Help! My algae eater & AD Frog are stuck on each other and will die!

My African Dwarf Frog apparently tried to eat my algae eater (not sure what kind...he's tiny with a stripe). They appear to be stuck. The frog won't be able to breathe. I tried to gently pry them apart but they are stuck pretty good. It appears as though it's the algae eater that won't let go, but it could be that the frog's jaw is stuck around the algae eater. Both appear to be alive, but probably not for long.

If I can't save both, I want to save at least one. Any ideas?

 

If the algae eater won't let go and the frog is stuck around the algae eater, then what is the algae eater not letting go on?

 

My husband thinks he's sucked onto the inside of the frog's mouth.

Here are some pics:

 

Wow, that's awful. I'm so sorry for these guys. Have you tried just pulling the AE out? Maybe rock his head to the sides to see if he'll loosen his grip?

 

We've tried pulling them apart.. I suppose I could try rocking him back and forth.

No good... they're pretty stuck.

By advice from another board, I tried using an aspirator to squirt water on the frog's face to help release, but it didn't work. They seem to think the oto is sucking himself on to kill the frog (like a cory), but I've taken them out of the water for a minute, and still no results. Would've thought the oto would've released, but I'm not even sure if he's alive anymore.

 

If the oto won't release, it is likely still alive. I wish I could give you some profound advice but it seems you might need to just wait it out.

 

That's an oto, by the way.

 

Wow....I'm so sorry.
When an adf tries to eat something too large, say a long blood worm they use their front flippers to try and pull it out.
Is he doing that at all?

I don't have any great advise either other than what you have tried.
I think I'd be gently flicking the oto's tail to see if it will move or dislodge.
If it's dead it's sucker mouth wouldn't be 'attached to the frog.
Don't know if that's great advise or not.

Sorry I can't be much help here.

 

Wow....I've never seen this before, eventually I'm afraid that you might have to make a choice on who you want to keep.

 

Not sure that I can do anything more even if I did make a choice. I suspect that the oto is dead but still attached. Someone from another forum said they have rasper teeth that point inward, so he may be stuck in the frog's mouth. Doesn't sound good for the frog.

I did try giving blood worms but no change.

Update: The oto is still alive but the frog is not doing well at all.

I'm not sure if anyone is still paying attention, but I've learned that both frog and oto are very much alive. I though maybe if I put them in a cup of cold water, it would shock them and they'd release. Do you think that might work?

 

I'd be real careful about doing it, but I suppose it might me worth a shot at this point. Just a quick dip, for a few seconds. Both these critters are pretty sensitive, and both are already stressed.

 

Have you tried turning the lights off? That might relax the frog enough. You can also try, if you haven't already, putting your fingers on either side of the frog's jaw and trying to manually open it.

I'd be leery of the cold water shock. They're so stressed already.

 

Do you have a side shot of them? It looks to me like the ottos mouth is stuck under the frogs lower lip. If that's the case, then pulling on either party's not goin to do any good, and ottos would have to be pushed in a bit, then lifted up.

 

Do you have a side shot of them? It looks to me like the ottos mouth is stuck under the frogs lower lip. If that's the case, then pulling on either party's not goin to do any good, and ottos would have to be pushed in a bit, then lifted up.

I don't have a side shot of them, but I suspect you are right about how they are positioned. I think oto's teeth are firmly planted. I was given the advice to gently squeeze oto in the middle, but that didn't work, either. I may have been being too gentle, but I feel like I would;ve crushed oto if I squeezed any harder.

The tank has been dark for most of the day.

 

How are things? At this point, I think you have nothing to lose by trying the cold water. Maybe you can save one of them? Don't make it ice cold, just a few degrees.

 

Thanks for asking. Nothing's changed- both are still alive and attached. My husband is going to try to unhook the oto by pushing him in and then out. If that doesn't work, we might try the water. Someone else suggested putting them both on a plate and see who gives up first, but I guess I'm still holding onto trying to save both of them. At the very least, I don't want them to die by our hand.

 

Oh, the plate idea sounds horrible. I'm glad you don't want to go that route. Good luck with the pushing/pulling attempt. I'm really rooting for both of them to make it out of this.

 

Do you have a pair of tweezers that open kind of like scissors? Try putting them in the oto's mouth and opening them to spread the jaws wider to release the frog or vice versa depending on how they are positioned

 

What the heck was that frog thinking?

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Silly froggy! Hope they come out of it ok.

 

What the heck was that frog thinking?

He was probably thinking something smelled good and took a lunge for it.
Sadly, he caught it.

 

Any changes in the last few hours?

 

Outcome:

My husband tried breaking the suction with a spatula fashioned from a straw again. He finally broke them free. Otto is dead The frog is alive but his mouth is gaping open. Not sure if it was because it's just been open for so long or if he broke something.

He appears to be conserving energy after all of that (it's been at least 13 hours). I put blood worms in there but I doubt he'll be able to eat right now. There is a red dot in his mouth.. not sure how serious the injury is. He better make it, though, after everything he's been through.

He was freed 2 hours ago and seems to be ok still.

Thank you to everyone for their advice and suggestions.. better one than none. I'll update in the morning.

 

He must be exhausted, I would be keeping him in a container with very shallow water and skip feeding for a few days until he perks up again - let his mouth and muscles heal before feeding him a tiny amount of soft food (frozen bloodworms or brine shrimp).

 

Clean water will be very important for him. I'd wait at least a couple days before feeding.

 

Wow, what an ordeal. I agree, as shallow water as you can manage even if it means putting him in a container for a few days and frequent water changes. That way he can conserve energy and increase his chances of avoiding infection.



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Sorry about oto. I'm glad they finally separated.

How's your frog today?

 

wow this is like a soap opera! I can't wait for... "what happens next" stay tuned... I'm with the person who said "squeeze' the frog!

 

The frog seems to be doing just fine! He is hanging out in his usual hiding spot. His mouth is still not closed all the way but it looks better today than yesterday. I added a little bit of salt to his water to combat any infection he might get from his wound.

Currently trying to come up with a more suiting name for such a tenacious little guy. He was named Fred. I think he's earned something a little more distinguished.

 

Sir Fred?

Sir Frederick of Berkshire!

 

Sir Frederick Otoeater

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Sir Frederick Otoeater

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"Otoeater" makes me think of "roto-rooter"

 

What a crazy story!! Hope froggy is staying alone from now on.

 

Jaws?

 

ADF's have very poor eyesight. This is one of the reasons they are best kept in species only tanks.

 

I'm sorry you lost the oto but I'm happy that at least one of them lived to tell the tale.

A name? I'm thinking "Saint George, the Dragonslayer".

 

How is he doing?

 

WOW that SUCKS!

any update???? I hope they both make it out ok. I have never seen anything like this before! :-(

 

Sir Frederick Otoeater

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Loving that one!

 

I have to agree... this is like watching a soap opera, haha.

Poor Oto.

How's the Ferocious Fred doing?