Red Eyed Tree Frog Diseases

Red-eyed tree frogs, which are highly sought after by amphibian enthusiasts as a beautiful addition to their collections, live in lowland tropical rain forests in Central America and northern South America. They have also been called monkey frogs due to their extremely dexterous nature and coordinated hands and feet. These frogs are primarily nocturnal and are voracious hunters. Red-eyed tree frogs that are kept in captivity are more prone to developing illness and disease, since their native habitats and food sources are difficult to re-create.

  1. Oodinium

    • Oodinium is a common illness among captive red-eyed tree frogs and manifests as small whitish or gray spots all over the frog's lime green skin. This condition is usually caused by dirty habitats, but it can be caused by one of many other conditions, such as red leg disease. If caught early enough, oodinium can be treated by placing the frog into distilled water and cleaning the habitat thoroughly. It is imperative to keep your red-eyed tree frog's habitat pristine.

    Metabolic Bone Disease

    • Metabolic bone disease is also quite common in red-eyed tree frogs. This is caused when the frogs do not receive enough calcium in their diets. For captive frogs, this condition can be easily reversed by supplementing the frog's diet. Crickets and other foodstuffs can be lightly dusted with calcium or multivitamin powder daily. This will ensure that the frogs are not lacking any vitamins or minerals in their diets.

    Red Leg Disease

    • Red leg disease is caused by Pseudomonas and Aeromonas bacteria. Symptoms include reddening of the lower abdomen and legs as well as the formation of hematomas. Treatment consists of an antibacterial bath of a prescription antibacterial medication.

    Chytrid Fungus

    • Chytrid fungus is caused by the pathogenic fungus Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis. Treatment with antifungal agents added to baths for eight days has been shown to be effective.

    Warning

    • It is important to note that red-eyed tree frogs are considered exotic pets, and there are many conditions that are not known about them, especially when kept as pets. Veterinarians are not generally trained in the medical management of these creatures, so careful consideration should be given to preventing disease and illness by keeping habitats as natural and clean as possible, without introducing potentially harmful chemicals.