How do you know if your frogs are not doing well healthwise ? Is it necessary to send out fecal samples if they seem OK ? Or, will time tell ? They seem to be eating just fine and are active----I did make the mistake of putting in some outside moss in the tank (but my supplier, I found out later, collects wild moss, too) before I did more research, so I hope they might not have picked up something from that. Should I be worried that dirt/moss has parasites? Should I test them before putting them in the main tank? :?
My supplier for the frogs I'm concerned with is a local pet store, NOT Mack, listed under the vendor's list. The frogs I got from him were in excellent shape, but my others are on the skinny side...
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I recommend fecals no matter where your frogs came from. Mine came from a reputable breeder, ate great, gained weight but the fecals still came back positive for hookworms.
Candy
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I mailed my fecals to Dr. Frye in a padded envelope. I mailed it 2nd day via the post office. The total cost quoted locally was $360. This amount was for fecals on 4 frogs. The vet wanted me to bring them in for an exam yet she couldn't tell me what she would be looking for on the exam. Dr. Frye charged $19. It cost $13 to mail. I trust Dr. Frye doing my fecals over any local vet because of his experience with Dart Frogs. There is no vet here that has the knowledge he does.
Candy
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That is fantastic. I am happy your frogs are clean. Dr. Frye is very helpful.
Candy
Just one more thing---the fecals came back clean, but on the tank recently I found something that was reddish-brown----I know the fruit flies have this red pigmentation in their eyes that stains when you smash them---could this be the cause? Could the frogs have eaten the flies and caused this pigmentation in the feces? It seemed when I smeared it on a napkin that it was reddish-brown---not blood red, but burnt-red/brown. Ideas, anyone?
Should I send another fecal sample?
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You may be able to send Dr. Frye an e-mail and ask him or call his office to see if one of his techs can answer this question. I do see the little red things in my viv too but I have not noticed it in the poop.
Candy
I have been using Dr. Frye for a couple years now for fecals, consultations and medication. He is very easy to deal with and has the knowledge and experience to help with most frog health issues.
OK---the red thing was only one piece of poop---I have not seen any more--they're all more brown than reddish-brown. Maybe it was due to constipation. I may send him an email---thanks everyone.
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It should be noted that one clean fecal does not a 'clean' frog make. Parasites are not always shed at continual rates. This is why most zoos and such do not consider quarantine over for at least three clean fecals and a set amount of time.
Rich
Darts with parasites are analogous to mixed tanks, there are no known benefits to the frogs with either.
If tone is more important to you than content, you are at the wrong place.
My new email address is: rich.frye@icloud.com and new phone number is 773 577 3476
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Rich,
I am so glad you are the one that mentioned that!
What would you suggest to be a good rule of thumb for the set amount of time?
This way newbies like me can schedule a rough estimate to add our new frogs into an newly established Viv.
When they are in quarantine container, can you just leave them in that container for the entire quarantine period ? No plants or anything ?
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Yes, leave them in the Q-tine container, and you should put a nice amount of clippings such as pothos or peperomia (which grows like weeds and cost next to nothing ) and hides.
Three clean fecals would be the safe way to go on fecals. Usually takes about two months total.
Rich
Darts with parasites are analogous to mixed tanks, there are no known benefits to the frogs with either.
If tone is more important to you than content, you are at the wrong place.
My new email address is: rich.frye@icloud.com and new phone number is 773 577 3476
Oh goodness. It sounds so mean to keep them confined like that. I made a 30g vivarium. I want to put 2 -3 frogs in it. I will be getting them all from the same breeder. I have a 5g tank i can put them in till they are out of quarantine. Will this be ok or is it to small ?