phoenix bloat

[Zephyr]

One of my frogs had a horrible case of bloat worse than this once; he perished after salt baths, fungal treatments, Maracyn treatments, and manual draining of the fluids.

I was told by the folks at Xenopusone that tetracyclene can work miracles. They suggest to sprinkle it on beef liver/heart, allow it to soak in, then feed it to the ill frog. However, you stated she is not feeding, so adding it directly to the water may be your only hope. Personally, I have luck treating a wide variety of other illnesses using Maracyn Plus. However, as I mentioned before, Maracyn II did not help my frog with bloat.

[Jenste]

the not eating comment was back in december when she first got bloat and was getting the maracyn II treatment - in the current situation she is eating

however, beef heart/liver is exceptionally fatty and not supposed to be fed to these frogs. Also, considering that this is most likely a sign of liver failure, introducing fatty foods would not help her.

But thank you, her diet is currently ReptoMin Sticks. She has not been given bloodworms as a treat since her first episode with bloat due to the fact that they are somewhat fatty as well.....

Her original bloating in December had seemed to stop progressing, yet over this past week she really started bubbling up and you can watch the water under her skin move now.

I had tried seeking out an amphibian vet who was willing to look at her, was informed that I needed to find a zoologist employed by a vet but the closest one I could locate was over a a long drive away and was not overly familiar with aquatic species?

so far now it seems like salt baths and clean water are the way to go...unsure if starting Maracyn II again is worth it.