Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hi, I need help locating the problem before it gets my other RETF. I have(had) 2 young RETF set up in 15 g. high tank with bed-a-beast covering the bottom and moss bedding(bought from the reptile store) covering about half. I have about 3 bamboo poles wraped in artificial climbing vines bought again from the reptile store. There is a small plastic dish about 3" or 4" in dia. with about an inch of water in it. The temps were staying around the mid 70's and dropping to the high 60's whith a under tank heater. I switched to a heat bulb on one side of the hood which stays on for about 12 hrs. a day which brings the top of the tank up to the low 80's during the day and the low to mid 70's at night. I just made the bulb change 2 days ago. The humidity stays between 50 and 80. I checked on them last night and they were doing great hunting and eating and this morning I found the smallest one floating in the water dish with a glob of white stuff in its mouth. Did it choak? I did accidently (sp?) put a few more crickets in the tank last night than usual. Did it drown? there wasn't anything in the water dish for them to climb out on since it is so small. I moved a leaf there this morning after fishing the dead one out so there is something to climb out on. They have done fine in the water so far though. Or is it something else? I am treating all the water that goes in the tank. I am really worried for the other one. I don't want to lose another one they are a part of the family. If anyone has any experience with this or knows what happened please help! Thanks, Jend09

I dont have any direct experence with RETFs, but from what i read it sounds like your drownd. being tree frogs they aren't very good swimmers and tire easily, especially if they are young. i would lower the water level so it just covers their feet, when they sit down in it and add a branch or something to help them get out.
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1.1.0. Cats
0.1.0. Leo
0.1.0. WTF (looking for a breeder male!)
0.1.0. Irish Setter

It does happen that tree frogs can drown as they aren't good swimmers and so it is a possibility. The correction of the temps was a very good thing as well as they were too low. Be sure the humidity doesn't get any lower than 50% as that is absolutely as low as you want it to get. If you'd never had a fecal done with them and are worried the other may catch something, you can start there. And be sure to check that there isn't anything in the tank small enough for your froggie to accidentally swallow. You can check out the RETF and husbandry page on my site and see if you can find any other differences to know what to look for out of wack. Hope this helps a bit and feel free to ask any further questions.
www.froggie.info

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Happy Frogging!!!

~Becki~