frogbreeder
- #1
Has anyone ever seen ADFs like these before?
Background: Although I breed ADFs commercially, I must occasionally acquire new frogs, in order to ensure the genetic variability of the frogs I sell and to avoid any deformities caused by in-breeding. Usually, I prefer to trade ADFs with another breeder, if possible. But, sometimes, I will buy frogs from one of the many pet-stores in my area, provided they appear to be healthy and active (sadly, as you know, they often don’t). A couple years ago, I found these unusually dark-coloured frogs for sale at my local Big Al’s and, since they appeared to be alright, I purchased half-a-dozen of them, hoping that at least a few would be suitable for breeding. I had never seen ADFs like these before. They are a very rich, dark brown colour, with flecks of gold, and large black spots. Even their undersides are spotted. Also, the rays of their hind flippers are exceptionally long, and even the webbing between them has much more pigmentation than normal.
Excited by the prospect of eventually breeding these unusually dark-coloured frogs, I returned home and immediately placed them in quarantine. However, it was not long before it became apparent that my new frogs weren’t quite as healthy as they first appeared. They were obviously seriously ill. Although they appeared fine when I went to bed, I awoke the next morning to find one of these frogs lying on the bottom deceased and a few of the others exhibiting behaviours indicative of a severe infection (lethargy, lack of appetite, excessive floating, constant hiding, etc.), yet there were no outward, physical signs of disease, such as swelling and redness, excessive shedding, the presence of fungus, etc. Being unsure of the exact nature of their illness, I immediately treated the remaining five frogs using a combination of Maracyn and Maracyn Two (antibiotics which are considered safe for frogs and, when used in combination, treat a broad spectrum of bacterial and fungal infections). Fortunately, I caught the infection quickly and all of the remaining frogs recovered fully, during the course of treatment.
Because they were no longer suitable for breeding, however, I eventually moved these frogs to my “reject tank,” where they have lived happily ever since, but I’d really like to get more of these unusually dark-coloured ADFs to breed, if possible. I think it best to breed only healthy frogs that have never been ill before. Had these frogs not been ill, only a couple of them would have been suitable for breeding anyways, because two of them have eye-problems (unfortunately, the antibiotic treatment had no effect on this condition) and one frog has a slightly deformed foot. In fact, the normal coloured frog in the first photo I’ve posted here has a similar deformity – the rays of its right rear flipper are branched, like a tree, rather than radiating from a central point (certainly not a severe deformity, but one I’d rather not risk reproducing by breeding, at any rate).
I’m wondering whether anyone knows where I might find more frogs like these. I’ve not seen them for sale again, in any of the pet stores in my area. Has anyone ever seen ADFs like these before? - curious frogbreeder
(In the first few photos, one of these dark-coloured frogs appears with a normal-coloured ADF, just for comparison.)
Background: Although I breed ADFs commercially, I must occasionally acquire new frogs, in order to ensure the genetic variability of the frogs I sell and to avoid any deformities caused by in-breeding. Usually, I prefer to trade ADFs with another breeder, if possible. But, sometimes, I will buy frogs from one of the many pet-stores in my area, provided they appear to be healthy and active (sadly, as you know, they often don’t). A couple years ago, I found these unusually dark-coloured frogs for sale at my local Big Al’s and, since they appeared to be alright, I purchased half-a-dozen of them, hoping that at least a few would be suitable for breeding. I had never seen ADFs like these before. They are a very rich, dark brown colour, with flecks of gold, and large black spots. Even their undersides are spotted. Also, the rays of their hind flippers are exceptionally long, and even the webbing between them has much more pigmentation than normal.
Excited by the prospect of eventually breeding these unusually dark-coloured frogs, I returned home and immediately placed them in quarantine. However, it was not long before it became apparent that my new frogs weren’t quite as healthy as they first appeared. They were obviously seriously ill. Although they appeared fine when I went to bed, I awoke the next morning to find one of these frogs lying on the bottom deceased and a few of the others exhibiting behaviours indicative of a severe infection (lethargy, lack of appetite, excessive floating, constant hiding, etc.), yet there were no outward, physical signs of disease, such as swelling and redness, excessive shedding, the presence of fungus, etc. Being unsure of the exact nature of their illness, I immediately treated the remaining five frogs using a combination of Maracyn and Maracyn Two (antibiotics which are considered safe for frogs and, when used in combination, treat a broad spectrum of bacterial and fungal infections). Fortunately, I caught the infection quickly and all of the remaining frogs recovered fully, during the course of treatment.
Because they were no longer suitable for breeding, however, I eventually moved these frogs to my “reject tank,” where they have lived happily ever since, but I’d really like to get more of these unusually dark-coloured ADFs to breed, if possible. I think it best to breed only healthy frogs that have never been ill before. Had these frogs not been ill, only a couple of them would have been suitable for breeding anyways, because two of them have eye-problems (unfortunately, the antibiotic treatment had no effect on this condition) and one frog has a slightly deformed foot. In fact, the normal coloured frog in the first photo I’ve posted here has a similar deformity – the rays of its right rear flipper are branched, like a tree, rather than radiating from a central point (certainly not a severe deformity, but one I’d rather not risk reproducing by breeding, at any rate).
I’m wondering whether anyone knows where I might find more frogs like these. I’ve not seen them for sale again, in any of the pet stores in my area. Has anyone ever seen ADFs like these before? - curious frogbreeder
(In the first few photos, one of these dark-coloured frogs appears with a normal-coloured ADF, just for comparison.)
