Albino long clawed frog, hlth.   12/19/07
Hi
You helped me once before with advice for my African long clawed frog, which worked and she recovered. She loved live earthworms and couldn't get enough, and is now twice as big.
All was well until recently. She has trouble keeping a worm in her mouth, she keeps stuffing it in with her hands but it wriggles out and she gets fed up. So its been back to frozen bloodworm for a while.
However, today when I went to see her she is totally bloated. All her skin is distended by air. She looks like a balloon. We have limited vets in the UK with knowledge of these animals.
Have you any clues? Any advice would be appreciated. Thank you.
Regards
Jill
<Sounds like a gut blockage issue to me. Best to hold off on feeding for a few days, see if the obstruction moves. Smaller food items might work better. Bob Fenner>

African Clawed Frogs, gen. care    8/30/07
Hello,
<Hi there>
I am writing with many, many questions. Last year, when I lived in a college dorm, I found myself really wanting a pet, but could not get one because of rules regarding aquariums at school. Next year, I'm moving to an apartment, and think that I am ready to start taking care of my first "solo" pet (my family had a dog when I was a kid, but this will be the first time I'm taking care of something on my own).
<Can lead to growth, reflection>
I was originally going to get a couple of low-maintenance fish because I wanted to ease myself into the caretaking business, but a friend of mine asked if I would like to take her two 3-year old African Clawed Frogs instead.
<Neat animals Xenopus...>
I've met these frogs and they are kept by her parents in pretty pitiful conditions (unfiltered, separate, very small tanks in which they can barely extend their legs fully, and they certainly can't swim around!, and they are only fed pellets). So I've decided to take them and give them a better life. However, I have to do this on a limited student budget. Additionally, school is in Chicago, but during the summer and on breaks, I live in L.A. with my family.
<I see>
I've found some conflicting reports about the frogs online, so I'm going to say what my research has led me to thinking is the way to provide for the frogs that strikes a balance between proper care, cost, and time.
<You are wise here>
I would appreciate it if you could correct me where my information is wrong, or where I could save money, as well as where I shouldn't. Additionally, if I am being too extravagant in terms of maintenance, it would be great if you could let me know, because I am still a student, and thus, have limited amounts of time (and, as I said, money).
<Okay>
It seems like I should invest in a 20 gallon long tank, at a minimum (unless completely wrong, this will probably be the size I get, as it seems like the price goes up as the size goes up.
<Is a good size, shape>
if I can go down, that's great, but i am guessing it's not a good idea, as most estimate there should be 10 gallons/frog). Aquarium gravel depth should be 1 1/2 to 2 inches,
<I'd keep in shallow unless the grade is rather large... for ease of cleaning>
and water depth should be 6 to 12 inches, with plenty of air on top.
<Yes... among other things to prevent escape>
Plastic plants and a few good hiding places seem to be a good idea. A non-escapable, netted top seems to be a must. A light is not necessary. It is okay to keep these frogs together, but I probably shouldn't put any other fish in there unless I want the frogs to eat them.
<Correct>
A varied diet of bloodworms, shrimp, and worms (Tubifex or earth?) is good.
<Mmm, expensive, inconvenient, unnecessary and too much likelihood of pest and disease introduction... I'd settle on a bag of frutti de mar... mixed frozen seafood... defrost bits of this...>
Feeding them 3-4 times a week is good. I can use pellets occasionally, but not all the time, as they will probably be cheaper, but less nutritious than other food sources. Where can I get these kinds of food? Do I have to go through mail order, or will the local, independently owned pet store carry them? Any providers that are particularly good and not expensive?
<Again... I would get the mixed seafood from the supermarket>
This is my first time keeping an aquarium, so I'm a little hazy (pun!) on how to take care of the water. Here is what seems to be the case.
I need to treat the water before I put it in the tank with a dechlorinator (any brand in particular?).
<I like Novaqua or Amquel...>
I should have a filter that is not too loud, because ACFs have good hearing. Additionally, I should be testing the water with a testing kit to make sure ammonia, nitrate, and chlorine levels are, not just low, but at 0. pH should be around 7.4. (I assume the filter and a dechlorinator take care of these problems?).
<Likely so and your tap is likely close enough pH wise>
Temperature should be between 68-75, though I've seen you guys recommend raising the temperature up to 80. For a tank located in a heated apartment in Chicago, will that require a heater?
<Mmm, depends on your room/setting... if there's money available I would get/use a small submersible heater for sure>
A 10-15% water change every two weeks, or a 25-33% water change every month with a gravel vacuum is enough to keep the water clean. How often should I clean the tank itself (scrubbing the glass), and what should I clean it with?
<I would gravel vac once a week and do the water changes at that time... about 25%... A dedicated clean sponge>
Product recommendations would be great, especially if you know of something that is cheaper that doesn't sacrifice too much quality (especially if you know where I can get the tank for not too much money, since that seems to be the most important thing to buy). Do you know about how much it is going to cost to get this tank up and running? How about general maintenance once the tank is up?
<Likely a hundred dollars or so... and ten dollars a month or so for food, power...>
Assuming I keep the tank very clean, will it be smelly?
<Hopefully not>
This question is to know whether to keep the frogs in my bedroom or in the living room, where they might be more susceptible to my roommate and guests doing something (I'm still a college student, and am afraid that somehow things might get rowdy...I heard the frogs are skittish, and I don't want to scare them with loud music or TV, and I certainly don't want someone to break the tank or something like that...is that likely?).
<Mmm, depends on "friends"... Do check re how noisy the proposed filter will be... perhaps an in-tank power type will be best here...>
What about tank setup? Should I scrub the tank clean before I fill it? How?
<Posted on WWM... just no soap, detergent...>
Do I need to put a bacterial start in the water when I am first filling it up?
<Not likely... the frogs will bring their own>
Do I need to let the tank sit for a day or two before I move the frogs in?
<Yes I would>
When I leave for university breaks, will there be a problem if the frogs aren't fed for a bit?
<Mmm how long>
My breaks range from four days to 3 weeks. I am guessing the 3 weeks will be a problem, but four days probably won't.
<Correct>
Is there a way to give them staggered food, or will I need to find a frogsitter?
<The latter is a good idea... but barring this, an automated feeder to offer pellets will work>
I know that I will be taking the frogs for the next two years while I finish college, and hope that I can take them with me wherever I head after that. I know that the frogs will still have a home with the parents they are with right now when I go home for the summer, or after I am done with school. My hope is that after I get them a nice new habitat with filters, new food, etc., they will receive better care, because the family has just not spent the money on giving them the right environment. My concern here is whether or not it will be relatively easy to transport the aquarium back to the house (a 20 minute car ride) when I go home and come back for the summer, and indeed, if it will be possible, though not easy, to fly the frogs cross-country should I end up taking a job outside of Chicago when I graduate.
<Not impossible to take as carry on...>
My last questions are frog-specific. These two frogs have obviously not lived in the best of conditions. Will it shock their systems to just move them in together straight away?
<Mmm, not likely>
Should I acclimate them to their new surroundings, and if so, how?
<Move and place their existing, yes stinky, water with them... change this out weekly as stated above>
Should I move one frog in first, let him get used to the new place, then add the other frog? Or should I put them in together for a day, and then move them back to their old tanks for a day, before putting them in for good?
<I'd move both in all at once>
What about acclimating them to the new food they are going to eat?
<Almost never fussy eaters>
I am guessing since they are really made to eat what I am going to give them that there won't be any problems with changing their diet.
Thanks for reading an e-mail this long. I really want to make sure that these ACFs get the care they deserve, and wouldn't want to just take them without taking care of them.
Best,
Jessie
<You have read the FAQs files here: http://www.wetwebmedia.com/FWSubWebIndex/afclawedfrgfaqs.htm
Above? Good to peruse. Bob Fenner>

Feeding African Clawed Frogs    5/16/07
Hi, I'm new to the African Clawed Frogs and I have a few questions.
I have 2 Albino African Clawed Frogs along with 2 tiny black frogs. They were in the same tank as the African Clawed Frogs in the pet store as well is now, at my home. They are much smaller than the African Clawed Frogs. I don't know what they are, if you can give me a name for them, that would be great.
< Look at the genus Xenopus online>
Also, the pet store gave me Newt and Salamander sinking pellets by HBH for my frogs. I've had the frogs for about 5 days now, but they're not eating. The food sinks to the bottom and stays there, dirtying their tank. Do you have any suggestions on what I should feed them instead? That would be a big help!
-Adena
< As far as food goes I would recommend some "Tubifex worms" that they sell at the local fish store. Frogs usually require moving prey items since they hunt by site. Once they get going they will eat anything that moves.-Chuck>

Albino African Clawed Frog feeding/digesting problems  02-05-06
I recently bought an Albino Clawed Frog about a week ago. I have had quite a few frogs, my last one of six years died last month. I bought this small one
now (about 3 inches) and she does not seem to want to eat anything I give her.
<Very unusual for Xenopus laevis not to feed>
The shop I had bought her from was feeding her cut up meal worms, and so I  have reluctantly started to feed her those. I was wondering if meal
worms are okay, seeing as  my last Clawed frog had problems digesting them when he was this small.
<Not by themselves, no>
I am also worried because her stomach seems to be growing and I am worried about intestinal blockage. How should I deal with
this? and How would I know if it is? Any help would be AMAZING.
Thank you!
Mallory Wynne
<Perhaps a level teaspoon of Epsom Salt per ten gallons of system water will move this blockage. Bob Fenner>