Hello, my name is Tracy, and I just started a 10 gallon aquarium. I set up the tank and then a couple days later went and got the fish I wanted. I was sure to ask what fish got along and what fish didn't. Well my husband went out and got this cool frog, and 5 ghost shrimp, and today the frogs leg is bent backwards, and looks all weird... will the frog be ok?? I read this site, and it said ghost shrimp ate the leg off a frog... I just want to know what I need to do to keep my frog healthy, or if it is too late for the poor little frog! Thanks

Tracy

What exactly has happened to the leg? Is it missing or just bent back? If bent back, it sounds like a physical injury that probably wouldn't result from the other animals in the tank. Do you have a dwarf African frog (ADF) or an African clawed frog (ACF). ADF's are much smaller. They may be harmed by larger ghost shrimp. Mine live with some red-fronted shrimp without a problem. ACF's grow larger and do eat fish and probably shrimp too.

If the frog's leg is bent back and broken, I doubt there's anything you can do. Only a few fish/aquatic vets exist in the US that might also treat a tiny frog like that. He may be able to function like that and otherwise live a somewhat normal life. My page on ADF's and ACF's is at http://www.fishpondinfo.com/frog4.htm
All you can do is maintain a clean and healthy tank with good nutrition and proper tankmates. If the frog's leg becomes infected with bacteria or fungus, you can try the appropriate fish medications for treatment but hopefully he'll be okay. Good luck!

Thank you for your input! He isn't moving around alot now, and his leg is bent back to normal... he was on his back for a while, and we thought he was dead... I am not sure which kind he is because my husband got it for me. he is greenish/grey colored, my husband said he could get up to 3" long. I am putting the frog alone for a while in a smaller tank to see what happens. should I not get a new frog, or should I get rid of the ghost shrimp?? what do you think? thanks!

Tracy

hi again! I looked at the frogs pics on your site, mine looks like the ADF frog...

ADF's don't grow to 3". Look at the front feet. If there's webbing between the toes, it's an ADF. If not, it's an ACF. I wouldn't think that ghost shrimp could cause the frog's leg to bend back. Being upside down was certainly a bad sign. He may have injured himself somehow, perhaps when moved from the store to the new tank (the injury may not have been obvious at first). I don't think the shrimp caused it but that's just my guess. Now that he's hurt, it's probably best to let him heal without other animals around to pester him or compete for food. Try to get some live blackworms; he'll love them. If he won't eat those, you'll know he's in bad shape.