Reptile & Amphibian Forums

This picture was taken less than 20 minutes after being placed in the new terrarium. Snapped the pic real quick so quality is crappy, but you can see him. He scaled the cork bark in the corner all the way to the top and wedged himself between the cork and the lid. He has come down since then to explore, only to return there a moment later. I feel bad now because I have had him for over a month with only a few plants growing upwards. I never knew he would be such a monkey!

That's hillarious, man. I once knew a guy that was a dumb ape, but never saw a frog turn into a monkey.

We're all dumb apes.

Seriously, that's what dart frogs do when first introduced to a new environment. They leap around and explore every nook and cranny and every cran and nooky. Even the most shy will do this. Then some may retire under the cover and seldom come out again, depending upon the species and individual personalities, and others, especially the thumbnails, will continue to be monkeys, at least part time. It's fun to watch them explore for the first time. But they do settle down once they've scoped out the territory.
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Patty
Pahsimeroi, Idaho

4 D. auratus blue
5 D. galactonotus pumpkin orange splash back
5 D. imitator
6 D. leucomelas
4 D. pumilio Bastimentos
4 D. fantasticus
4 P. terribilis
4 D. reticulatus
4 D. castaneoticus

Sad but true!

I checked on them for like the 10th time today and my leuc was missing. I thought he was just hiding well so I got a flashlight and looked under every leaf, every nook and cranny, no Simba.

Turns out he snuck out a tiny opening in the lid designed for an air tube. I didn't even know it was there.... the hood is brand new and I just set it up last night and I guess I forgot to look. *slaps forehead*

Tragety averted though. I found him 10 minutes later in my hallway (quick little sucker) covered in cat hair and carpet fuzz. I quickly scooped him up and soaked him to get all the crud off of him. Everything looks ok on him, I am hoping he didn't break anything when he jumped fromt he top of the tank though.

I'm still a little shaken from this. Should I do something else for him? Has anyone else had a frog escape? I just want to make sure that he is ok, poor little guy had a rough oredeal!

If you caught him in time and returned him to where he can soak in some water and rehydrate, he'll be fine. These little $hits can get out through anything that a fruit fly can escape from, and seem determined to do it, like a suicide mission, especially at first introduction to a new habitat. I can't believe how adept they are at escaping. My only major losses have all been from dart frogs that have escaped through the slightest opening. I now tape every inlet our outlet for tubing down, no matter how small. I have never lost a dart frog from disease, but I have lost several from escapes from what I thought were "escape proof" environments. It's really frustrating. The "monkey stage is particulary adept at getting out and dehydrating on the foor before you can save them. After a few months in the tank, it's a bit more safe, but you still have to watch it when you get into the tank to prune or clean.

I'm glad you found this frog before it became a mummy.
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Patty
Pahsimeroi, Idaho

4 D. auratus blue
5 D. galactonotus pumpkin orange splash back
5 D. imitator
6 D. leucomelas
4 D. pumilio Bastimentos
4 D. fantasticus
4 P. terribilis
4 D. reticulatus
4 D. castaneoticus

Ok, thanks. I soaked him and got all the crud off and he is now back in the tank. At first he was acting a little stunned and was just sitting there, I just checked on him again and he is huddled with Zazu (reassurance maybe) in the coco hut. The are actually resting almost on each other it seems. I shined a flashlight in there to check. Maybe not the politest thing to do, but I wanted to make sure he was ok.

The air tubing hole is the only one on the hood. It is real narrow and small, I can't beieve he fit through there! For a quick fix it is now duct taped to prevent further escape efforts.

If hydrating him is all he needs then he should be fine right? I have never lost one of them before and I was totally freaking out. These little guys have grown on me and I would have been really upset if something happend to him.

Thanks.

Ellena

He'll be fine since you caught him in time, as long as he wasn't injured by plopping out onto the foor. But I would just let him alone for now. I'm always in a quandry about whether I should put a frog that has jumped out of a tank, but is still alive through a physical examination, isolate him in a quarantine tank that would stress him out further, or just put him back into his previous environment and make sure he is rehydrated. I'd opt for the latter. If he has some injury from jumping out of the tank, you can deal with it later. The main thing is to get him resettled and hydrated for now.
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Patty
Pahsimeroi, Idaho

4 D. auratus blue
5 D. galactonotus pumpkin orange splash back
5 D. imitator
6 D. leucomelas
4 D. pumilio Bastimentos
4 D. fantasticus
4 P. terribilis
4 D. reticulatus
4 D. castaneoticus

Ok thanks a lot!

He is back to climbing at the moment so I guess he hasn't learned his lesson. I would hope that the climbing is a good indication that nothing is broken or injured.

Thanks again.

Ellena

He's fine, but probably hasn't learned the escape lesson. I'm really happy for you that he is all right now.
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Patty
Pahsimeroi, Idaho

4 D. auratus blue
5 D. galactonotus pumpkin orange splash back
5 D. imitator
6 D. leucomelas
4 D. pumilio Bastimentos
4 D. fantasticus
4 P. terribilis
4 D. reticulatus
4 D. castaneoticus

Thanks Patty, I appreciate the help.

Just keep a VERY close eye on him.

I work at the Virginia Living Museum in Newport News Virginia. We have a 18 inch siren there which jumped out onto the floor. Granted it was there longer than 10 minutes, and was much more dehydrated, but made it onto the floor none the less. As you know (or should), amphibians have very sensitive skin and are prone to virus/disease easily. The siren had lesions and fungus on spots on his body the following day after being returned to his tank. (We have since treated and cured/healed him).

Floors are an especially dirty place, full of dust, dirt, mildew mold, bacteria and other pathogens. Having the skin that amphibians do, the are much more prone to infection.

So again, keep a close eye on your new frog to make sure that no open sores or fungus starts to grow on him. If he catches something while being in the tank with his buddies, he can easily pass it to them.

Hope all goes well,
Nick

Thanks for the response.

I have been watching him today and he "seems" ok. He is eating like normal, but heeding what you said, I will watch his skin more closely for lesions, ect.

Thanks again for your help!

Ellena