Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hi friends:

My male Tinc looks almost normal now as far as loss of motor skill, lack of activity, and reluctance to support own weight. On any other day I would not be able to tell that anything is wrong with him. He is now fairly active, no motor descrepancies, and supporting own weight. The only thing now that is bothering me is that he won't take food, and hasn't had a stool for 48 hours. I have soaked with a little pedialyte and that further perked him up. But I am now concerned that he may have an impaction or at least constipation. I think i see some reminant of skin(he moulted I think). Can the symptoms I mention in the posts below(inactivity/lethargy, huntched over posture, belly pressed to the floor, lack of motor cooridnation(wobbling while walking and missing the flies with his tongue) be humidity related initially, but 2ndary issues of Calcium or impaction or Parasites be involved? And could moulting cause some of the symptoms? Also:

-if he has calcium deficiency, how do I treat him immediately?
-when should I see another stool?
-if it is impaction, what I can do? How can one detect and treat?
-should I stop feeding or tempt him to eat?
-Does anyone know how to find Dr. Frye? I could not find him on the FAQ as some said I might. What city is he in?

Thanks a million from my Tinc., my Son, and I

Maggie

Hi Maggie, sorry to hear of your problems with this guy.
As we discussed on the phone, I doubt that low humidity would make him sick, but might affect his behaviour. But based on what you have told me about your setup, I doubt that it plays a part in his condition. Dart frogs generall respond to low humidity by immediately going into hiding, and you have had these frogs in this tank for months with good results.
Dr. Frye can be emailed at Dr.Frye@comcast.net. He is in Milan, Michigan.
As far as the constipation goes, did it seem that his last fecal was normal in appearance? If it appeared normal, it would be unlikely that he is impacted. Also, if his droppings, and the females droppings look normal, I doubt you have any thing serious going on in the gut of the frogs, so no serious problems with parasites or protozoans are likely in this case. These parasites and protozoans are easily transmitted, and if one frog has it the other will most likely also. It sounds like your husbandry is fine in terms of calcium and vitamins, but if you do that soak I told you about with the calcium solution your vet gave you, that should take care of any possibilities of calcium problems.
As I suggested on the phone, you could try waxworms, or termites. These foods are hard to resist for dart frogs. Of course it is important that he start eating, but I believe that something is wrong that is keeping him from eating. Sorry I cant be more help, at this point I suggest keeping him isolated, and offer food every day or so to see if his appetite has returned. Unfortunately there is currently not a lot of help for dart frogs medically speaking, but perhaps with some one like Dr. Frye putting so much interest in to these frogs, that will change. Please feel free to call me again with questions.

Patrick
Link

Thank you Patrick, you are always so helpful. His last stool on Monday night was a bit runny. But then, I am not entirely certain how a stool should look(always more interested in the more beautiful part of the frog, you know). It was smeared and not formed and I didn't even know it was a stool til the vet saw it. More currently, When I cleaned out his isolation container yesterday I found something a bit strange. A bright orange pastey looking item about the size of the head of a pin. Bright orange. It looked like the consistency and color of paint. It definately was not blood. It was not viscous enough nor was it the right color and I am farily certain it came from him. I have not seen any more of it. He is looking normal today too and seemingly anxious to escape his holding tank, but still no eating or stool. When you mentioned wax worms as a tempting entree-aren't they too big? Where would I get some of the types you are talking about?

As for the organge paint, my frogs will sometimes have stools of a similar color. Not sure what causes it, but it doesn't seem to harm them, I would guess that that is just what was left in his gut.

Have you tried offering him flour beetle larvae, my tincs love the stuff and won't stop eating untill they are gone. Makes for some very round frogs.

Good luck,
joe

I see orange feces once in awhile when I dust the food with paprika.

Hope your "baby" feels better soon.
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Patty
Lost River, Idaho

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