African dwarf frog keeps climbing out of water?

African Dwarf Frog help, African dwarf frogs, ADFs

just got three African Dwarf frogs a couple of days ago, and I have them in a ten gallon filtered tank. One of my ADFs keeps climbing up on the glass and just sitting there. I know that they are escape artists, and there's no way for them to get out, but why is he doing this? Can't he die from being out of the water? Please help. I'm really concerned and don't know what to do.

 

I got three ADFs a couple of days ago and one has had trouble swimming and I noticed when he was resting on the glass that one of his front feet is missing. I have no idea what to do and I'm freaking out. Please help.

 

African Dwarf Frogs

I know frogs aren't fish, but no one is answering and I'm getting really anxious. I just got three African dwarf frogs this past weekend and have noticed one having trouble swimming. He keeps coming out of the water and sitting on the glass to rest, which he shouldn't do because he's supposed to be aquatic. I just noticed it appears one of his front feet is missing and I don't know what to do.

 

They are aquatic, but they still breathe air. So they do need to go to the surface.

I don't have much experience with ADFs. I just know they need preferably a shorter tank so they don't have to go too far to get to the surface for air. I assume he is having a hard time getting up there due to his missing foot. So he has decided it is safer to just stay by the surface....

I don't know if the foot will grow back....I don't think it will. But don't quote me on that. I am not sure what you can do. Just make sure he has tall plants or something that will allow him to hang out at the surface easily.

 

I know frogs aren't fish, but no one is answering and I'm getting really anxious. I just got three African dwarf frogs this past weekend and have noticed one having trouble swimming. He keeps coming out of the water and sitting on the glass to rest, which he shouldn't do because he's supposed to be aquatic. I just noticed it appears one of his front feet is missing and I don't know what to do.

More info would be helpful.

What are your water parameters (pH, temp, ammonia, nitrites, nitrates)? What size tank? What kind of tank mates (if any)?

 

pH is about 7. Temp is around 77 degrees Fahrenheit. Ammonia, nitrites, and nitrates are at about 0. It's a ten gallon tank with about 8 or 9 inches of water in it. The only other tank mates are two other ADFs.

 

Welcome to FishLore!

We have merged your threads. We know you are worried but please be a little more patient. Starting so many threads on the same topic will get confusing to keep track of,

First guess would be a water issue. Once we know the answer to TexasDomer's questions we can try to rule some things out (or in)

Edit:
You answered why I was typing.
The frog on the glass is certainly not normal. Is everything in the tank aquarium safe?

What kind of filter? Does it have a heavy out flow?

 

I know he breathes air, but I was concerned about him staying out of water for so long. The tank is only 8 inches deep. Thanks for your reply.

 

The filter is a bio-wheel filter model 100. It doesn't seem to have a very heavy flow.

 

I know he breathes air, but I was concerned about him staying out of water for so long. The tank is only 8 inches deep. Thanks for your reply.

I didn't see your other threads that provided that extra info.

Are you using a filter of any kind? If the nitrAtes are zero, that indicates the tank is not cycled.

EDIT: never mind, you just answered about the filter.
How long has the tank been set up? are you familiar with the nitrogen cycle ?

 

It's been set up for a few weeks now, and I had the water tested by the pet store and they said all of my levels were good.

 

It's been set up for a few weeks now, and I had the water tested by the pet store and they said all of my levels were good.

Zero nitrate is not good. You do want zero ammonia and nitrites though. Click on the link about the nitrogen cycle for more details.

I have a strong feeling it is your water quality. I suggest you invest in your own test kit. Did the pet store even test for nitrates? What kid of test did they use?

 

How often are you changing the water and when was the last one?

 

I just got the frogs a couple of days ago, so I haven't changed it since they've been here. I plan on doing it once a week.

 

I just got the frogs a couple of days ago, so I haven't changed it since they've been here. I plan on doing it once a week.

You said the tank has been set up for a few weeks. What was living in there until a couple days ago when you added the frogs?

 

I didn't have anything living in there. I was just getting the levels right and making sure I was keeping everything constant before I put anything in. That's what I was told to do. Should I have done something different?

 

I'll let someone else address the cycling question.

As far as the frog goes, if he has been missing a flipper and acting sick since you got him there may not be any advice we can give that would help. You may have simply bought a sick frog.
If there is an open wound keeping the water extra clean may help prevent infection but the climbing out of the water is very concerning.

Are the other frogs acting ok?

 

I didn't have anything living in there. I was just getting the levels right and making sure I was keeping everything constant before I put anything in. That's what I was told to do. Should I have done something different?

You won't get your tank cycled without any fish in the tank. Your levels will just stay zero for everything (a zero reading for nitrAtes indicates an uncycled tank). As soon as you add fish (or frogs in this case), BANG ammonia starts to build up and you BEGIN your cycle. ADFs are very sensitive and I am not sure they could handle living through a cycle.

Did you use products to do a fishless cycle? Did you read about the nitrogen cycle? If you didn't do anything to get the cycle going, you accomplished nothing by waiting to add your frogs. Did you use any products? or did the tank just sit there for a couple weeks?

I am not trying to assume you did nothing, but your posts indicated that you did NOT cycle your tank first. Other than filling it with water and waiting for a couple weeks....which is not cycling your tank.

I have asked a few times if you are familiar with the nitrogen cycle and you have not responded to that. I am just trying to help! If your tank is not cycled, your frogs are going to really have a hard time surviving until that cycle is complete. I would suggest daily water changes until the tank is cycled.....

 

I'll have to find the bottle, but they had given me something (not just the dechlorinator) that they said would get the cycle going. I just assumed that they knew what they were talking about. And I do know about the nitrogen cycle, but the levels seemed to follow the trends of ammonia levels going down and nitrites going up and so on. If I did something wrong, is there anything further than partial water changes I can do every day?

 

I'll have to find the bottle, but they had given me something (not just the dechlorinator) that they said would get the cycle going. I just assumed that they knew what they were talking about. And I do know about the nitrogen cycle, but the levels seemed to follow the trends of ammonia levels going down and nitrites going up and so on. If I did something wrong, is there anything further than partial water changes I can do every day?

Did you ever get an answer about what else can be done? I didnt know about the cycling either! I just had the new tank running with the plants and filter for maybe 5 days before adding the frogs. They've been in there a few days now. I'm starting to get worried about this.

 

Did you ever get an answer about what else can be done? I didnt know about the cycling either! I just had the new tank running with the plants and filter for maybe 5 days before adding the frogs. They've been in there a few days now. I'm starting to get worried about this.

I just saw this reply. One of mine, not the one that seemed ill, died. I brought them all back to the pet store so they could be taken care of. They all were fine for the first week or so, then he suddenly died. I hope your frogs made it!