cloudy eyed ADF. Need help!

[ALX]

I have an African Dwarf Frog that has cloudy/hazy eyes. Does anyone know the best way to treat it that is safe for frogs? The eyes are not fuzzy nor popping out. I need to do something quick! I love my frog.

[starsplitter7]

I have used Maracyn for cloudy eyes (it says popeye on the package [just checked], but I think they are both a bacterial infection -- I could be wrong), but not on frogs.

Wait until someone with more experience answers. My frogs are doing pretty well. But I do stress about them because of their sensitive skin.

I would certainly do a water change with a conditioner.

Good luck.

[ALX]

Thanks for the reply. I guess folks around here don't have or talk about ADFs so much. I wish I knew of a forum that was all about aquatic frogs. I suppose there probabaly is, I just need to find it!
Well, if anyone is interested...
I have been using clean slightly salted water, and been feeding the frog metromeds for the past few days. I'm not sure if it is working..

[DEBRA]

Sorry ALX, I just read your post...

Hopefully your frog was just getting ready to shed... this is the best information on the web about ADF's:

http://flippersnfins.yuku.com/directory

Go to the logo at the top and click 'enter' for articles on ADF's.

[starsplitter7]

What a cute, funny and informative website. I like the non-academic tone.

A quick question, not to hijack, but slightly related. If a frog shed, will it eat the shed? Will it look like a thick film (mucous) in the water? I had some in the water and my frogs were munching on it.

[ALX]

Thanks for the suggestion debra. Right after writing that last post I did a search and found flippersnfins on my own. It seems like the best place to get frog doctoring advice.


starsplitter, it is a very "fun" site from what I can tell so far. This forum is great but a lot of the lingo is over my head, flippersnfins is more casual. LOL doesn't seem like the best place to ask medical questons anyways, especially for non loaches. I will stick to posting only about my loaches from now on when I come here.

To answer you about the shedding, yeah that is the skin. They do eat it but not always.

[DEBRA]

ALX~ How is your frog?

starsplitter~ does this look familiar? hehe... sometimes it looks like there is a ghost in the tank!

[ALX]

I forgot to say.. doh.

Well, my frog is ok, but not completely cured. I am wondering if maybe she scratched her eyes on something. It kinda looks like when you scratch acrilic with a scrubber rather than fuzzy at all.

For treatment I gave her medigold. It has gotten better but it is sort of hazy still. That just ended a day or two ago. I might try maricyn 2.

She is completly healthy otherwise. She has been spawning this whole time so maybe the male has been scratching her eyes during mating.

[starsplitter7]

ALX~ How is your frog?

starsplitter~ does this look familiar? hehe... sometimes it looks like there is a ghost in the tank!

Thanks Debra,

That is exactly what it looks like! I really appreciate it. I didn't see them in the process of shedding. Can't believe I didn't think of the obvious. My lizards shed; why didn't it occur to me my frogs would shed too?

Thanks so much. Tanja.

[starsplitter7]

Hey AXL,

Besides the fact that your ADF is spawning, is there a way to know she is female? Or more precisely: how can you tell males and females apart?

If her eyes were scratched, will they be fine once she sheds?

Tanja.

[ALX]

Hey AXL,

Besides the fact that your ADF is spawning, is there a way to know she is female? Or more precisely: how can you tell males and females apart?

If her eyes were scratched, will they be fine once she sheds?

Tanja.

hay Tanja.
The females tend to be a bit larger. The easiest way to tell them apart is the male have a gland under their armpits that look like a white bump. The females do not. They don't usually show up until the males are adults though.

I have no idea if the shedding will get rid of the scratches. If that is the problem.. I bet after a few sheds that it would be cleared up for sure though. Maybe that is why it is starting to look better.. I found some frog skin in the tank but I am not sure if it was her that shed it.

[starsplitter7]

Do they eat their sheds like other critters? I saw mine mouthing on one and left it just in case.

[ALX]

they eat it but not always..

[DEBRA]

ALX~ I'm happy to hear that your frogs are ok and amplecting is certainly a good sign. It's been a long time since I had my ADF's, but I remember that it is not good to add salt to their water? Did you ever get a diagnosis on what might be causing the cloudy eyes? I think I might wait on medicating again, making sure that the water parameters are excellent, as in no ammonia. How often and how much water do you change? What kind of water conditioner are you using? If you have already been through this at flippersnfins, kindly disregard.

Tanja~ When my frogs first shed, it kind of freaked me out! They are interesting critters indeed. As for the bumps under the arms, my female had them too, although not as pronounced; as ALX said, it's difficult to sex ADF's until they are older.

[ALX]

Hey Debra,
I only added a touch of salt but then decided not to go that way and changed all the water right away. I know frogs don't really like salt but I had used it once before to cure a mouth fungus with no ill effect.

So the water parameters are great. No amonia, nitrite, and very little Nitrate. I change the water all the time.. almost every other day, and clean with a turkey baster everyday.. especially since the cloudy eyes I have kept the water perfect. I use Prime conditioner.

This all started when my frogs started spawning. The male tends to kick the female in the head when they are embraced.. so I think her eyes are just getting scratched and that it is not bacterial or fungal since it does not get worse, or fuzzy. That is kinda what was figured at the other forum as well. So I am just keeping an eye on it and making sure the water is clean, and holding off on any more meds for now. I also added a bubbling filter to break up the water surface. I am hoping that will get the frogs out of the mating mood so she can heal.