Dying Pacific Chorus Frogs

[umailtom]

I'm going to try Amy's idea - sounds genius! I'd never have thought of that on my own. Thank you! Still curious if others have suggestions. It's suspicious I've had maybe 30 or so die so far though.

[Frog Mom]

Good luck! You'll have to keep us updated on how things are going.

[umailtom]

Good luck! You'll have to keep us updated on how things are going.

Will do and thanks!

[killerecho]

The likely cause, in my opinion, is drowning. The next most likely is some sort of disease. Also, while they can tolerate warmer temperatures briefly, drastic, precipitous changes in temperature should be avoided at all cost. You said it gets from 60-90 degrees - how quickly and frequently does it shift in either direction?

I'm raising 2 pacific chorus froglets. I started out with 5 tadpoles. One died from bloating issues. Another drowned while in the last stages of metamorphosis. I came home one day to find it limp in the water It made me realize that the water level must be extremely shallow to prevent this from happening again. Those couple of days or so from when they pop their arms to the point when their tails disappear are very touchy. The objective is to eliminate the possibility of drowning. That means keeping a water level that is barely enough to keep the morphlings submerged - 1/4 inch or so. It's not the ideal depth - early morphlings which are still more tadpole than froglet will struggle to get used to it, but as long as the water is above their heads, they should be fine. Simply leaving objects and "lifelines" sticking out an otherwise deeper pool will not prevent the occasionally suicidal morphling from finding a way to drown itself.

The two I have now are in a critter cage lined with a 1.5" thick layer of sphagnum moss. As long as the moss is wet, it provides all the moisture that the frogs need without the possibility of drowning. Every week or so, I wring out the moss and rehydrate it with fresh water, removing feces and dead feeders in the process. I probably won't introduce a water dish until they get bigger.

[umailtom]

The likely cause, in my opinion, is drowning. The next most likely is some sort of disease. Also, while they can tolerate warmer temperatures briefly, drastic, precipitous changes in temperature should be avoided at all cost. You said it gets from 60-90 degrees - how quickly and frequently does it shift in either direction?

I'm raising 2 pacific chorus froglets. I started out with 5 tadpoles. One died from bloating issues. Another drowned while in the last stages of metamorphosis. I came home one day to find it limp in the water It made me realize that the water level must be extremely shallow to prevent this from happening again. Those couple of days or so from when they pop their arms to the point when their tails disappear are very touchy. The objective is to eliminate the possibility of drowning. That means keeping a water level that is barely enough to keep the morphlings submerged - 1/4 inch or so. It's not the ideal depth - early morphlings which are still more tadpole than froglet will struggle to get used to it, but as long as the water is above their heads, they should be fine. Simply leaving objects and "lifelines" sticking out an otherwise deeper pool will not prevent the occasionally suicidal morphling from finding a way to drown itself.

The two I have now are in a critter cage lined with a 1.5" thick layer of sphagnum moss. As long as the moss is wet, it provides all the moisture that the frogs need without the possibility of drowning. Every week or so, I wring out the moss and rehydrate it with fresh water, removing feces and dead feeders in the process. I probably won't introduce a water dish until they get bigger.

I think you guys might be right and drowning is the cause. I removed the dish (well tilted it and left a ankle deep shallow end) last night. There are plenty of other moist and dry areas too they can move around in. I had little issue getting through the morph stages the vast majority lived at least a week with no tail before taking a suicide swim. I just couldn't believe by then (after they actually grew larger and ate flies) they'd drown!

I have no central air living near the coast so the temp starts out pretty cool in the morning and gradually warms through the day - until I get home and vent the place. Most of the time it's ranged from 67-80 but on hot and cold days it's varied.

So far today all are fine - I assume as they hide a lot. I did see one that finished morphing yesterday hoping around on a large rock checking out the flies. 24hrs in his new home (separated from the tadpoles and with the other 2 frogs) and all is well.

Fingers crossed...

[umailtom]

I think you guys might be right and drowning is the cause. I removed the dish (well tilted it and left a ankle deep shallow end) last night. There are plenty of other moist and dry areas too they can move around in. I had little issue getting through the morph stages the vast majority lived at least a week with no tail before taking a suicide swim. I just couldn't believe by then (after they actually grew larger and ate flies) they'd drown!

I have no central air living near the coast so the temp starts out pretty cool in the morning and gradually warms through the day - until I get home and vent the place. Most of the time it's ranged from 67-80 but on hot and cold days it's varied.

So far today all are fine - I assume as they hide a lot. I did see one that finished morphing yesterday hoping around on a large rock checking out the flies. 24hrs in his new home (separated from the tadpoles and with the other 2 frogs) and all is well.

Fingers crossed...

Well, as promised I'm reporting back: 10 days and not a single dead frog. Many have grown quite a bit in fact. Who would have thought a 3/4in deep, small dish inside of a much larger terrarium would be something fully morphed frogs would commit suicide in!?

Thanks for all of the advice!

Tom

[Frog Mom]

I'm so glad that you updated us and that things are going so well. I don't know how my frogs survived because they were in a container with a few inches of water for awhile after they morphed. I guess I am lucky.

Yay for healthy frogs!