Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Welcome to kingsnake.com's message board system. Here you may share and discuss information with others about your favorite reptile and amphibian related topics such as care and feeding, caging requirements, permits and licenses, and more. Launched in 1997, the kingsnake.com message board system is one of the oldest and largest systems on the internet.

Click for 65% off Shipping with Reptiles 2 You
Click for ZooMed
Click here for Dragon Serpents

Whites/Dumpy Tree Frog (flegm???)

chubby33 Sep 11, 2006 10:40 PM

My frog (chubby) has had what looks like gooey flegm stuck in his mouth/throat, on and off for the last week. He is hacking trying to get it out, we removed it today and he seems fine, just wondering if anyone knows what this is or may be from??
The tank temp. ranges from 73 to 79 and is plenty humid. He seems to be eating fine. Sings every once in a while. His color has also stayed towards the brown side. Any suggestions on making his habitat better for him or more comfy??
Thanks.

Replies (12)

rrrragdoll Sep 11, 2006 10:49 PM

My guess would be that it was shedding?

As far as the tank, if you could post a picture or elaborate on what you have in it that would help on recommendations.

There is quite a growing community of people with Whites on repticzone under the tree frog forum, you can see alot of setups there.

chubby33 Sep 11, 2006 11:25 PM

I have him in a Exoterra 12x12x18 tall cube tank. I have a heat pad on the bottom, and back, an esu reptile mini compact light. One layer of jungle bed and over that a layer of sphagnum moss. I have a rock water dish for him to wade in, some fake greenery, and branches. I have the light on 13hrs daily. If you spot check the tank with a heat gun, it ranges around 81 to 88 degrees. The digital therm. i have always reads much cooler.
He eats dusted crickets every few days about 5 of them. I also mist him about once to twice a day. Other than his color and whatever he has/had stuck in his mouth he seems to be doing fine.

rrrragdoll Sep 12, 2006 12:14 AM

Well the enclosure is only an 11 gal, the recommended minimum size for a Whites is a 20 gal. So unless it's just a baby you should think about moving it to a bigger tank.

I thought they were supposed to be more room temperature, 75-80 day and 70-75 night. I could be wrong, but your temps are what I keep my Red eyes at. And they do need that cooling off at nights. Also within the tank there should be a cool side in case they get hot that they could go to. They tend to burrow when hot, but I don't think yours could given that there is a pad under and on the back.

If you are in the US, at this time of year you wouldn't need heating. I'm in the upper midwest and it's started to cool a bit here (into the low 60s at night) so I just started some heating for mine that require a higher range.

They should also have a water dish large enough for them to soak in, this also aids in their shed, and should be changed daily. (Always treated water.)

How old is yours and what/how much is he eating?

tegu24 Sep 12, 2006 02:51 PM

if your frog continues to want to "hack up" a phlegm like substance then it could be an internal fungal infection. this will require a vet checkup, where if deemed seriuos enough they may have fluconizole or itraconizole compounded for you to give to your frog orally.

daystorm Sep 12, 2006 04:32 PM

I would say just continue keeping an eye on it and get a pic if you can.

I will also say that the heating pads are totally useless and more of a danger to your frog than help. If your frog gets cold, it will dig itself into the ground closer to the pad and possibly burn itself. You temp range is a little high for a white's. I keep mine between 74-78 during the day and 70ish during the night.

Also, the suggestion to get a bigger tank is worth listening too. These frogs can get fairly big and if they don't have the right size enclosure, it will not get the exercise it needs to live a long and healthy life.

If you are worried about humidity, try some real plants, they are great for keeping the humidity up. The first thing I would do though is get rid of those heating pads (I may have mistaken, but if there is one against he window, they can be deadly to the frogs, as the frogs cannot tell when they are getting too hot.)

If you do decide to change tanks, get rid of the spagnum too. Bad for impaction. Just use the bed a beast, or coconut husk. I have several plants in that that are doing just fine. THe bedabeast also holds the water in, so you won't have to water the plants as often and it helps with humidity. I would put in something for the frog to climb as well, like wood, rock, jungle vine, flower pot. Anything. they love to climb.

Hope this helps a little.
-----
I think my frog owns a megaphone....

White's tree frogs : 1:1:0
Mantella viridis : 1:1:2

chubby33 Sep 12, 2006 11:35 PM

Thanks so much for all the info. I did unplug the heat pad i had underneath the tank it did feel a little warm. My question is how do i maintain the heat in the tank with out the pads? The temp in our house stays at about 68, wich i have to keep it at dr.s orders. i do not want him to get too cold. the thermometer i have on the outside during the day is usually between 73 - 78 and at night it is usually 71 - 73. the light does obviously generate heat, but is there anything else? I do have some pretty nice branches for him to climb on, and I have put down some coconut. thanks again for passing along the knowledge.
noelle

rrrragdoll Sep 13, 2006 01:06 PM

Well, first you need to know what the actual temps are. You can't tell by going by the temp on the outside of the tank (I'm guessing you have one of those digital stick on fish strips?) You need gauges that stick on the inside of the tank, you can get some for around $5 each (temp and humidity).

Once you have that then we can determine if you need supplemental heat or not. If you do then a pad is usually fine but only on one side of the enclosure. Also depending on what type of light you're using, they give off heat and may be enough that when turned off, give you you're required drop.

Can you post a picture of your setup?

rrrragdoll Sep 13, 2006 01:14 PM

Here is an example of a temp and humidity gauge, you can get them in a combined set or singly.

http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=6541&Ntt=gauge&Ntk=All&Ntx=mode matchallpartial&Np=1&pc=1&N=0&Nty=1

daystorm Sep 13, 2006 04:23 PM

I"m going to have to contradict you in saying that a pad is not usually fine. Especially not on the glass where the frog hangs out.

The heat from the pad will stay close to the bottom of the tank,it will not be strong enough to rise all the way to where your frog is spending his time sleeping. No use to the frog at all.

Do get yourself a humidity and termometer. The temp inside the tank may be just right for your frog, and if the temp outside the tank doesn't fluctuate, then you are fine year round. I live in colder climate, so in the winter when I have to I use a ceramic heater over the tank. I don't keep it on too long, not all day, but it does the trick (I also have a fairly large tank, you will be fine with just the light.)
-----
I think my frog owns a megaphone....

White's tree frogs : 1:1:0
Mantella viridis : 1:1:2

rrrragdoll Sep 14, 2006 09:58 AM

I think what you're talking about is that is was said not on the back wall. I believe it was originally stated that there were pads under and on the back.

rrrragdoll Sep 14, 2006 10:05 AM

Sorry just re-read your post! I thought you meant that it was ok for pads on the wall etc.

Anyways, in combination with a small top light a UTH can be quite effective, I would just recommend that it only cover 1/2 the bottom and not to use it directly on the glass if using on a back (make sure there is a background to defer the heat). It really depends how tall your tank is and what your house temps are.

Also make sure there is no rock on top of the UTH, they will absorb the heat and become hot enough to burn the frogs.

daystorm Sep 14, 2006 07:03 PM

Ok then. heh

I think the person would be better off without the heater in any case, since the temp in the house stays mostly the same year round. A light would be all that is needed to keep the temp to a comfortable level for the frogs, although they can survive quite well in a lower temp range (ie: 20-24 during the day and a slight drop at night) Mine do. I live in the basement ^^ and only use a light, cept for when it really gets cold. THere are three zones in australia where the frogs are found in, and in two of them it gets cold enough for the frogs to hybernate. (note: force hybernation not recommended with white's, as you can't really tell which zone they are from and could kill them ^_^ )

So anyway, my point: heating pad=overkill

heh yeah, it's all good. I'm just talking to talk really.
-----
I think my frog owns a megaphone....

White's tree frogs : 1:1:0
Mantella viridis : 1:1:2

Site Tools