Please Help Asap- I Have Dying Froggies! :(

[snoozysusie]

Hi.. I bought 4 Albino African Clawed Frogs just 3 weeks ago and already 2 of themj have died. One died in the 2nd week (I just put this down to maybe it was ill when I bought it or something) but today I found another dead. I'm gutted! I don't know what to do to prevent the other 2 going the same way. I have checked the water and all levels are fine. Am I supposed to be changing the water?? I read somewhere they change half the water every month -but it's not even been a full moth and 2 have died already. I have live plants in there as I thought it would be nice for them (I cant see its a problem with them -as I have some from the same bunches in my other fish tank full of guppies and they are producing fry on a weekly basis -so very healthy tank).
Also I have a cave in the tank so the frogs can hide away if they want (which they seem to enjoy). The temperature is correct and filter running ok. 2 airstones also to add a bit of decor and air to tank.

HELP!! Don;t know how else I can make them happy (and stop them dying!!)
I think I maybe need advice in terms of the water-change business... ??
Also can you tell me if its OK to add a pleco in there with them? I have one in my other tank but fry keep appearing , I'm thinking of a rehousing project for him into the tank with the frogs... but I dont want to cause anymore upset for the frogs if its going to be a bad thing ??? Basically there's bits of algae appearing on sides of frog tank which I thought plec could do his munching efforts with to clean it up a bit.

Oh - going back to the frog situation again - I''m feeding them 1 frozen bloodworm cube every other day. I used to put in 1 a day but they were leaving loads of it so thought it would be the same as fish-feeding where surplus bits that arent eaten would pollute the tank ... ?? Anyway, perhaps Im under feeding them which is why 2 have died...

Anyway - advice on the frogs (and plec housing situation!) would be greatly appreciated..
THANKS!!!

 

[emma12321]

Hi,

Did you cycle the tank before adding the frogs? Do they have a filter and heater? Frogs are just as sensitive to ammonia and nitrites as fish so this could be a reason for you loss.

Emma

 

[tekkamaki]

How big is this tank?
Are all of the frogs the same size?

Also, these should really be kept species only. They are extremely violent toward other creatures and even to other ACFs that may be smaller. I can't believe they aren't eating more bloodworms, lol.

 

[moray]

Don't put any other animals in with the frogs you have left, until the cause of their deaths is determined. We need to know whether you cycled the tank. size of the tank, and any other basic info you can give us. Frogs need cleaning out more often than once a month, treat their tank as you would your fish tank, remember they are great waste producers and clean them out accordingly (25% per week at least) how big are the frogs? a balanced diet for an adult frog is important, feed the odd small frozen fish, earthworms. I think that they have a problem if there is metal in the water - though you might have to go to a specialist site to find out about that. Please put this info. we need asap so we can try and help. Good luck

 

[snoozysusie]

Thanks everyone for all your great advice. It's looking more and more likely it's metal in the water after reading all the help given to me.

To answer some of the questions...

*yes I cycled the tank before putting the fish in. I even took some of the 'good bacteria' from inside the filter to put in the new tank filter (as recommended by pet store) as they said it would be good for the tank
*there is a Fluval 1 filter in there and a heater also (water = approx 75degrees)
*the frogs are very small - about half the size of an adult's smallest finger (2/3cm ish)
*it is just the 2 of them in the tank now (ie - no other fish or species of any kind). -didn't realise they were so violent to other creatures - OR each other!! lol! maybe they attacked each other , could be another explanation (?)
*size of the tank is 18" x 12" x 12"

I spoke to the people in the store where I bought them and they suggested a 10% change of water on a weekly basis. They didnt tell me this when I bought them tho (grr). Basically, I very rarely change the water in my other fish tank which I why I didnt know about doing that. Since all my other fishes are very healthy and breedings loads- I never knew I had to change the water. I always put dechlorinator in when put new water in though but this does not seem enough on its own for the frogs. They are obviously much more sensitive than the fish -probably because - as you say there is loads of waste and bits of bloodworm clagged to the side of filter and algae on side of tank.

I'm totally going to start changing the water much more frequently. I will just continue putting 1 bloodworm cube in every other day since they are only very little frogs (and now only 2 of them remain!)
Will check out the metal in water situation...
MANY THANKS AGAIN... your help is v much appreciated.. will see how things progress from here.... !! xx