Why is my ADF floating with a growth on one side and can't swim?

Maintain pristine water quality in the main tank and monitor the fish for similar symptoms. A bit of aquarium salt ( not table or Epsom salt) can be used as a general tonic to reduce stress, improve gill function, treat minor infection and aid in recovery. Dissolve 1 teaspoon of salt per gallon of water in a cup or two of tank water and gently pour it into the tank. Treat for no more than two weeks then perform partial water changes to decrease salinity. Use only conditioned water that is temperature matched to prevent stress or shock. I am sorry for the loss of your frog. Your remaining ADF sounds quite ill by your description. Again, maintain pristine water quality in the quarantine tank with a water temp of 78 F. ADFs, and amphibians in general, ate quite sensitive to changes in water chemistry. Elevated ammonia or nitrite levels can kill. Other possibilities for the bloating include improper diet, obstruction or kidney failure. You can try a fast for a couple days along with salt baths. This may relieve the bloating. If it is dropsy, unfortunately by the time a frog is bloated, the survival rate is very low.

Thanks for reaching out. Frogs, as amphibians, don't have a swim bladder like fish do. They can accumulate air in their abdominal cavity due to infections and can perform aerophagia (swallowing/gulping) of air that can rest in the stomach, thereby changing buoyancy. Some frogs can over-inflate their lungs, due to disease and have difficulty expelling air. Check water quality first for pH, ammonia, nitrite and nitrate. Correct any concerns. The only way to determine air in the stomach, lungs or abdominal cavity is probably through a radiograph. Antibiotics could help several of these conditions but a veterinarian visit is needed. Good luck.

Check the water chemistry and quality. Use a home test kit or submit a water sample for testing. Most pet stores will do this for free or for a small fee. Aim for 0 ppm ammonia and nitrites with nitrates at 20 ppm or less. Perform partial water changes to stabilize chemistry and improve water quality. use only aged or conditioned water that is temperature matched to prevent stress or shock. Fast Froggy for 2-3 days then offer bits of cooked and shelled green peas. If the issue s constipation, this should help. Maintain water temp at the upper limit to aid in digestion.For ADFs, this is about 78 F. An Epsom salt bath may also decrease the bloating. Do NOT use table salt or aquarium salt. Dissolve 1/2 teaspoon of Epsom salt in 1 gallon of conditioned water and allow for a 30 minute swim once daily. If the bloating is due to bacterial infection, Maracyn 2 can be found in the Aquarium section of the local Petco. Follow label directions carefully and consider moving the frog to a hospital tank during treatment.

Confirm proper environmental parameters. Frogs are very sensitive to changes in water chemistry and water temperature. Offer food every other day. ADFs are small and don't need to eat much. Feed as much as he will eat in 5-10 minutes. You can offer frog pellets, frozen or live brine shrimp or frozen bloodworms. Frozen beef heart can be used as an occasional treat. Remove any uneaten food promptly to prevent fouling the water.

This kind of lump/growth needs to be ideally assessed by your veterinarian to have a definitive and specific answer and take any decision. Usually there are two ways your vet can do that a part from examining it directly during physical examination. A biopsy can be taken under local or general anesthetic, otherwise a smaller sample through a fine needle can be aspirated (this technique is called FNA= fine needle aspiration). Differentials include skin cysts, infections, benign or more sinister type of tumors. Hope this answer was helpful, but please do not hesitate to contact us again on the forum or by requesting a consultation if you have any more questions or to discuss it any further.

Ideally, he should be seen sooner than Thursday. If he has an obstruction or dropsy, then this is an emergency. For now, maintain pristine water conditions and proper temps. You can decrease the depth of the water to make it easier for Fred to surface.

I would be concerned about a possible parasites. I would recommend taking him to a vet for a good exam and fecal screen. If he has parasites that could cause him to be on the skinny side. However if he does not have parasites it is important to look for underlying disease like infection, viral or even organ disease.