Injured Tusk Frog - rescue

[SPLiSH]

I was sitting by the pool earlier this afternoon when something caught my eye. A little browny-red blob was laying on its' back on the pool bottom, not moving. As I got up it started swimming.. into the pool jet! I ran to get a pool noodle, but the thing was getting churned and buffetted in the current. I hooked the thing out. It was a tiny little frog, about an inch long. I thought it was dead but just in case it wasn't, I took it inside and put it in a clean empty yoghurt container. After a while it perked up, and started to move! But it drags itself along with its' front legs.

I decided it needed more room so I got an old 7 gallon tank, cleaned it, dumped some gravel and fake plants in, made little areas of water about 2 inches deep and positioned my reading lamp to shine onto it.

Thanks to Google I now know 'it' is a 'he'. And he's a tusked frog. I've creatively nicknamed him Frogger. He's becoming more active and exploring his new tank but his back legs aren't working at all.

If anyone has experience with frogs, what do you think is the problem with his legs, and what should I do? I hope they will heal, and if so I'll release him back into my garden, away from the pool. But if they don't, there is no way I'm going to release him crippled. I have an 11 gallon Kleenmaid tub, would that be okay for a permanent home if I furnished it with plants, wood etc? According to the Australian Frog & Tadpole site, tusked frogs grow to about 2 inches.

My LFS is closed now, so I can't get him food. Should I wait 'til tomorrow or will he take betta pellets?

Are there any special froggy needs I need to cater for?

 

[SPLiSH]

Well, judging by the amount of replies I got, no-one will care about this but:

I have released the frog into my garden ssince his legs seem to be better. I think it was just shock.

 

[superjalami30]

I care, I care!!
I thought maybe his back was broken or something.

Good to hear he's ok!!

I'm going through an ordeal with my clawed frog, you may of read my post about it.

 

[Kiarra]

I didn't notice this until just now.

Poor frog, but I'm glad he came out of it all right. He probably hurt something in his back, like a sprain or something. If everything seems to work just fine, then I imagine he'll be all right.

If you do end up having to catch him again and rescue him, then you should be able to feed him crickets just fine.

 

[SPLiSH]

Thanks for the advice Kiarra. I tried to feed him some of my bettas' bloodworms, by wriggling them around near his nose with tweezers. He didn't take them; maybe he just wasn't hungry... Can't blame him, bloodworms aren't that tasty. Not that I would know... or would I?

Anyway...

Thanks superjalami. I read your post about the clawed frog... he looks like he'll be fine but just to speed up his recovery, here's what apparently did the trick with Frogger: clean warm water, minimal stress (low light and no-other fish/frogs) and LOTS of stuff (plants, nothing hard or scratchy) to rest on. Hope he gets heals soon.

 

[Kiarra]

I think bloodworms only work for more aquatic critters than the typical frog. I have a little bit of trouble getting even my Fire Belly Toads to realize that the worms are a food source, instead of their usual squirmy, jumpy crickets.