I've had my FBT's for a week now. 2 have settled in brilliantly, very alert, scoffing anything that moves and making full use of the 24x12x14 viv. The 3rd one was ok on friday last week when first put in but became subdued and spent saturday loafing in the water, then sunday it tucked itself in a corner on land. I didn't see it explore but it gradually found it's way into the hollow log hidey hole on the other side of the viv and stayed there for a couple of days without eating (as far as I'm aware). I presumed it was just a bit shellshocked at being transported so left it to settle down.

I finally managed to get it to eat a few mealies on wednesday, as it wasn't paying any attention to the crickets. I've since seen it go for a cricket but it missed it, even though the cricket didn't move - almost like it's seeing double!!
As far as I know it's been out of hiding since yesterday evening, I've just chucked in a couple of crickets and a couple of mealies. It scoffed about 2 or 3 small mealies but it was holding its head to one side like its balance was off then it started going round and round in circles before straightening up and doing a couple of turns in the opposite direction - anybody seen this before? At first I thought it had done something to its neck but it can straighten up.

Its posture is completely different to the other 2, they both sit upright in that classic froggy pose but this one keeps its head lower to the ground. Is it just being an individual or could there be something wrong?

Sorry about the lengthy ramble but I'm trying to give as much info as possible. Any suggestions gratefully received.

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3.2.1 Oriental FBT's + tadpoles and 255 juvi toads and counting!

0.1 Cat - Millie - RIP

And no sanity left!

The toad which keeps its head low to the ground and is failing to catch prey may be suffering from MDB (Metabolic Bone Disease). This causes weakness of the bones, noticably the jaw. Pick up the toad and with your finger manipulate its jaw to see if it flexes. If it is softer than the others, it probably has MBD. The fact that it is holding itself low to the ground is also suggestive, as is the moving round in circles. Sometimes frogs will also flip onto their backs and be unable to right themselves with MBD.

The best thing you can do for it is get a syringe and buy some calcium drops from a chemist or mix up a paste of calcium powder and water, then drip it into the toads mouth - a few drops every few hours.

Some more info would be helpful. Do you have a UVB light source in the enclosure? Where did you get the toads? Do you dust the food with calcium supplement?

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0.0.3 Triturus marmoratus
1.1.0 Leptopelis vermiculatus
1.0.3 Litoria caerulea
2.1.0 Chiromantis xerampelina
1.1.2 Hyperolius sp.
2.0.0 Sphodromantis lineola
0.0.2 Phyllocrania paradoxa
0.1.0 Pogona vitticeps
1.1.0 Eublepharis macularius
1.1.0 Gekko ulikovskii
1.0.0 Pantherophis guttatus guttatus
1.0.0 Physignathus cocincinus
1.0.0 Boa constrictor constrictor
0.1.0 Grammostola rosea

I have an Arcadia D3 compact reptile lamp for the viv.

I'm about to check its jaw but have just removed it and put it into isolation as when I checked first thing this morning, it was on its back but by the time I whizzed off and got the other container it had flipped itself back. I left it for a bit and just observed for a while, it went in the water but the other, possible female, went after it and put it in a head lock under water. It did get free but as it swam off it was turning in circles and flipping over and over.
So I've fished it out as I was worried it might eventually drown.

It has been eating mealies and all food that gets chucked in gets dusted with T-Rex Fire Belly Toad Dust. The crickets also have the Cricket Diet ILF.

As I said, I only got them last friday. I checked with the shop where I bought them, which is an aquarium and reptile shop, and all they could tell me is that their supplier is in Bristol and all livestock is really well packed and shipped. I was just curious how long a journey they'd had.

Thanks for the advice, I'll be off to the chemist in a bit, after I've checked it's mouth.

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3.2.1 Oriental FBT's + tadpoles and 255 juvi toads and counting!

0.1 Cat - Millie - RIP

And no sanity left!

i think that the bulb you just described only prodces uva, so will not help your FBS bone help as much as uvb.

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1.1.0 berber skinks
1.1.0 kenyan sand boas
1.1.0 common garter
1.0.0 het lavender brooks kingsnake
1.4.200 common frogs
1.1.0 crested newts
1.3.0 smooth newts
1.0.0 wired haired pointer
1.0.0 labrador/ doberman



http://www.amphibianark.org/
sign the petition, maybe give a donation.
Amphibians need our help.

This is the info off the Arcadia website, for the bulb:

• 6% UVB for the synthesis of vitamin D3
• Full spectrum lamp
• Produces excellent natural colours

High in UVB for vitamin D3 synthesis...
Most reptiles need to synthesize vitamin D3 in their skin for their healthy growth. Ultra violet light of a particular wave band, known as UVB (290-320 nm), is required, and is produced by the Arcadia D3 Reptile lamp. UVB is not present in sufficient quantities in normal full spectrum fluorescent lamps, because the glass absorbs UVB, whereas the D3 Arcadia lamp uses a special glass designed to allow through sufficient yet safe levels of UVB and UVA.
The Arcadia D3 Reptile lamp has a high UVA output (30%), providing all the elements which are so vital to the welfare of the reptiles.
As a full spectrum lamp, the Arcadia D3 Reptile lamp simulates sunlight. This provides high colour rendering for enhanced viewing of your reptiles and their environment. The colour temperature of 6,500K is similar to sunlight in a typical desert environment. The D3 lamp also helps plants grow in the vivarium or terrarium, where these are present.


I've now got a water soluble calcium supplement from the reptile shop to try, though getting it into the frog is another matter.......! For some strange reason it doesn't understand me pleading for it to open its mouth!!! Where's Mary Poppins when you need her, eh? I certainly need something to help the medicine go down!

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3.2.1 Oriental FBT's + tadpoles and 255 juvi toads and counting!

0.1 Cat - Millie - RIP

And no sanity left!

Exo Terra do a calcium suplement that is added to the water its called calcizie and surely if u added it to the toads water it would absorb it that way...i think

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as the last poster said ,


the toads absorb water through there skin , so if you put a little calcium into the water and get him to sit in it he will aborsb it . not sure how much to use though .

Thanks, I will give that a go. At least its had a load of crickets now, which is something I suppose.

The joys of animal ownership, eh?

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3.2.1 Oriental FBT's + tadpoles and 255 juvi toads and counting!

0.1 Cat - Millie - RIP

And no sanity left!