Native Japanese frogs

Chytridiomycosis (chytrid fungus)

SignsSkin peeling, redness, sitting motionless, hind legs stretched out, sudden death. Common in newly acquired frogs

PreventionQuarantine newcomers in a separate container for 2–4 weeks. Keep tools separate per animal, change water daily and see a vet

Red-leg syndrome

SignsRedness on the belly and inner thighs, pinpoint bleeding, lethargy, staying submerged in water

PreventionDirty water is the main cause. Change water daily, wash substrate and enclosure weekly. See a vet the day you notice it

Dehydration / dry skin

SignsSkin looks dry and the body thin, sunken eyes, sluggish movement

PreventionAlways provide a shallow water dish and keep humidity up with misting. Use dechlorinated water

Metabolic bone disease

SignsDeformed jaw that will not close, inability to jump, trembling hind legs, easy fractures

PreventionDust crickets with calcium powder every feeding. Use a vitamin D3 supplement once a week

Gastrointestinal obstruction

SignsSwollen belly, no droppings, refusing food, regurgitating food

PreventionDo not use fine gravel or fine soil as substrate. Feed insects smaller than the width of the head

Parasites

SignsWeight loss, worms or mucus in droppings, eating but not gaining weight, unusually foul droppings

PreventionFor wild-caught frogs, bring a stool sample for testing when you first get them. Keep tools separate per animal

Snout abrasion

PreventionCreate visual cover on the enclosure walls with plants or cork. Avoid sudden noise and vibration, and do not peer in

First aidDo not touch the wound; keep the environment clean. Sores or a white film mean infection, so see a vet within a few days

Hind-leg fracture

PreventionDo not drop it onto the floor from a height. Calcium deficiency makes bones break from light impacts, so dust every feeding

First aidDo not splint. Place in a small container it cannot move around in, lined with damp paper towel, and see a vet the same day

Bites from feeder insects

PreventionRemove uneaten crickets the same day. Never leave live prey with a weakened frog

First aidRemove all remaining insects and keep the area around the wound clean. If it becomes red and swollen, see a vet within a few days

Drying out after escape

PreventionAlways secure the lid. Tree frogs squeeze through tiny gaps, so check the size of vent holes too

First aidWhen found, do not warm it; soak it in a container with shallow dechlorinated water. If the skin does not recover, see a vet

Salmonellosis

RouteHand to mouth after touching the frog or its water

PreventionAlways wash hands with soap after handling. Do not pour tank water down the kitchen sink

Nontuberculous mycobacterial infection

RouteInfects cuts on the hands via tank water or tools

PreventionWear gloves for water changes when you have cuts on your hands. See a doctor for skin lumps that will not heal

Irritation from skin mucus

RouteRubbing eyes or mouth with hands that touched the frog

PreventionTree frog mucus stings if it gets in the eyes. Do not touch your face after handling

Sparganosis (Spirometra tapeworm)

RouteEating raw frog or drinking untreated water

PreventionNever eat frogs raw. Watch that children do not put them in their mouths

Food

• Live prey such as crickets, fruit flies and small woodlice
• Adults: every 2–3 days, 2–5 insects smaller than the width of the head
• Dust with calcium powder every feeding, and a vitamin supplement once a week

Water

• Dechlorinated water in a shallow dish, changed daily
• Depth up to half the body. Add a foothold so it cannot drown

Toys & play

• Potted houseplants such as pothos. Places to climb and rest
• Cork bark and driftwood. Hiding places that protect the snout
• A small dish for live prey. Chasing it provides exercise

Nest, bed & hideout

• Tree frogs rest under leaves or high on the walls
• Pond and wrinkled frogs need damp moss or soil to burrow into

Bedding & litter

• Damp coconut fiber, sphagnum moss or paper towel
• Avoid fine gravel and akadama soil, which get swallowed
• Remove droppings as soon as seen; replace all substrate monthly

Cage / housing material

Glass or plastic enclosure. Mesh lid with a fine mesh

Size & space

At least 20 cm wide for one tree frog; at least 45 cm wide for a pond frog

Layout

• For tree frogs prioritize height; stand up plants and driftwood
• For pond and wrinkled frogs make land and water half and half
• Cover the walls with plants or a background to block the view and calm the frog

Placement notes

• Avoid windowsills in direct sun; the enclosure overheats and the frog dies
• Always lock the lid. A tree frog can get out through a 3 mm gap

Exercise, free-roam & walks

• No free-roaming time needed. Risk of drying out and escape, so never take it out
• Provide climbing and jumping exercise with plants and driftwood inside the enclosure
• When removing for cleaning, use a wet hand or a cup, and only briefly

Temperature & humidity

Temperature18–26°C. Above 28°C is dangerous; below 10°C in winter it enters a hibernation state

Humidity60–80%. Maintain with morning and evening misting

Summer & winter

• In summer keep it in a cool room and hold 26°C or below with air conditioning
• In winter keep indoor heating at 15°C or above, or manage hibernation with expert knowledge

Nail trimming

No claws, so no trimming. Instead keep the skin moist with daily water changes and misting

Brushing, skin & coat care

The skin sheds regularly and the frog eats it. Leftover shed means humidity is too low, so mist more

Other care

Wet your hands and keep handling brief. Never touch with dry bare hands or hands carrying cosmetics or detergent

Protection from predators

• Cats, dogs and birds knock over enclosures and eat frogs. Keep in a separate room or on a shelf out of reach
• Cockroach insecticide and mosquito coil smoke are absorbed through the skin and cause poisoning
• Even housemate frogs: larger ones eat smaller ones. Separate by species and size

Foreign-body ingestion

Swallows gravel, coconut fiber or moss along with prey. If the belly swells and no droppings pass, see a vet the same day. Feed from a dish or with tweezers

Being stepped on

A frog that escapes to the floor during cleaning is easily stepped on. Only take it out in a small room with a towel on the floor, and check your footing before moving

Getting pinched

Getting caught in the lid or sliding door causes fractures and internal injury. Check the rim for the frog before closing. If pinched, do not touch; see a vet the same day

Falls

If it leaps from your grip and hits the floor, fractures and internal bleeding can follow. If it does not move or is bleeding, rest it in a moist container and see a vet. Hold it only low down

Escape

Lock the lid and seal gaps. If it escapes, close windows and doors and search the bathroom, behind houseplants and curtains. It dries out within hours, so search fast

Safe release procedure

1. A bite hurts only mildly. The teeth are tiny and cause no serious injury
2. Keep your hand still and lightly support the frog's body with a wet hand
3. Trickle a little water on it or bring it close to the ground and it will let go on its own
4. Once it releases, return the frog to its enclosure, calm down and wash your hands

After the release

Wash the wound with running water and soap. If the frog's jaw stays open, see a vet

What to tell the vet & what to bring

Species, time kept, source (collected/purchased), temperature and humidity, water-change frequency, diet, photos of symptoms and a stool sample

Checking consciousness, breathing & heartbeat

• Touch lightly: does it pull its leg back? No response means critical
• The throat pulsing several dozen times a minute is normal breathing
• Lying flat with legs fully extended and sunken eyes is danger

Stopping bleeding

• Press gently with a wet clean gauze for 5 minutes
• Do not apply antiseptic or human ointment; they are absorbed through the skin
• If it will not stop or the bleeding is heavy, see a vet even at night

Transport

• Place in a small container lined with damp paper towel and keep it dark
• In summer put an ice pack on the outside of the container; in winter keep the car around 20°C