Frogs

1. Frogs By Ann Wielenberg

2. General information • Frogs are found all over the world, and in every climate, except Antarctica. • They are amphibians. • They can be found near any body of fresh water but prefer ponds, lakes, marshes.  • Frogs cannot live in the sea or any salt water.

3. Frogs are cold-blooded which means that their bodies are the same temperature as the air or water around them. When they are cold they will lay in the sun to warm up and when they get too warm they will go into the water to cool their bodies off.

4. Characteristics • Frogs have good eye sight • Eyes bulge out the sides of their head • They can see in nearly all directions • They have amazing hearing • You can tell the difference between a male and female by the size of the eardrum • if the eardrum is smaller then the eye it is a female • If the eardrum is the same size as the eye it is a male

5. Characteristics • Frogs have powerful back legs and webbed feet that help them jump great distances • They also use their feet to dig, or burrow, underground for hibernating • Every species of frogs has its own look. • They come in many different colors, patterns, and sizes

6. Food • Frogs are carnivores. • Small to medium frogs eat: • Flies • Mosquitoes • Moths • Dragonflies • Crickets • Large frogs eat: • Grasshoppers • Worms • Small snakes • Mice • Baby turtles • Some even eat smaller frogs

7. Reproduction • When male frogs are ready to mate they will ‘call’ out to the female frogs. • Each different species of frog has their own special sound • Some frogs are so loud they can be heard a mile away! • After they meet, they find a suitable spot to mate and lay their eggs.  • The male frog will hug the female from behind and as she lays eggs, usually in the water, the male will fertilize them. • After that the eggs are on their own, to survive and become tadpoles. • There are a few species of frogs that will look after their babies, but not many.

9. Eggs floating in a pond tadpole hatched from eggs tadpole turning into a froglet frog

11. Housing • 38 gallon tank (50cm or longer glass or plastic tank) • Use clean, treated tap, spring or rain water. • Washed gravel • Temperature Range Tolerated: 68-75 'F • Water pH Tolerated:  pH 6.5 - 8.5 • No Salts, Metals or Chemicals. • Access to Fresh air is Important.

13. Diseases • Bacterial infections are the most common problems in frogs.  These infections are almost always attributable to unsanitary cage conditions.  This is easily avoided by changing the water bowl daily and cleaning the whole cage once per week.  • Bloating Disease • Caused by a collection of fluid inside the frogs skin. • This condition is very stressful to frogs • Highly contagious to other frogs and potentially fatal

14. Diseases • Chemical Intoxication • occurs when your frog ingests some sort of pesticide or chemical. • Some types of soap have been known to poison frogs. • Because of this you must take great care in what chemicals you use when you clean their habitat. • If the frog is exposed to chemicals take it to the vet immediately. • If not treated it is a fatal

15. Diseases • Metabolic Bone Disease or (MBD) • Caused by a lack of vitamin D3 or calcium in your frog. • This causes the bones in the frog to become weak and brittle. • Since frogs are generally very active, if they have MBD it is likely that they will break the small bones in their legs. • Is often not reversible once it has gotten to an advanced stage. • In some cases injectable calcium to help your frog recoverbut it is not guaranteed to work. • Preventative measures are always best to ensure that you can avoid MBD altogether for your frog.

16. Diseases • White patch disease • Is a sickness that affects tadpoles. • Tadpoles will have white patches all over their body. • They will stay on the bottom of the surface and move very little. • White patch is most often fatal because tadpoles are so small and undeveloped that they are unable to fight off the disease as a larger frog would be able to. • A bacteria called Columnaris is the cause of this disease which is brought on by dirty water. • To avoid this condition change the water and monitor it for quality on a daily basis. • Often by the time you notice white patch it will be too late for that batch of tadpoles. • The only thing you can do is make sure that the water is clean so that the next time your frogs have tadpoles they can avoid white patch.

17. Diseases • Nutritional deficiencies • Weak hind legs • No strength to jump and move around • Appears to be skinnier • Abnormally light or dark • You can also dust its food with multi-vitamin and mineral supplements. Dusting the food with a supplement will help significantly in avoiding this disease.

18. Skin Issues • Cuts and abrasions that are not yet infected can easily become so in a short period of time. • An anti-fungal solution can be applied which will lower the risk of an infection. • It is strongly recommended to consult your veterinarian when such a situation occurs because antibiotics may be necessary. • Many different diseases and infections can cause problems with the frogs skin so if the skin appears discolored or has an odd texture to it this is likely a sign of another disease. It is still important though that you discover the root cause and have it treated.

19. Skin lesions • Outcome is generally not good. • Most surviving frogs are scarred and some frogs are even blind in one or both eyes. • Light to moderate scarring has no effect on daily the activities, but a loss of an eye certainly could be. • It is believed that prolonged exposure to cold temperatures and subpar living conditions are major contributors • There is not much known about what cause skin lesions • These skin lesions are usually bleeding and occur primarily on the head and back of the frog. • As with all infectious diseases the frog should be quarantined and treated through advice of a veterinarian.

21. References • http://www.fs.fed.us/r4/amphibians/frog_fact.htm • http://www.reptiles-info.co.uk/frog-housing.html • Http://www.valleycity.org/frogs/aboutfrogs.htm • http://www.backyardnature.net/frogsex.htm • http://www.popularpets.net/frogs/diseases/skin-lesions.php • http://www.popularpets.net/frogs/diseases/skin-lesions.php • http://www.popularpets.net/frogs/diseases.php