African Dwarf Frogs Being Lethargic

So I’ve had two ADFs in a well-cycled 5 gallon for about two weeks. They’ve been active, always exploring and swimming up for air. They have a cave hide in the back behind a rock that they love to use, it’s right under the heater. It’s low-flow, well planted, water isn’t too deep (10” from gravel to water line) and I’ve got plants that reach up to the surface they love to use to help them get up for air. I did a water change Thursday and tested the water (PH 7.4 Ammonia 0 Nitrites 0 Nitrates 2-ish before water change). Friday I fed them some mysis shrimp which they seemed to love, and Saturday morning they weren’t as active as usual. I was a little worried so I checked behind the rock and one of them was just sitting there, not moving. I moved the heater a bit and she floated up to the top, still not moving. I touched her lightly, worried she was dead, and she darted back down. Today I did the same thing but the heater brushed the frog and he darted behind the big rock. I’m really worried, I’m hoping I’m just being paranoid but I feel like something’s up. I checked them over and I can’t see any physical signs of illness or fungus. Is this bad??

Temps 76 F
I just took the cover off to see if I could get a glimps of them, and it seems there’s a weird something on the water, like you know oil on water? It kinda looks like that but not rainbow.

 

Do you mind double checking your ammonia and nitrite?
midnaknows a lot about these guys

 

I’ll double check.

 

hey there, sorry to hear about your frogs acting off! they're such worrisome little creatures

when did you last do a water change? maybe some fresh water will help liven them up. 76 is also a tad chilly, can you adjust your heater to to 78-80? has the film on your water always been there, or is it new? it's probably just protein buildup from the food and low filter flow. tall plants also break up circulation of the water's surface. a water change will help break it up.

have you noticed any other floating behavior? adfs do float sometimes, but excessive floating isn't a good sign.

 

I changed the water Thursday. Just tested again and nitrite is still 0 but ammonia is somewhere between 0 and 0.25, closer to 0 though. I’ve only just noticed the film, it wasn’t there Thursday when I changed the water. My heater is preset, I can look for a slightly higher wattage or an adjustable one next time I need crickets. I must admit those adjustible ones are handy. One of mine is actually floating at the top kinda standing on the heater, with her nose poking out, like they do sometimes. I haven’t seen them floating a whole lot. Just hiding and not exploring like they usually do.

So I’ll change the water and get a better heater, should that solve my little problem?

 

I changed the water Thursday. Just tested again and nitrite is still 0 but ammonia is somewhere between 0 and 0.25, closer to 0 though. I’ve only just noticed the film, it wasn’t there Thursday when I changed the water. My heater is preset, I can look for a slightly higher wattage or an adjustable one next time I need crickets. I must admit those adjustible ones are handy. One of mine is actually floating at the top kinda standing on the heater, with her nose poking out, like they do sometimes. I haven’t seen them floating a whole lot. Just hiding and not exploring like they usually do.

So I’ll change the water and get a better heater, should that solve my little problem?

that's fine. i'd go ahead and do a 20% water change anyway. maybe get the tap a little on the warm side to heat up the water a bit. an adjustable 50 watt heater would be great.

it's possible they're now used to their new environment and are bored of exploring lol. plus adfs are always more active in larger groups. they will hide a lot when they're kept in pairs or by themselves. but yeah, they do like warm water.

 

Now that I think about it they probably are just settling down haha. Of course I was being paranoid. I thought pairs were just as active as groups, would you recommend getting a third frog?

 

Now that I think about it they probably are just settling down haha. Of course I was being paranoid. I thought pairs were just as active as groups, would you recommend getting a third frog?

probably not in a 5 gallon. they will be ok, just probably not super active. they aren't gonna suffer with just two of them.

 

Ok, thanks!