Tomato Frog - Trouble in the Enclosure

[Mentat]

Hello Ryan! OK, other than the information you posted stating frog has not eaten since June 10; any other symptoms or indications frog is sick? Is frog an ugly brown color? Has frog behavior changed (borrowing, soaking, etc.)? Do note you took the questions developed for a full aquatic set-up, so have to ask here a few more.

Temp of 85F is too high for them, recommend lower to at least 80F. What kind of bulb are you using in enclosure? If incandescent and producing heat need to turn off. These frogs are nocturnal but there are reports that their color appears to benefit from a small dose of UV light, so could try one of it's bulbs be a fluorescent (low heat) type UVB changed every 6 months. If turning heat lamp off is not enough, try moving enclosure to cooler room. Humidity is a bit high too, try to keep around 75-80%. How wet is your shredded coco? If damp to point it starts clumping in your closed fist it's OK, but if wet and water drips out, it has too much water on it.

Have you tried feeding night crawlers? Either feed off tweezers (plastic or coated tips) or drop right in front of mouth. Any bait shop should sell them; just make sure are not dyed or have chemicals on them. In US we get them at Walmart. Also, do get CA and vitamin supplements (Repashy or RepCal are good) and start using them now. If it still refuses to eat in couple days, try giving it an unflavored Pedialyte bath (10% Pedialyte and 90% 80F dechlorinated water) for 15 minutes and see if that will perk frog up.

What is your cleaning method and schedule for coco substrate? Do you remove poop from hide as it happens? Do you have a recent poop sample to take to veterinary for fecal analysis? Start changing water daily even if it looks like frog did not use.

Please answer the added questions and hope your frog eats and gets better soon .

[flybyferns]

Hello Ryan! OK, other than the information you posted stating frog has not eaten since June 10; any other symptoms or indications frog is sick? Is frog an ugly brown color? Has frog behavior changed (borrowing, soaking, etc.)? Do note you took the questions developed for a full aquatic set-up, so have to ask here a few more.

Temp of 85F is too high for them, recommend lower to at least 80F. What kind of bulb are you using in enclosure? If incandescent and producing heat need to turn off. These frogs are nocturnal but there are reports that their color appears to benefit from a small dose of UV light, so could try one of it's bulbs be a fluorescent (low heat) type UVB changed every 6 months. If turning heat lamp off is not enough, try moving enclosure to cooler room. Humidity is a bit high too, try to keep around 75-80%. How wet is your shredded coco? If damp to point it starts clumping in your closed fist it's OK, but if wet and water drips out, it has too much water on it.

Have you tried feeding night crawlers? Either feed off tweezers (plastic or coated tips) or drop right in front of mouth. Any bait shop should sell them; just make sure are not dyed or have chemicals on them. In US we get them at Walmart. Also, do get CA and vitamin supplements (Repashy or RepCal are good) and start using them now. If it still refuses to eat in couple days, try giving it an unflavored Pedialyte bath (10% Pedialyte and 90% 80F dechlorinated water) for 15 minutes and see if that will perk frog up.

What is your cleaning method and schedule for coco substrate? Do you remove poop from hide as it happens? Do you have a recent poop sample to take to veterinary for fecal analysis? Start changing water daily even if it looks like frog did not use.

Please answer the added questions and hope your frog eats and gets better soon .

Hi Ryan,

Sorry you little guy is under the weather.
As mentioned - the temp needs to come down. I think this could be the culprit. I have never kept them , though. They are suppose to be comfortable at ,even ,room temp. When your home is chilly, only then, consider a small heat light for extra warmth. The humidity , on the on the other hand should be high. So, as mentioned I believe 85 is way too high. As far as I know the temp should NOT be over 75-78. Slowly pull the temp down and see it you don't notice him act more normal. Since the weather is warmer, perhaps his tank ,simply, got too warm ? As the ambient temp climbed- change in his behavior may have been insidious at first?

I know people who have them say that they will burrow and eat an insect that "passes by" vs chasing the food like a tree frog. So you will want to keep this in mind when feeding. I do not think this species should be fed w/ bowl feeding method. I'm sure you know they are mostly nocturnal resulting in not seeing them much during the daylight hours. Keep a day/night light cycle and he will know when it's feeding time.

Photos would be great.
Is he inflated ?
When a male is happy will be bright orange a female a very bright red.

I hope we have been of some help?
Perhaps call a breeder; of whom can be a valuable resource for you.

Keep us posted, please !
Lynn

[GrifTheGreat]

Carlos and Lynn have you covered. They are both right. Humidity needs to be lower and the temps should never exceed 80° at the hottest. Tomato frogs like mid to high 70°s. Also your light may be too bright. These are nocturnal frogs and rarely diurnal.

I believe that you are in good hands now.

Good luck Bob

[Bombina Bob]

HEllo again, im a little overwelmed with all the comments because i
havent been on for a day :0 so far he looks healthy, i think he may have
been shedding, his temps i realize are way too high. (I meant 6/10/13
Sry about that heather!) ive only had him for 5 months and he ate last
night. im going to save for a heat mat and a dimmer light. he's bright red
and is plump like a tomato.