Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I know this sounds stupid, but has anyone else ever just lost a frog? No way of escape, no froggy body, nothing. I had two Auratus in a 20 H tank setup great and I've had them in there for about 6 months now. I took the tank down the other day to move them up in a larger tank and there was no sign whatsoever of No. 2. I checked everything profusely before setting it out of the tank when I cleaned it out and there was no signs at all. The last time I saw it was about 3 weeks ago. They had both been eating very well previously, although very secretive (I would only see them one or two days a week, but they were fat).

This sucks. I guess I was just wanting to vent. It's very frustrating. Does anyone know about how long it would take a 1" frog to decay to the point of nothing left? I check my frog tanks, but I dont destroy them looking for frogs either.

Oh well, just gives me an excuse for an after Christmas frog shop.

I think that anyone who has kept a large collection of amphibians for long enough has had one of those vanishing frogs. When I used to keep a lot more dart frogs I had a leucomelas disapear from a terrarium. Frogs that are as small as dart frogs can fit through many spaces that we wouldn't think they would be able to and when you're pressed for time to get maintenance done everyday you don't often have time to view every animal in each terrarium to make sure they are there. A half cracked cage cover or a small gap in the back that goes unnoticed provides a great place for a dart frog to escape from. In large heavily planted terrariums it also could be possible for a shy frog to die and decay without ever being noticed. I think the trick to preventing these disapearences is to always check the covers of terrariums after maintenance is done on them and to make a point of viewing each and every animal in all cages every day.

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Devin
devin@amphibiancare.com
www.amphibiancare.com
3.2 Dendrobates tinctorius 'Dwarf French Guiana'
1.1 Dendrobates tinctorius 'Powder Blue'
5.1 Mantella aurantiaca
2.1 Mantella crocea
1.0 Ceratophrys cranwelli
1.0 Bufo americanus
0.0.1 Salamandra salamandra
1.0 Ambystoma tigrinum
0.1 Chamaeleo calyptratus
0.1 Phelsuma dubia
1.1 Uroplatus ebenaui
0.0.1 Chrysemys scripta
0.0.1 Chrysemys picta belli
1.0 Terrapene carolina triunguis

I just acquired darts a few months ago. About one month ago, I was absolutely certain that one of them had died or escaped because I literally did not see him for over a week. I even went and bought a replacement frog at the Atlanta Reptile Show. Then 'lo and behold one day, I saw him re-emerge from hiding like nothing at happened, still as fat as ever. I was amazed, and now think my darts are overcrowded! Just a note to people not to take their tank down too quickly when a frog is missing!

Its too bad you didn't find him when you took your tank down, if you didn't overlook him in your various plants and wood, then I suspect he did pull a vanishing act. I know also its very easy to overlook them hiding in very small nooks and crannys within wood.

Kevin H.

Hey, are you in Atlanta? I also bought some frogs from the atlanta show...it was a tough decision with the countless frog breeders that were there
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Matt

Yep, it sure was. I bought a brightly colored blue auratus there from the Myrtle Beach company that was there. They sure had some beautiful frogs. The place was overrun by snake though! Wish there were more frogs, but I guess we were in the minority there!

Kevin H.

I used to use 10 Gallons as frog rearing tanks. Never knowing for sure, how many frogs were in a tank I would practice the following to ensure all were removed prior to tearing it down:

1. After removing all the frog I feed and spray any tank that I am going to 'take down' for an additional month.
2. Once the month is up, the tank is declared empty and I stop feeding and spraying the tank.
3. Then, any and all parts of the set up can be taken (and cleaned) before using on another tank.

We had sold all the froglets from a specific tank. I waited the month then I took the glass canopy from the tank and used it on another cage. 3-4 weeks pass, I am standing next to the tank and notice movement out of the corner of my eye. I look closer and there is a terribilis froglet in the tank just hoppin away. I couldn't believe it. This frog had lived almost a month in an uncovered tank.

Moral of the story, always double, triple check your tank when you take it down.

Melis
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Quality Captives

we had this happen a month or so back...one frog was visible...in his/her usual hiding place...the other was nowhere to be seen. I then started peeking under plants, looking in corners, etc...still nothing. I finally pulled all the plants out (carefully checking each one) in desperation. Still nada. All there was left in the tank was a carpet of moss, and the one frog...the other was still nowhere to be seen.

At this point, my wife and I start looking desperately around the floor beneath the tank, etc. Then, we decided to split up...I was looking around the tank, and she was to methodically remove all the moss from the tank (after the one visible frog was put in solitary confinement). In the process of ripping it up, we discovered the errant frog.

---Prem