Darts can easily die from untreated lacerations or skin abrasions.
terribilis death
G
My eldest mint Terribilis (9 months) died this morning. This entire weekend he was acting crazy every time I entered the room, or poked around in his tank. He would start freaking out, jumping all over the place. He was even jumping into the walls in a erratic mannor. I found him this evening, when I returned home, floating in the water freature. I do not know if he drowned or died independently and then fell into the water.
I did not think there was anything seriously wrong, because he is fat and looks healthy. The only problem was numerous scratches and other markes he obtained from jumping into things and hiding in really tight spaces between rocks.
I am not sure wether I should fill the water are with gravel so my three other frogs do not encounter the same fate. If he was sick why did he look so healty? And should I be worried about the health of my other frogs? I have kept them all in a 30 g tank with an average temp. of 76 since may 2004.
I did not think there was anything seriously wrong, because he is fat and looks healthy. The only problem was numerous scratches and other markes he obtained from jumping into things and hiding in really tight spaces between rocks.
I am not sure wether I should fill the water are with gravel so my three other frogs do not encounter the same fate. If he was sick why did he look so healty? And should I be worried about the health of my other frogs? I have kept them all in a 30 g tank with an average temp. of 76 since may 2004.
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Yes, this is also the case with darts. Parasite eggs/larvae that have been expelled through droppings will mature and look to re-enter a host, and the way that they usually do this is by burrowing through the skin and any organs that might be in the way. It's not always life threatening, but when the organisms by chance burrow through the brain to get to the lungs, GI tract, etc, it can cause obvious repercussions to the cognitive functions. I would have the other frogs tested immediately. I'm assuming you never quarantined these frogs? It's likely that the tank is now contaminated also, so they may require regular Panacur or dewormer treatments from now on.but some parasites can invade the brain and cause dementia in certain animals.
Almost any internal parasite can lead to bloody stool in a stressed situation. Quarantine has been covered many times, if you really don't believe it has merit, then just keep doing what you're doing and hope that you don't introduce other frogs with worse pathogens.
I'd have to disagree with the necropsy advice. Unless you've kept the body in the refrigerator up until now, it's seen too much decay to be of any use. Necropsies are useful pretty much within the first 24-36 hours of the animals demise.
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