Grabouille, my Horned Frog (Ceratophrys cranwelli)

[GRABibus]

Hi Grif,

thank you to take some news of my frog.

Situation is quite stable :
- It sheds its skin every day or every 2 days
- Feeding response very low
- Left front leg still difficult to move.

A reptile vet told me to put it in a bath everyday by moving its leg very slowly during some minutes.
It is so stressing for it, so I do it each 2 days.

The positive point is that it catches some preys sometimes, accept force feeding and do normal poops.
I give D3 + calcium powder.

My feeling is that she wil stay with this leg problem for life. If it recovers a normal frequency of shedding and then, a normal feeding response, it wil be ok.

I can't imagine to force-feed it during 5 years....

[johnny888]

I hope she recovers and regain her optimum level of functioning.

[GrifTheGreat]

Hi Grif,

thank you to take some news of my frog.

Situation is quite stable :
- It sheds its skin every day or every 2 days
- Feeding response very low
- Left front leg still difficult to move.

A reptile vet told me to put it in a bath everyday by moving its leg very slowly during some minutes.
It is so stressing for it, so I do it each 2 days.

The positive point is that it catches some preys sometimes, accept force feeding and do normal poops.
I give D3 + calcium powder.

My feeling is that she wil stay with this leg problem for life. If it recovers a normal frequency of shedding and then, a normal feeding response, it wil be ok.

I can't imagine to force-feed it during 5 years....

I understand your concern. It would be difficult, but if it were me I would most definetly force feed for the rest of her life if I had to. Its our respocibility as their care givers to do so.

Hopefully she will recover fully, but even gaining atleast moderate mobility would be good.

As long as she eats she will live. You seem to be doing a good job and are caring for her well.

Please keep me posted on her progress.

[GRABibus]

Could someone has an idea why it sheds its skin everyday ?

The consequence is that it is always lazy and with a feeding response = 0 (Normal behaviour before shedding...)

Substrate is humid and clean. Temperature is 26°C - 28°C during the day...

For me it is more problematic than its leg because this high frequency shedding makes it lazy and with no appetite...

[GrifTheGreat]

Could someone has an idea why it sheds its skin everyday ?

The consequence is that it is always lazy and with a feeding response = 0 (Normal behaviour before shedding...)

Substrate is humid and clean. Temperature is 26°C - 28°C during the day...

For me it is more problematic than its leg because this high frequency shedding makes it lazy and with no appetite...

There are 2 main reasons. For frequent shedding. One is a growth spurt, but usually is fallowed by a large feeding responce. The 2nd is due to fungal infections in which the shed frequently to remove the fungus that is irritating their skin. Usually with a growth spurt its every other day not every day. You may want to have some of the skin tested for. A fungal infection. This is also a symptom of chytrid, but without testing you cannot be certain.

[GRABibus]

How could she get Chytrid ?
She is at my home since one year...

[GrifTheGreat]

How could she get Chytrid ?
She is at my home since one year...

I'm not saying she does, but it is not impossible.

Have you every treated her for it? They can carry it and all it takes is for your frog to become weakened by stress or an illness. In this case it. Would have been Aestivation that caused it to attack her. IF she has it. She. Could have gotten it from where she was born/ from you if you ever handled her or had your hands in her home without washing them first. Anything that has been used from another amphibian like. Tongs that were not sterilized before use.

Like I said though. I'm not saying she has it, but it is a good idea to have a sample of her skin tested or swab her and have the swab tested. Usually when its a growth spurt it every other day and if she is a year old she is done with growth spurts. Only slow growth from here on. Could just be something in her home irritating her skin so she sheds it to get it off.

[GrifTheGreat]

What kind of plant is in with her? Some plants are toxic if broken and could irritate her skin.

[GRABibus]

Some news of Grabouille :

- She seems to recover a better appetite. The feeding response has increased, but a little bit.
She's still so selective : she accepts only locusts and mices. Of course, I give her also dubia roaches, but by force-feeeding.

- She sheds its skin 2 or 3 times a week instead of everyday...

- Its left frong leg is still a big problem, and I think it is worst than some days ago speaking about mobility...

Here it is eating its mice today : it cathced it rapidly with teezer

[GRABibus]

What kind of plant is in with her? Some plants are toxic if broken and could irritate her skin.

No live plants, only plastic one's.
Substrate is blond peat without fertilizers mixed with coco fiber.

Next time I change the substrate, I will change to only coco fiber to see if it improves...

[GrifTheGreat]

No live plants, only plastic one's.
Substrate is blond peat without fertilizers mixed with coco fiber.

Next time I change the substrate, I will change to only coco fiber to see if it improves...

She seem healthy and even looks healthy. Judging by how she was eating the mouse her activity seem good. Adults slow down in their appetite. Grif doesn't eat nearly as much as she used to, but it. Is normal.

I really hope the leg doesn't get. Worse. Does she eat night crawlers?

[GRABibus]

She seem healthy and even looks healthy. Judging by how she was eating the mouse her activity seem good. Adults slow down in their appetite. Grif doesn't eat nearly as much as she used to, but it. Is normal.

I really hope the leg doesn't get. Worse. Does she eat night crawlers?

Yes, I think the leg gets worst...
I am really curious what can occur such a thing...

Neither nightcrawlers nor roaches...I have the most selective pacman of the world...

PS : do you confirm it's a female ?

[GrifTheGreat]

Yes, I think the leg gets worst...
I am really curious what can occur such a thing...

Neither nightcrawlers nor roaches...I have the most selective pacman of the world...

PS : do you confirm it's a female ?

I don't think she is the most selective. There was someone on here who's Pac would eat nothing but crickets and that's it. So you're not doing so bad with her. How big is she SVL? If you've had her over a year and she hasn't. Called(croaked) and the thumbs lack the nuptual pads(dark spots on the inside of each thumb) then she is definetly female. If you go on YouTube and play Pacman mating calls and your frog does not respond back to the calls then also indicates female.

Males usually top out at 3" to 3.5" SVL. Females top out at 4.25 to 5" SVL.

[GRABibus]

I have it since one year on next Monday. NEver croaked.
HEre are some pictures of thumbs :







So, female ?

[GrifTheGreat]

Congrats! your Pacman is a Pacwoman.

[GRABibus]

Thanks

Picture from this morning :



I changed the substrate yesterday

The situation is stable :
- Still sheds its skin often, 2 times a week (Instead of everyday 2 weeks ago).
- Eats, not gluttonous, but eats. Maybe an ambientair humidity level problem, as for Graboune (Even if teh substrate is moist)
- The leg is still moving very bad. She will never recover it I think

[GrifTheGreat]

Just take good care of her. She is acting normal. if air humidity isn't collect they wIll shed a lot too due to their skin drying a little.

keep us updated.