I recently purchased two african dwarf frogs about 2 weeks ago from the pet store and they constantly keep molting. I was wondering if anyone on here had experience with that and knew how often they molt? Its really dirtying up their tank and I have to clean it like twice a week now.
African dwarf frogs
- Thread starter Mystic
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A
Aneesa's Muse
Guest
I've kept them for years and I've never had them moult that often and not eat it.. it's a good source of protein...
Is their behaviour and health good, otherwise? It is quite common for these frogs to come in (shipments) with Chytrid ..a fungus that affects all kinds of frogs, actually. (I hope you did a thorough quarantine ..or ARE doing one ..since you've only had them 2 weeks.)
If you google, there's plenty of info on the WWW about this fungus and how to go about treating it safely. If you have other amphibians in your care, you really should look into treating the ADF ..even if they do seem to be fine. (I treat everyone for it ..when they come in here ..and I do a serious quarantine for all newcomers, as well.)
Is their behaviour and health good, otherwise? It is quite common for these frogs to come in (shipments) with Chytrid ..a fungus that affects all kinds of frogs, actually. (I hope you did a thorough quarantine ..or ARE doing one ..since you've only had them 2 weeks.)
If you google, there's plenty of info on the WWW about this fungus and how to go about treating it safely. If you have other amphibians in your care, you really should look into treating the ADF ..even if they do seem to be fine. (I treat everyone for it ..when they come in here ..and I do a serious quarantine for all newcomers, as well.)
This may sound like a dumb question but what is normal behavior for ADF's? I'm a newbie to frogs. And yes, they are quarantined. I have them in their own little one gallon tank for now then I will move them to an upgrade.
I will search that disease on the internet tho. But it seems like it might be molting since their was a big clump of it in the corner of their tank this afternoon.
I will search that disease on the internet tho. But it seems like it might be molting since their was a big clump of it in the corner of their tank this afternoon.
A
Aneesa's Muse
Guest
It's not a dumb question, actually. They will hide during the day, mostly ..and be more active ..and they should be actively looking around their enclosure... at night. They shouldn't float upside down or anything crazy, but you will see them "go into their Zen" and look a little dazed and confused for a minute or so. Their skin should look clear ..without lesions or odd, discolored bumps/lumps ..and so on. That's pretty "normal" behaviour and overall health.
If you have a great camera ..pics always help.
As far as the QT tank you have them in... it's TINY! Each frog should have 2 or 3 gallons.. PER frog... and even during QT (quarantine). This may be contributing to the foul water happening so quickly ..and 2x a week changes will not combat the ammonia and nitrates building up ...potentially harming the frogs, either.
Sorry to be a party pooper, of sorts, but I see it pretty often ..and these little guys are no more expendable than a $500 fish or whatever. :heart:
If you have a great camera ..pics always help.
As far as the QT tank you have them in... it's TINY! Each frog should have 2 or 3 gallons.. PER frog... and even during QT (quarantine). This may be contributing to the foul water happening so quickly ..and 2x a week changes will not combat the ammonia and nitrates building up ...potentially harming the frogs, either.
Sorry to be a party pooper, of sorts, but I see it pretty often ..and these little guys are no more expendable than a $500 fish or whatever. :heart:
I think they are going about some pretty normal behavior. No discoloration or "out of place" bumps that I can see on their skin. They also seem to be exploring at night as well, and I can hear my male sing when I am sleeping
I thought the tank was pretty tiny when I got it but I'm friend assured me that a 1 gallon tank (the same one she has had her ADF's in for more than a year) would be fine. Her tank doesn't get anywhere as dirty as mine does though.
I'm going out soon to buy a bigger tank, maybe that will help the cleainess of it.
Also, do you think it would be okay to put an airstone connected to an air pump in the tank (once I get the bigger one) or is it not necessary?
I thought the tank was pretty tiny when I got it but I'm friend assured me that a 1 gallon tank (the same one she has had her ADF's in for more than a year) would be fine. Her tank doesn't get anywhere as dirty as mine does though.
I'm going out soon to buy a bigger tank, maybe that will help the cleainess of it.
Also, do you think it would be okay to put an airstone connected to an air pump in the tank (once I get the bigger one) or is it not necessary?
aznmexaggie
Chinchilla Chateau
Were these brand new tanks you put your frogs in? If so, that's why your tank is getting dirty so quickly - the tanks are still cycling (undergoing the nitrogen cycle in order to establish itself and keep ammonia and nitrites low). With freshwater aquaria, it generally takes about 1 - 2 months to cycle a tank and during this time most people either use sacrificial fish or just add fish food to encourage the cycle (which is essentially a period during which you are growing nitrifying bacteria that will maintain your tank and "eat" the ammonia and subsequent nitrites produced by anything living in the tank). Nitrates are the final waste end product and can only be removed by your regular partial water changes (or live plants although they will require proper lighting and more care).
A
Aneesa's Muse
Guest
A one gallon container cannot cycle successfully. You can do everything that is recommended for a larger, normal cycling process... and that tiny little tank will not cycle.
Once you have the larger tank set up, you should have filtration and additional oxygen (a bubbler) going. I don't recommend that you cycle the new larger tank with the ADF in it, but it sounds like you may have to ...for lack of another established tank to keep them in.
If you have an established freshwater tank in your home, already ..you could "seed" your new larger tank with some of that tank's gravel ..or some of the filter media. You'll still experience a "mini cycle" of sorts, but the bacterial "seed" will speed up the process somewhat.
Good Luck!
Once you have the larger tank set up, you should have filtration and additional oxygen (a bubbler) going. I don't recommend that you cycle the new larger tank with the ADF in it, but it sounds like you may have to ...for lack of another established tank to keep them in.
If you have an established freshwater tank in your home, already ..you could "seed" your new larger tank with some of that tank's gravel ..or some of the filter media. You'll still experience a "mini cycle" of sorts, but the bacterial "seed" will speed up the process somewhat.
Good Luck!
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aznmexaggie
Chinchilla Chateau
Prior to purchasing my 29 gallon biocube, I kept a one gallon nano reef with many corals and a pistol shrimp and it underwent a cycle with live rock and sand prior to adding the livestock. I worked at the local petstore at that time and would test my water weekly to monitor the process of the cycle. A small tank can cycle successfully as long as the bioload won't be more than the colonies of nitrifying bacteria can handle and as long as there is enough agitation in the water to ensure good oxygenation to support the bacterial colonies. Unfortunately, in a small tank, it is difficult to provide enough surface area and room for the nitrifying bacteria to grow.
Wow, thanks guys for all the helpful info!
I was actually thinking of purchasing one of the mini bow aquariums that comes with the filter already. I also have an established 20 gallon tank that I can take the rocks from and use for the ADF's.
And yes, it was a brand new tank that I put them in. The rocks (gravel) wasn't brand new, but it has been sitting out of water for months as extra gravel so I'm sure all the "good" bacteria has died off.
I was actually looking to get this tank: http://www.petco.com/product/10313/...Mini-Bow 2.5 Little Lagoon Starter Kits-10313
or the larger verison of it, which is 5 gallons.
I was actually thinking of purchasing one of the mini bow aquariums that comes with the filter already. I also have an established 20 gallon tank that I can take the rocks from and use for the ADF's.
And yes, it was a brand new tank that I put them in. The rocks (gravel) wasn't brand new, but it has been sitting out of water for months as extra gravel so I'm sure all the "good" bacteria has died off.
I was actually looking to get this tank: http://www.petco.com/product/10313/...Mini-Bow 2.5 Little Lagoon Starter Kits-10313
or the larger verison of it, which is 5 gallons.
blue_soda025
Well-known member
I used to have 2 ADFs (one died from unknown cause =( ) that I keep in my 15 gallon community tank with some small fish, and they were reasonably active at night. Personally, I would go with the 5 gallon. Bigger tanks are advantageous in that there's more room for error, and less maintenance required in general. It may sound odd, but the smaller the tank is, the more work you'll have to do! I have a 15 gallon and used to have a 5 gallon, and the 5 gallon got dirty much more quickly..
As for cycling the tank, the rocks from your other tank would definitely help with the process. : ) Another method that people like to use to speed up cycling is to "borrow" some filter media from an already established tank and place it in the new tank's filter, on top of its existing filter media, since most of the good bacteria is in the filter media.
As for cycling the tank, the rocks from your other tank would definitely help with the process. : ) Another method that people like to use to speed up cycling is to "borrow" some filter media from an already established tank and place it in the new tank's filter, on top of its existing filter media, since most of the good bacteria is in the filter media.
A
Aneesa's Muse
Guest
Just remember.. when borrowing media (gravel, filter floss, etc.) from someone else... be absolutely certain that their tank is healthy! You don't want to introduce anything "icky" to your new tank.. and your new froggy kids!
So update:
I dug out an old 4 gallon tank I had and bought a mini filter for it. http://www.petco.com/product/12148/Red-Sea-Deco-Art-Nano-Filter.aspx
Now I'm just adding my two froggies, and I added the substrate from my already established 20 gallon tank.
For anyone who needs a small filter I highly recommend this one! It is super quiet and does an excellent job! It also has a knob that you can turn to adjust the water flow (slow or fast)
I can't wait till it cycle's then I will add some plants and more decor.
Thanks for everyones help!
I dug out an old 4 gallon tank I had and bought a mini filter for it. http://www.petco.com/product/12148/Red-Sea-Deco-Art-Nano-Filter.aspx
Now I'm just adding my two froggies, and I added the substrate from my already established 20 gallon tank.
For anyone who needs a small filter I highly recommend this one! It is super quiet and does an excellent job! It also has a knob that you can turn to adjust the water flow (slow or fast)
I can't wait till it cycle's then I will add some plants and more decor.
Thanks for everyones help!
A
Aneesa's Muse
Guest
I'm glad everything is coming together.. can't wait to see the little froggy kids!
