Posts tagged Amphibian Health
Amphibian News – Bacteria Offers Immunity against Deadly Chytrid Fungus
Aug 2nd
Hello, Frank Indiviglio here. A bacterium that naturally occurs on the skin of certain frogs and salamanders has been shown to protect these animals from infection by a deadly Chytrid fungus infection. Chytrid fungus, known as Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis, has been very much in the news since its discovery in 1999. It is believed to have caused the extinction of up to 200 amphibian species, and is still spreading in many countries. More >
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Loading ...The Penn Plax Turtle Pier – a Useful New Basking Site for Turtles and Amphibians
Jun 30th
Hello, Frank Indiviglio here.After decades of struggling to create makeshift land areas for semi-aquatic reptiles and amphibians, I was very happy when pre-formed Turtle Docks, Turtle Logs and Turtle Banks became available. Today I’d like to review the recently-introduced Penn Plax Turtle Pier, which eliminates certain drawbacks associated with the previously mentioned products.
Drawbacks and Advantages of Various Platforms
Since their introduction, I’ve put the first line of basking docks and platforms to good use in my collection and in several of the aquarium and museum exhibits I’ve designed (please see article below). Their only limitations are that large turtles tend to sink them below the surface (which keeps the plastron from drying out completely) and robust individuals sometimes dislodge the platforms from the aquarium’s sides. More >
(No Ratings Yet) Loading ...Is There a Proposed Ban on Buying or Selling Amphibians in the USA?
Jun 14th
Hello, Frank Indiviglio here. A recent announcement by the US Fish & Wildlife Service (US F&WS) has fueled rumors that the shipping of frog legs (please see photo) and the pet trade in live frogs and salamanders may soon be curtailed or banned. This is not actually the case, but there will soon be an opportunity for people to register comments concerning the trade with the US government. More >
(No Ratings Yet) Loading ...Raising Springtails as Food for Poison Frogs, Mantellas and other Small Amphibians – Part 2
Jan 20th
Hello, Frank Indiviglio here. Springtails are minute, primitive, wingless insects classified in the Order Collembola. Over 6,000 species are found in most temperate and tropical habitats, where they figure importantly in the diets of Poison Frogs (Dendrobates, Phyllobates, Oophaga), small salamanders and newly metamorphosed amphibians of many kinds. Please see Part I of this article for information on procuring Springtails and their role in helping to save the nearly extinct Kihansi Spray Toad (Nectophrynoides asperginis). More >
(+1 rating, 1 votes) Loading ...Gas Bubble Disease in Aquatic Frogs, Newts and Salamanders
Jan 18th
Hello, Frank Indiviglio here. I’m frequently contacted by amphibian keepers who find that their pets are floating about at the water’s surface and seem unable to submerge. While gas produced by bacteria within the animal can cause this, the most frequent culprit is Gas Bubble Disease. This term is sometimes used to refer to any of several related but different maladies, and commonly afflicts African Clawed Frogs (Xenopus laevis), Dwarf Clawed Frogs (Hymenochirus spp.) and Mexican Axolotls (Ambystoma mexicanum). More >
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