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Ponds in the UK

Diseased frogs?

20 years ago

Hi,

I have some very perculiar looking frogs in my pond and I really don't know what it is, despite searching on the web.

They have what looks like big pale-blue-grey bumps on them, some very big, but no redness or bleeding or peeling skin. There's one which looks like he is covered in mutant pale-blue-grey barnacles, but he is just as frisky as the others! Not all of them have it, but with the spawning session going on in the pond with such enthusiasm I can see it will be spread across a much wider group. :(

I'll try to get a picture posted soon.

Any advice would be very helpful as no other disease I can find describes the symptoms the frogs are showing.... thanks.

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Comments (9)

Aitch
Original Author
20 years ago
Hi,

Maybe the photo will help - probably my description sounds a bit strange..... any ideas anyone? I'm obviously very worried about it.

Thanks

Here is a link that might be useful:
chippewacat
20 years ago
I've noticed the same 'growths' on some of our frogs, but not as extensive as in your picture but as you say, they are just as active as the others. I have noticed it for about 3 years now, but have not seen any problems with dead or poorly frogs.

I assume it is some kind of fungal growth?
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That is so sad. I hope that some of your frogs survive. I didn't realise that they could be a yellow colour. I thought that the disease caused red colouring all over the body but especially on the legs, so that was interesting to read. I am so glad that none of mine have shown symptoms. Don't we have to report it Alan? I can't remember who to, but I remember them (whoever it was)saying that they wanted to keep an eye on how it was moving across the country. Alison
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dampflippers
20 years ago
Do you have swan mussels? I know their babies can attach themselves to fish.
I would contact Froglife and email them a photo.
www.froglife.org
There is a section on diseases, and an email contact for questions about diseases.

Here is a link that might be useful: Froglife website
Scotty24
20 years ago
Now that IS strange! Never seen anything like it before.
alison_froglady
20 years ago
Have you picked one up and felt the lumps? are they hard and solid? I know you said they were like barnacles so I guess they are hard. I was just being curious to see if they were as hard as they looked.
Alison
chippewacat
20 years ago
Snap!! I was just about to suggest the froglife website too. At least it is not ranavirus or chytridiomycosis, which I understand are the two killers.

It would be interesting to hear what froglife comes up with.
Aitch
Original Author
20 years ago
Hi,

I've posted on Alsions website too, but for those of you who haven't seen it, I did contact froglife and they replied to say that they had had a 'flush of emails' about this recently but don't know what it is. They are sending my pictures to the Institute of Zoology to see if they can help work out what it is.....

I have to confess I haven't felt the bumps - I figured the little guy had enough problems without me grabbing him! He's the worst, the rest seem to be less affected or not at all - but as I said before, he seems as happy as Larry, so no obvious ill-effects!

I'll let you know if I hear more......
dampflippers
20 years ago
Another place you could (and should) try is the herpetological society.
They have an online recording section, where you could submit your photo and ask for a diagnosis. http://www.herpetofauna.co.uk/record_submission_form_rauk.asp
They also have a message board where you could post your photo and ask for suggestions. Here: http://www.herpetofauna.co.uk/forum/search.asp?KW=disease&SM=1&SI=PT&FM=0amp;OB=1

Here is a link that might be useful: UK herptological trust
alison_froglady
20 years ago
For those of you who do not visit my forum I will tell you what I have found today. I have found three of my frogs with the same symptoms and managed to have a good look. It is quite strange because on the photo and when the frogs are in the water they look like raised lumps. But when getting him out he was smooth as usual and the lumps don't feel like lumps at all and are under the skin.Not raised at all. How bizarre is that !! Tomorrow I am going to try to get my most affected frog out to have a good look and will post again with the results.
Alison

Here is a link that might be useful: Alisons website

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