Fire belly toad won't eat!

[SPARTAN 77]

I keep 4 fire belly toads in a 10 gallon tank, i've been feeding them crickets but before that i fed them meal worms. Now the smallest one is so skinny that i'm wondering if he's really in trouble from it. here's some pics of him.

http://i1131.photobucket.com/albums/m548/arachnophile223/003.jpg

http://i1131.photobucket.com/albums/m548/arachnophile223/004-1.jpg

http://i1131.photobucket.com/albums/m548/arachnophile223/005.jpg

as you can see he's really skinny, any advice on getting him to eat?

[marvelfreak]

I would put him in a cage by himself and try giving him meal worms. Could be the crickets hoping around could be stressing him out.

[SPARTAN 77]

I would put him in a cage by himself and try giving him meal worms. Could be the crickets hoping around could be stressing him out.

i think it could be that he wants a variety of foods, i did finally get him to eat a couple little crickets though :).

[ilovemypets1988]

i dunno if they will eat them but try some wax worms

[SPARTAN 77]

I've tried the meal worms, and he gets one in his mouth and spits it back out! i really don't know what to do with him, my other frogs are nice and fat :). but he's not eating much at all.

[SPARTAN 77]

it's been a couple weeks and he's gotten sooo skinny now that i'm afraid he might die of mal-nutrition. i tried meal worms but he's unable to eat many of them!

[whoaxmary]

Hve you seperated him from your other toads yet? May be a good idea expecially if there's any chance it's some underlying reason for him not to be eating that could spread to the other guys.

[SPARTAN 77]

Yes i've separated him, and when he get's settled in more i'll try feeding him wax worms.

[whoaxmary]

Keep us updated. :(

[SPARTAN 77]

I'm also noticing that he moves his head and makes a clicking sound, sometimes when i'm doing something in the cage. what does that mean? i haven't encountered that before.

[SPARTAN 77]

Ok, i've separated him into his own container a few days ago, he still hasn't taken any interest in the food at all. :( Could he miss the other frogs? because he hangs out on the side of his container that the other tank is by. and someone told me he could be constipated. If he is, how can i cure it?

[NennaMeerkat]

Warm baths might help him poo. It is supposed to help with lizards and snakes.

[SPARTAN 77]

Warm baths might help him poo. It is supposed to help with lizards and snakes.

Yeah, tried that last night, but how many baths will it take and how long should they be?

[SPARTAN 77]

Ok, he is to the point where HE CAN NOT EAT. He is too weak and will die soon, very very soon, if i don't get him to eat. can i force feed him in any way? if not he is definitely going to die within the next few days. :(

[NennaMeerkat]

You could try prying his mouth open and putting in a small piece of food? I dunno. If he is to weak to actually eat then his system might not be able to take food in the first place. Like unable to process it. Organ failure or whatever.

[Gungirl]

I think before you force feed you should find out why he isn't eating. Does he have a parasite or something else? Really without taking him to a vet or someone really knowledgeable about them its going to die whether you force feed it or not. IMO

sounds like its to late thought...

[marionsclan]

Don't feed him waxworms, they are not good for Fire belly toads. Here is a link that gives you some good info. How to Care for Fire Belly Toads - wikiHow (http://www.wikihow.com/Care-for-Fire-Belly-Toads)

Also, how about liquifying various foods and feeding it to him via a syringe? That way he gets the nutrients without having to spend a lot of energy on digestion.

[NennaMeerkat]

Also, how about liquifying various foods and feeding it to him via a syringe? That way he gets the nutrients without having to spend a lot of energy on digestion.

That is a good idea, purify some crickets.

[vendettaseve]

That is a good idea, purify some crickets.

Il get the priest.



But seriously, were these frogs a spur of the moment sort of purchase... the kind you make without doing any research on at all?

[NennaMeerkat]

LOL Vendetta should I get a cross and the holy water?

Sorry to make light but I couldn't help myself...also I am curious as well if these were a spur of the moment purchase or not. Not judging just curious. It sometimes happens to the best of us.

[SPARTAN 77]

You could try prying his mouth open and putting in a small piece of food? I dunno. If he is to weak to actually eat then his system might not be able to take food in the first place. Like unable to process it. Organ failure or whatever.

And i've heard that "force feeding" can break the jaw. so i don't think i'll risk it.

[vendettaseve]

And i've heard that "force feeding" can break the jaw. so i don't think i'll risk it.

Good call, much safer to let it starve to death instead.

[SPARTAN 77]

Well, one final update: my frog "Gromit" despite everything i've tried over the last couple of months has died :sad: ‪The Pacific Soundtrack - Fallen Friend‬‏ - YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Z0XGNvzuJ0) . But he is no longer suffering and i'm confident he's in a better place . ‪Flyboys Soundtrack - ID The Planes‬‏ - YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZB3vB2xDNIg)

[marvelfreak]

So sorry to hear.

[SPARTAN 77]

Now my other male has got the same goshdanged thing, :mad: i'm pretty sure it's this:Sick fire belly toad (http://www.frogforum.net/general-discussion-news/7434-sick-fire-belly-toad.html) read the first two or three comments, at least i might have a way to treat it now.