2 Deaths In 3 Weeks - Please Can You Help Me!?!

[snoozysusie]

Hi.. sorry I have put this in here because it's to do with frogs but I was hoping some of you fish lovers may also help me with this one (as it is quite an emergency .. ) I've also put it in the invertebrates section too in the hope someone can give me froggy advice.. don't know what else I can do to get some help on this... thanks...

I bought 4 Albino African Clawed Frogs just 3 weeks ago and already 2 of them 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!!)
They havent shown any signs of illness. In fact they all seem(ed) very lively and stuff -then when I go to them in the morning, I keep finding them dead on bottom floating about (yes-I thoroughly made sure they weren't just sleeping or something!!)

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!!!

 

[WILDER]

Sorry frogs don't even no anything about them, what are your water stats in ammonia,nitrite,nitrate,and ph,Does the plec suck on there coat.

 

[diademhill]

Hi.. sorry I have put this in here because it's to do with frogs but I was hoping some of you fish lovers may also help me with this one (as it is quite an emergency .. ) I've also put it in the invertebrates section too in the hope someone can give me froggy advice.. don't know what else I can do to get some help on this... thanks...

I bought 4 Albino African Clawed Frogs just 3 weeks ago and already 2 of them 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!!)
They havent shown any signs of illness. In fact they all seem(ed) very lively and stuff -then when I go to them in the morning, I keep finding them dead on bottom floating about (yes-I thoroughly made sure they weren't just sleeping or something!!)

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!!!

Xenopus are very messy & produce a lot of waste & they are very sensitive to ammonia so you should have been doing lots of water changes - probably 20% at least twice a week. Did you cycle the tank or boost the filter?
You can't put fish with them as they will attempt to eat any fish (& maybe each other.) Frozen cichlid mix is a better diet than frozen bloodworm. They are much easier to keep in bare bottommed tanks or tanks with just a sprinkle of substrate. Two is plenty for this tank and you'll need a larger one as they grow - spread your hand - that is how big they get.

 

[CBTF]

Important question: Are they african dwarf frogs..?

 

[snoozysusie]

Thanks for the advice folks..
Yes - they are definitely African clawed frogs - they have 'black claws' on their back feet and all the features of ACFs.
I will do another check of the water levels and report back here. I phoned the fish store where I bought them from to see what they said about the deaths..
They also said that I need to change 10% of the water on a weekly basis (they didn't tell me this at the time when I bought them though -grrrr!!!) I didnt know anything about doing that. I changed the water last night (about 1/4 of the tank) and put dechlorinator in to try and sort the water situation out.
What do you mean by substrate to be put in bottom of the tank ???
They said at the pet store to just use stones and that should be ok ?? The alternative pet food you mentioned - is that easily available?? Where can you get it from and what form does it come in ??
Will check out the ammonia levels etc and get back ......
Thanks everyone.. fingers crossed with the remaining frogs' health... will get back soon.....

(PS - I've decided not the put the plec in with them and just keep it a frog-only tank after advice given that they may not mix -thanks for that! I would hate anymore catastrophes!!)