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By Ann Wielenberg
Frogs
Frogs are found all over the world, and in every climate, except Antarctica.
They are amphibians.They can be found near any body of fresh water but
prefer ponds, lakes, marshes. Frogs cannot live in the sea or any salt water.
General information
Frogs are cold-blooded which means that their bodies are the same temperature as the air or water around them. When they are cold they will lay in the sun to warm up and when they get too warm they will go into the water to cool their bodies off.
Frogs have good eye sightEyes bulge out the sides of their head They can see in nearly all directions
They have amazing hearingYou can tell the difference between a male
and female by the size of the eardrumif the eardrum is smaller then the eye it is a
female If the eardrum is the same size as the eye it is
a male
Characteristics
Frogs have powerful back legs and webbed feet that help them jump great distances
They also use their feet to dig, or burrow, underground for hibernating
Every species of frogs has its own look.They come in many different colors, patterns, and sizes
Characteristics
FoodFrogs are carnivores.Small to medium frogs eat:FliesMosquitoesMothsDragonfliesCrickets
Large frogs eat:GrasshoppersWorms Small snakesMiceBaby turtles Some even eat smaller frogs
Reproduction
When male frogs are ready to mate they will ‘call’ out to the female frogs.
Each different species of frog has their own special sound Some frogs are so loud they can be heard a mile away! After they meet, they find a suitable spot to mate and lay their
eggs. The male frog will hug the female from behind and as she lays
eggs, usually in the water, the male will fertilize them. After that the eggs are on their own, to survive and become
tadpoles. There are a few species of frogs that will look after their babies,
but not many.
Eggs floating in a pond tadpole hatched from eggs
tadpole turning into a froglet frog
38 gallon tank (50cm or longer glass or plastic tank)Use clean, treated tap, spring or rain water.Washed gravel Temperature Range Tolerated: 68-75 'FWater pH Tolerated: pH 6.5 - 8.5No Salts, Metals or Chemicals.Access to Fresh air is Important.
Housing
Bacterial infections are the most common problems in frogs. These infections are almost always attributable to unsanitary cage conditions. This is easily avoided by changing the water bowl daily and cleaning the whole cage once per week.
Bloating Disease Caused by a collection of fluid inside the frogs skin.This condition is very stressful to frogs Highly contagious to other frogs and potentially fatal
Diseases
Chemical Intoxication occurs when your frog ingests some sort of pesticide or
chemical. Some types of soap have been known to poison frogs. Because of this you must take great care in what chemicals
you use when you clean their habitat. If the frog is exposed to chemicals take it to the vet
immediately.If not treated it is a fatal
Diseases
Metabolic Bone Disease or (MBD) Caused by a lack of vitamin D3 or calcium in your frog. This causes the bones in the frog to become weak and
brittle. Since frogs are generally very active, if they have MBD it is
likely that they will break the small bones in their legs.Is often not reversible once it has gotten to an advanced
stage. In some cases injectable calcium to help your frog recover
but it is not guaranteed to work.Preventative measures are always best to ensure that you
can avoid MBD altogether for your frog.
Diseases
White patch disease Is a sickness that affects tadpoles. Tadpoles will have white patches all over their body. They will stay on the bottom of the surface and move very little. White patch is most often fatal because tadpoles are so small and
undeveloped that they are unable to fight off the disease as a larger frog would be able to.
A bacteria called Columnaris is the cause of this disease which is brought on by dirty water.
To avoid this condition change the water and monitor it for quality on a daily basis.
Often by the time you notice white patch it will be too late for that batch of tadpoles.
The only thing you can do is make sure that the water is clean so that the next time your frogs have tadpoles they can avoid white patch.
Diseases
Nutritional deficiencies Weak hind legs No strength to jump and move aroundAppears to be skinnier Abnormally light or darkYou can also dust its food with multi-vitamin
and mineral supplements. Dusting the food with a supplement will help significantly in avoiding this disease.
Diseases
Skin IssuesCuts and abrasions that are not yet infected can easily
become so in a short period of time.An anti-fungal solution can be applied which will lower the
risk of an infection. It is strongly recommended to consult your veterinarian
when such a situation occurs because antibiotics may be necessary.
Many different diseases and infections can cause problems with the frogs skin so if the skin appears discolored or has an odd texture to it this is likely a sign of another disease. It is still important though that you discover the root cause and have it treated.
Skin lesionsOutcome is generally not good. Most surviving frogs are scarred and some frogs are
even blind in one or both eyes. Light to moderate scarring has no effect on daily the
activities, but a loss of an eye certainly could be. It is believed that prolonged exposure to cold
temperatures and subpar living conditions are major contributors
There is not much known about what cause skin lesions
These skin lesions are usually bleeding and occur primarily on the head and back of the frog.
As with all infectious diseases the frog should be quarantined and treated through advice of a veterinarian.
http://www.fs.fed.us/r4/amphibians/frog_fact.htm
http://www.reptiles-info.co.uk/frog-housing.html
Http://www.valleycity.org/frogs/aboutfrogs.htm
http://www.backyardnature.net/frogsex.htmhttp://
www.popularpets.net/frogs/diseases/skin-lesions.php
http://www.popularpets.net/frogs/diseases/skin-lesions.php
http://www.popularpets.net/frogs/diseases.php
References
