Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Greetings!
I am having problems with my frogs that I believe to be some kind of parasite. I could only find one vet that said he would check the fecal samples for parasites, and they said that they did find something, but they are not sure what. So they are further looking into it. This vet is not familliar with frogs but is the only one who would even try to help me.
I have had two frogs die in a three weeks. I had these frogs for 9 months or so. The first to die was slowly getting very thin, and seemed not to be eating. The second was plump, and I found very fat in the stomach. Now I have two others that seem to be getting thinner, and today they seem much more shy than usual.
I get all of my moss from the forest, and also several plants for the frog habitats. I don't know if this is where the parasites (if that is the problem) came from.
I can see tiny 1/8" or so white worm like bugs, and tiny dust size white bugs I'm sure are mites (which I was told by everyone I asked that they would not harm the frogs)??? Then I read that mites are parasites and suck blood?
So, can you suggest anything? What if the vet is not sure what kind the parasites are? And if I treat the frogs, how would I know where the parasites came from , so I can get to the root of the problem?

I Thank you for any help at all!!- amanda

Amanda,
My brother is one of the only vets on the net who specializes in Darts. He runs fecals on darts almost every day. Here is our website with his contact info.
Good luck with your frogs,

Rich Frye

www.fryebrothersfrogs.com

What do you mean "specializes" in darts? Did your brother get a specialization certificate or have specialized training in dart frogs? Or is that not required in veterinarians like it is for doctors? What city is he located in? Lots o q's, sorry.

Dr. Frye, DVM is a fully qualified herp veterinarian who has taken a special interest in dart frogs and parasites. He has done a lot of "free" consulting on different froggy problems posed by hobbyists in the past over the internet.

I'm a now retired microbiologist/parasitologist in human and mammalian medicine, have no specialty in herps. While I have sometimes privately disagreed with one of Dr. Frye's recommendations for general prophylactic treatment for parasites in all frogs, I have based that on my concerns about shot-gun treatments in humans, and my own experience with creating resistant organisms in humans by not treating specifically. On the other hand, he has offered services that certainly are not self-promotion for greed.

Controversy encourages discussion and eventual enlightenment. I would certaintanly contact Dr. Frye. None of the rest of us have any positive suggestions so far.
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Patty
Pahsimeroi, Idaho

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