Frog fungal infection

[Snufflz]

Hi again,

Captaincarot very kindly posted on my last enquiry that the problems with my frogs could be a fungal infection.

Since then someone else has told me that the problem could be because I initially filled the pond with tap water and it could be an excess of lime.

Even though the frogs did not move in until a week after the pond was filled, could this be the cause?

Also, I can't find any information online about how to treat a fungal infection in frogs so would really appreciate any information you might have.

Hopefully I've attached a picture of the worst frog.

Regards.

Elaine.

[valleyforge]

Hi Elaine,

I've looked closely at your photos, and although I'm not a veterinarian or frog specialist, that to me doesn't look too much like a fungal infection (but then I'm not experienced with the conditions that have previously been suggested as possibilites).

It looks more to me like the skin has been abraded or 'de-gloved' over the thighs, possibly as a result of being attacked by a cat maybe, or even through a close encounter with a lawn mower/strimmer.

Any treatment though could be problematic, as ideally the frog should be kept in clean water whilst the wounds heal ... in small mammals we would use a gel to promote faster skin regeneration (but again not sure how that might work on an amphibian).

But amphibians don't heal that fast, and they don't feed too well in captivity, taking nothing much but live insect foods ... waxworms would probably be accepted and can be bought online from several suppliers.

Sorry that this response has probably posed more problems that it has solved.

[Snufflz]

Thank you so much for your help.

The patches on his legs have got bigger which is why I thought that maybe something was eating away at his skin.

The white dot on the bend of his leg is a small white ulcer and I have seen this on a couple of other frogs too.

I thought it was perhaps ranavirus but am hoping it is not and that it might be treatable.

I really do want to help this little frog.

[captaincarot]

i've never seen anything like it. other than nose rub, but that's cause by repeated rubbing of the frogs nose against the glass of an enclosure tht they're kept in.

all i can suggest is you attempt to contact andrew grey or vicky ogilvy at manchester museums vivarium section, they are 2 of the top frog people in the country.

either that or try andrew tilson willis at pollywog, he's one of the top frog captive breaders also and may have come across something like this.

you may be able to contact andrew through reptileforums uk in the amphibian section, he's on there every few days and is very knowledgable /helpfull.

unfortunately i no longer have a direct contact for any of them.

having seen pictures of it now i'm less inclined to say it was a fungal infection but then again i've even less idea what it may be.

[captaincarot]

Originally Posted by Snufflz

Hi again,


Since then someone else has told me that the problem could be because I initially filled the pond with tap water and it could be an excess of lime.


Elaine.

possible but i filled my pond in oxfordshire with tap water, which is ph9 and rediculously hard and didn't see any of this on any of the frogs that collonised my pond within a very short time.

[Kayleigh]

Originally Posted by captaincarot

possible but i filled my pond in oxfordshire with tap water, which is ph9 and rediculously hard and didn't see any of this on any of the frogs that collonised my pond within a very short time.

I filled mine with tap water too and never seen this in mine.

[captaincarot]

we've stolen your pic and put it on a dedicated frog keeping section of another site, in an effort to get a positive diagnosis.

the place is frequented by some of the countries top frog keepers,breaders and other people who have nothing better to do than spend their whole life studying them all over the world so fingers crossed.

[valleyforge]

captaincarot,

Looks almost as if the skin has just split and peeled back ... in your experience could that possibly be due to partial dessication?

Maybe being 'baked' under the recent very hot sun or coming in contact with hot rocks before rehydrating again? Just a thought.

[captaincarot]

to be honest i haven't a clue, what could have caused it, i've copared it with every disease in all my reference books and can't come to any coclusion,
though i can't rule out a burn, i would say that dessication is unlikey as you just get a dried frog

the trouble is i keep quite a few frogs, succefully in the main, which means, they don't get the diseases. other than red leg which i saw once i've never seen them diseased really other than in pictures. and ranavirus isn't one that you would find in captive populations hopefully. so i know of it but haven't even seen a picture of one to have a reference
i'm an amature keeper not an expert unfortunately

[valleyforge]

Elaine,

Is there any chance the frogs might have been accidentally sprayed with weedkiller, or even a liquid fertilizer, in your garden ... not whilst in the pond obviously?