Frog Husbandry

Supplying the Scientific Community for OVER 25 Years!

Housing

Tanks can be either glass or rigid plastic. Xenopus should have 2-5 gallons of non chlorinated and chloramine free water per adult. Allow them to have places to avoid light if so desired. Frogs do like to bask if allowed to do so. Keep water level so frogs cannot escape or use a soft top enclosure with good ventilation.

Feeding

Feeding ideally should be done daily. Animals should be fed as much as can be consumed in about 15 minutes. Xenopus should be give a nutritional high quality balanced diet such as Xenopus express' exclusive FFF FLOATING/SINKING FROG FOOD 3/32”. Tanks should be cleaned after feeding to remove uneaten food. This can be done using a siphon or even a turkey baster.

Temperature

Xenopus Laevis should be housed at 20-23 degrees C (68-75 degrees F).

Xenopus Tropicalis should be housed at 23-28 degrees C (75 -80 degrees F).

If the water temperature is sub optimal... frogs will not eat and their metabolism and immune systems will be depressed. Xenopi cannot raise their body temperature by producing metabolic heat. They must rely on external heat sources. Tanks in cool rooms should provide a heating source. Low wattage rare earth phosphorous bulbs are useful and prevent burns. Submersible heaters can be wrapped in plastic mesh to protect frogs from burns. Xenopi are sensitive to temperature changes within the room as well as the temperature changes of water.

Water Quality

If using tap water, it is necessary to let the tap water sit for at least 24 hours to allow dissolved gases and some chlorine to dissipate before the water is used. This also allows time for the water to adjust to the current room temperature to reduce stress to frogs. A de-chlorinizer / water conditioner should also be added to water. If de-ionized water is used...be sure to verify a correct pH range (6.5-8.5). Water that is over saturated with dissolved gases can cause gas bubble disease (bubbles under the skin and in the webbing of frogs).

Recommended Water Hardness

A GH of greater than about 200 ppm works fine for increasing oocyte firmness and normal embryo development rates. 200 ppm (mg/liter of CaCO3) and alkalinity > 50 ppm (mg/L of CaCO3).

Effect of Water Hardness on Oocyte Quality and Embryo Development in the African Clawed Frog (Xenopus laevis) Earl W. Godfrey, PhD and George E Sanders, DVM

Lighting

Enrichment

Housekeeping

Cleanliness is the key to healthy and productive animals. Cleaning should be done a couple of hours after feeding. When changing the water or handling animals you should wear gloves. Traces of soaps, hand lotions, colognes and ointments which remain on the hands can be harmful to Xenopus. Frogs have permeable skin and are very sensitive to toxic substances.

New Arrivals

Our frogs are shipped in sealed eps foam containers with damp sponge to prevent drying out and to cushion any bumps during transit. Our shipping containers provide appropriate temperature, space and oxygen. Frogs should not be left in warm areas like loading docks. They should be promptly unpacked.

We recommended if possible, that new arrivals should be housed in separate holding tanks and should have separate nets for quarantine animals. Frequent hand washing procedures and glove changes between tanks of different shipments and between individual frogs.

HUSBANDRY AND ENRICHMENT IDEAS

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC5Gp4r6GMJ0fZg1tjKqmmRA/featured

NEVER release your animals into the wild, and ALWAYS wash your hands after feeding, cleaning, and / or handling.

Disease and Infections of Xenopus

Red Leg

Prevention is always the best medicine!

Bacterial infections very preventable by not overfeeding, not overcrowding, good housekeeping, maintaining a temperature below 75 F and the use of the probiotic bacteria like LZ -Lymnozyme®. We use it! The four strains of bacteria in Lymnozyme® are very effective against aeromonas and pseudomonas, but also most gram negative microbes including vibrio, streptococcus, etc.

Red Leg

Aeromonas hydrophila, a gram-negative bacterium bacteria, is one the most common diseases that Xenopus can suffer. It is can be widespread in the body because it is carried by the blood. Common symptoms are red legs and swelling. The disease then it advances to the point to where the flesh rots off of the legs. (photo above). Once is has advanced to the stages chances are the animal will not survive. We recommend euthanizing the animal.

Treatment: (Tetracycline oral: 1mg/5g body weight for 5 days).Use salt at a concentration of 100 mM and add 100 micrograms per ml oxytetracycline to the water for a week. Change the water every day. Isolate infected animals and all animals it had contact with. Disinfect all nets and tanks.

The most reliable form of antibiotic delivery is by injection preformed by an expert.

Hobbyists can obtain antibiotics from the pet shop such as Maracyn II® and Maracyn Plus® which are used for Bacterial infections. These can be used in conjunction with salt.

Bloated Frog

There are two types of bloat.

First is a hard bloated frog that appears all of the sudden at the top of your tank. This frog should be immediately removed and quarantined. This is caused by a internal bacterial infection and sadly almost always fatal. Hobbyists can obtain Maracyn II® and Maracyn Plus® which are used for Bloat. These can be used in conjunction with salt.

Second is a "Soft squishy frog bloat" Like a the Michelin Man, (pictured above). This is caused by an abnormal accumulation of serious bodily fluids due to improper body metabolism. Many times damaged kidneys or liver no longer function properly causing edema. An expert can puncture to release fluids. Frogs can live for a very long time in this state. Salt bath is recommended for this type of bloat.

Fungal Infections

Fungal infections are common in amphibians and can often be secondary to bacterial infections.

Treatments: Mardel Maroxy® Anti-fungal solution available at pet shops. Maroxy is also effective against some bacteria.

Methylene Blue is effective against fungal infections. Can be done as a tank treatment or a dip. We recommend following the manufacture's directions.

LIVE ROBUST HEALTHY CAPTIVE BRED XENOPUS GROWN AT OUR FACILITY