posted 7 May 03

I noticed the product listed Vitamin A. There has been a lot of talk lately about long term problems with Vitamin A and Dart Frogs. I used Herptivite for about 8 Years and never had any problems. I went almost 6 years and never lost a single frog out of over 30 Adult frogs. About a year and half ago I switched to a product that had Vitamin A and after about a year I started losing a frog here and there. I had brought in some wild caught frogs and it was thought that a virus or bacteria had spread. I don't have a good Vet in this area so all I could do was try different things like Batril and other antibiotics. Nothing seemed to work. I finally got together with a Vet out of town and started shipping him the dead ones and it was found they all had severe Liver damage which is consistent with Vitamin A toxity. If the liver damage doesn't kill them it also lowers the immune system and they die from simple infections. It also affects the females more at breeding time. I lost over a period of 8 months about 8 Adult female Tincs. Some of the main symptoms I saw were.

Bloated frogs dieing in the water dish.

Healthy frogs suddenly crouching are laying down and dieing a few days later.

Mussel spasms

Leg infections

I am currently working with a good Vet that also keeps Dart Frogs and will post more when I get more on all this.

Bill and Cathy Weirts
Grand Rapids,Mi
616-257-0829
www.QualityExotics.com