Reptile & Amphibian Forums

hi has anybody out there encountered problems with waxy frogs dying from a hardening of the stomach i've lost three now over a period of two and a half years the first two i found dead and assumed the hard stomach was from dehydration after death but this last one I found still alive with this condition. this obviousley happens rapidly as they have not in all three cases gave me any cause for concern beforehand. their diet consists entirely of 3rd instar locust they are kept in doors under active UV in a mesh cage with Bio vine and small draceana plants (recently before the first two died) i have operated a cage rainfall system not that I believe that has any thing to do with it. your thoughts please.
-----
regards Tim Hallam

Tim,

I may be able to help a bit. Here are a few things I noticed in your post:

1) Correct me if I'm wrong, but don't locusts have a hard exoskeleton in the form of their wings? Spiny hind legs? This may lead to impaction, which blocks off the stomach and the frog eventually dies

2) You listed what you had in their tnak, but what substrate are you using? Waxys aren't the most effective hunters and will often grab substrate in their mouths. If it's a hard substrate, this could cause impaction

3) You mentioned a rainfall system. Unless breeding waxys, they need to be kept hot (89-96 F) and dry (
-----
Derek Benson
Tropical Treasures
6.3.0 P. sauvagei
1.1.0 P. bicolor
3.2.0 P. hypochondrialis
1.0.0 P. vaillanti
2.2.0 H. argus
0.0.4 H. mitchelli
0.0.6 H. pictus
5.3.0 H. puncticulatus
0.0.2 H. marmoratus 'red bellied'
0.0.1 M. laevigata
0.0.1 M. stelzneri
0.0.1 P. adspersus
1.0.0 A. horsefieldii

It cut off my message, was supposed to read "dry (
-----
Derek Benson
Tropical Treasures
6.3.0 P. sauvagei
1.1.0 P. bicolor
3.2.0 P. hypochondrialis
1.0.0 P. vaillanti
2.2.0 H. argus
0.0.4 H. mitchelli
0.0.6 H. pictus
5.3.0 H. puncticulatus
0.0.2 H. marmoratus 'red bellied'
0.0.1 M. laevigata
0.0.1 M. stelzneri
0.0.1 P. adspersus
1.0.0 A. horsefieldii

Hmmm ok, I guess this doesn't like it when you type the greater than or less than sign.

Humidity should be about 50% or less.
-----
Derek Benson
Tropical Treasures
6.3.0 P. sauvagei
1.1.0 P. bicolor
3.2.0 P. hypochondrialis
1.0.0 P. vaillanti
2.2.0 H. argus
0.0.4 H. mitchelli
0.0.6 H. pictus
5.3.0 H. puncticulatus
0.0.2 H. marmoratus 'red bellied'
0.0.1 M. laevigata
0.0.1 M. stelzneri
0.0.1 P. adspersus
1.0.0 A. horsefieldii

thanks for your reply As for substrate because I'm attempting to breed them hence the rainfall system i don't use any thing other than block pavers to act as "islands" to provide refuge from the draining water if they so desire so there is no risk of injesting anything they shouldn't at other times the vivarium can heat upto the 100f mark in places always with access to shade and water. As for the locust I use 3rd instars which are still quite small and all twelve of my animals are at full adult size so i really don't think they are an issue after all in the wild they often eat cleoptera. since posting i've been enlightened about the possibilty of urate bladder stones which have been recorded in sauvagii these can be associated with dehydration so i'm looking at the possibilty of them not liking high temperatures as much as we once thought I think more research into the climate of the chaco forest would be a place to start. regards Tim Hallam.
-----
regards Tim Hallam

yeah, thats correct. they CAN handle the heat and low humidity and they've evolved to survive in such harsh habitats. but they do need moisture. in the wild, microclimates are more diverse than captive conditions. and they do drink water droplets we did experiments on this. and they do "soak" when they can. if you keep em "hot and dry" offer them a bowl of moist paper towels at night just for them to soak and get whatever moisture they need. that wouldn't affect the climate in your setup.