How To Take Care Of The Health Of An Amphibian?

2023 Author: Molly Page | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-08-25 12:41

When you choose an amphibian, first of all, pay attention to moving lively individuals with sparkle in their eyes. The word "liveliness" in relation to amphibians does not mean the same as in relation to, for example, hamsters. An amphibian is animated if it responds to its environment. This can range from raising your head to look at you when you invade her resting area, to trying to hide from your hand trying to touch her to pushing an earthworm into her mouth while feeding.

A red rash on the frog's paws, a lack of reaction to your appearance and to the live food offered to it can serve as a signal of danger. You should be alerted if the frog sluggishly lies on the surface of the water, making no attempt to swim.

Common toad, or gray toad, or cowshed (Bufo bufo)

If the amphibian you are about to purchase behaves this way, do not even consider buying it.

Over the past 10 years, veterinary medicine has made some progress in the care of amphibians and reptiles, but still there is not enough knowledge. Many veterinarians admit that they are not good at providing medical assistance to amphibians.

To keep your amphibian healthy, you must take the best possible care of it.

This means that you must clean the terrarium in a timely manner, provide filtered water with a temperature of +18 to + 26 ° C for temperate species and +26 to + 30 ° C for tropical species. Use special chlorine purification devices available from aquarium stores.

How to feed amphibians?

The answer to this question depends on the animal you are going to feed. The diet of the giant toad will definitely be different from that of the tiny mantella frogs.

Before you buy an amphibian, find out where you can buy live food for them. These can be crickets, earthworms, termites, fork-tails, flour beetles, wingless and fruit flies, and wax moths. You can buy all this at pet stores or in departments where bait for fishing is sold.

Young mice, several days old, can be a good addition to the diet. But they should not be given constantly, but from time to time, since a high fat content in them can have a bad effect on the vision of an amphibian.

Many amphibians become accustomed to a diet containing ready-made (packaged) foods. Offer your amphibian food from ReptoMin. Your amphibians will love any pelleted food made from tropical fish.

Leopard frog (Lithobates pipiens)

Don't be surprised if your pet's tastes change depending on the season. These changes may depend on the personality of your amphibian - "How, crickets again?" or may be common to the whole species. In the wild, for example, the types of feed depend on the season.

If your amphibian is accustomed to a variety of foods, then her sudden decision not to eat earthworms should not scare you. Just offer the crickets.

Correct temperature regime

Another aspect of keeping your amphibian healthy is getting the right temperature.

Amphibians feel better in the cool. Tropical species should be kept between 26 and 30 ° C, while temperate species should be kept between 18 and 26 ° C.

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Generally speaking, frogs prefer a higher temperature than salamanders.

If an amphibian is exposed to low temperatures, it can develop a disease called "red leg" - a bacterial disease that is fatal if not recognized in time. The first sign is a red rash on the legs.

Chemical composition of water

For amphibians, even the oxygen level in the water is important. When an amphibian is in water oversaturated with gas, it can suffer from the so-called "bubble disease" or "swelling". Oxygen bubbles enter the bloodstream and, if large, can block part of the circulatory system. The symptoms of this disease are not apparent. Unless the animal becomes lethargic. Internal bleeding is difficult to detect on visual inspection. In frogs, air bubbles can be seen in the membranes between the fingers, in Eastern newts, in the eyes. Also, bloating can be a consequence of water oversaturation with gas. Air bubbles can damage the blood circulation system, provoking the penetration of various bacterial infections.

Tanzanian arboreal tree (Leptopelis vermiculatus)

If bladder disease is diagnosed, the animal should be immediately transplanted into water with normal oxygen levels. In case of circulatory disorders and tissue necrosis, antibiotic treatment can help, but only if the disease has not gone very far.

An increased gas content in water can occur in the following cases. This occurs naturally in well water as it heats up during the summer months. The activity of microorganisms can also change the gas level.

Amphibians sent by air in a leaky compartment (all commercial airlines have airtight compartments) may also exhibit this condition.

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It is very difficult to measure the level of oxygen supersaturation in water and reduce it.

It is best to run the water through a tube that has a large surface area but no air. The easiest and cheapest way is to simply pour water into a vessel and let it stand for a couple of days. The gas will escape into the atmosphere and the water will be ready for use.

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