My poor little ADF got his leg caught in the filter uptake of the aquaclear mini on his 5 gal tank
He lives with a betta and a mystery snail. And the tank has been running for 3 monthes.
I do not have water parameters but I just did a 75% water change Tuesday. Water changes happen on a weekly basis.
The water is treated before it goes in the tank and temperature is matched.

When I came downstairs this morning I found him caught up to his thigh. I immediatly shut off the filter and gently removed his leg from the tube, but here's the part where I feel like and absolute dummy, I was in such a panick I forgot I had just done my hair and had mousse residue on my hands. I only had him in my hands for a minute, but know this can not be good. Once he was out he just floated there, the leg does not seem to have open abrasions but it is reddened, it does not seem to be at a odd angle so i don't think it is broken but he is only like an inch or two long and it is soo hard to tell. He can move the leg but not well.

What should I do for him???
I had to go to work so I left him in his tank I turn the filter as low as it could go. I believe the water should be in good condition, and the snail and the betts never bother him. I feel just aweful!!

also how long do these guys live for, I mean he should have been strong enough not to get sucked up by a filter so there is probably something else going on right?

oh and I was going to ask this yesterday but forgot, these guys shed right? how long is that supposed to take cuz he seems to have started to shed but has not finished there are flakes on his back, today will be the third day for that?

Sorry for the length of the post I just feel so terrible, and I just want to go home to care for him

Hi there,

It sounds like you acted fast for your little frog! If there are no open wounds he could be in good shape, just sore. I'd recommend just keeping the water as good as possible and keeping an eye on him. As for the mousse on your hands, just hope that it all washed off when you put him back and too much didn't get absorbed into his skin.

I'm not sure about dwarf frogs, but my clawed frog is 17 years old now and showing no signs of stopping, so I doubt he's weak from old age! Maybe he decided to rest on the filter and his leg got sucked up?? He couldn't have been there too long though, or else he would have drowned.

As for the shedding, my frog seems to take a few days to shed too. It's not like a snake when it all comes off in one big piece, so I wouldn't worrt too much about it.

Good luck and keep us posted!!

Chrissy

i dont know what to do in this sort of problem but to prevent it from happening another time, maybe you can buy a nylon netting or something to put over the filter intake? Just incase your better gets close to it now or something

Thanks so much for the responses!

Chrissy, I am glad to hear that you shedding takes a bit longer, I will keep and eye on that.
I tried doing some searches for life span after I posted and it seems that ADF's average 5 years. This little one was a rescue from my cousins but he has to be at least four. I will see how he is when I get home.
If he seems to be fine I will leave him, but I talk to my old boss (an exotics vet) she does not do alot of amphibians but she said that I could bring him in and possibly get pain meds if he seems really sore, and worse case senerio if he is really bad or suffering she can humanely euthanize . I just don't know if the stress would be a good idea, The clinic is five min from my house so not a long trip!

Rhykiru, Thank you for the suggestion I may try that. I don't worry about the betta and the filter as my betta loves to play in the current off the filter and the suction is very weak as the filter is so small. I do worry about the frog now though so I may have to rig something up.

I am very sad to report that when I got home tonight my little friend Froggy had past away during the day
I will miss him dearly but treasure the two and a half years we had together. He had a rouh start with my uneducated cousins but I know he had the best while with me.

He had a little funeral in the garden and will always be remembered.
Thank you for trying to help but I kind of think as he was older his poor care caught up with him. I am glad he did not suffer for long, as he was his nomal froggy self up till this morning.

Aww MyFourGoldies, I'm really sorry to hear that. You know you did everything you could for the little guy, and I'm sure he had a great life with you.

aww i am so sorry for your lost : i hope u feel better soon

Froggy

Oh, that's too bad
It sounds like you gave him a great life though!

Chrissy

Thank you all for the condolences, it is nice to know that there are others who know it is okay to feel sad for the loss of even the smallest pet. I appreciate the support.

=( So sorry about your lost, adf are so cute.

Are the other occupants ok? I was just wondering what kind of effects the mousse would have had.

Sandie,
Thanks for the concern, all the other occupants are just fine. I had the ADF in my hands my hands were not really in the water. He died during the day and the tank had a big water change once I got home anyways becuase Froggy had pasted and I did not know when. The other occupants are a snail and a betta.