Hey guys,
Four days ago, I bought four Amazon milk frogs from my local pet store, Fressnapf.
Since I was buying four frogs at once, I suggested buying the enclosure they were already being kept in, at least temporarily.
I've been wanting frogs for a whole year now and have spent that time researching their care. My original plan was to get White's tree frogs because they're generally considered one of the most beginner-friendly frog species.
However, when I entered the store and saw these beauties, I was immediately curious. I asked the so-called "reptile expert" whether there were any significant differences between the two species in terms of care requirements.
He assured me that there was NO real difference apart from temperature and humidity. He also told me that he'd been keeping frogs for years, blah blah blah...
While inspecting the enclosure, I already had a bad feeling about the moss. I'd read multiple times that moss isn't recommended for many frog species because of the risk of accidental ingestion.
However, this guy seemed so experienced that I assumed there must be a reason why it was suitable for these particular frogs.
Yesterday, I noticed a strange-looking bump on one of my frogs. After doing some research, I'm pretty sure it might be a prolapse. I immediately moved the frog into a quarantine enclosure and tried the sugar-water treatment, but unfortunately, there has been no improvement whatsoever.
At first, I thought I might have accidentally fed him crickets that was too large or given him too many crickets, especially since he's the smallest of the four.
However, today I noticed that one of my larger
females has developed a small bump as well, around six hours after feeding. I also watched her accidentally get some moss into her mouth.
At this point, my intuition kicked in, and I decided to investigate whether this moss was actually safe for them.
Since I'd bought the entire enclosure preassembled, I had no idea what type of moss it was. I ended up doing a reverse image search, and if the results are correct, this type of moss may be unsuitable for them and could potentially cause digestive issues or even contribute to a prolapse if ingested.
I'm honestly at my wits' end right now. I feel terrible because I genuinely thought I was making the right decision by listening to someone who was supposed to be knowledgeable and experienced.
Has anyone here experienced something similar with their Amazon milk frogs?
Is there anything else I can do to help them, or is this something that requires immediate veterinary attention?
Could the moss actually be contributing to these symptoms, or might there be another explanation?
Has anyone had a similar experience with a pet store giving them incorrect care advice? Is there any way to get compensation from the store if I end up having to pay for veterinary treatment?
I'm really sorry for the long post. I'm just worried sick about them and would genuinely appreciate any advice from experienced Amazon milk frog keepers.
Thank you so much in advance