What you can do to help!

[Schnauzer]

Sadly, the only way anyone know how to help amphibians is to take them out of the wild. There are two ways you can go about this if you are willing to house them and spend some money, and luckily neither are that complicated. Solution #1 includes taking the amphibian out of the wild permanently. Solution #2 includes taking the amphibian out of the wild long enough to give it treatment before re-release, which is only a temporary solution and doesn't solve the problem. I'll explain each solution and give detail as to the care of these animals and their treatment if applicable. Ask questions should you have any.

If you happen upon a frog, toad, salamander or newt (most likely frogs and toads), catch it. This is the easy part. Some frogs and most toads will pee in their defense, so if you don't want this on you, hold it facing away from you. Don't worry if you do get it on you though because it is mostly water and urine is sterile. It won't even stain because it's clear. Do not squeeze the animal; only grasp it as tightly as you need to in order to hold on to it. Males will most likely croak while you are holding them. If you are far away from your home when you find the animal, it's a good idea to bring a container along such as a jar or terrarium. Just be sure it has holes in the top so it can breathe. They will not give you any diseases or warts!! Just wash your hands after handling.

SOLUTION #1: Either have the environment for the amphibian to stay in prepared before its arrival, or keep the amphibian in your temporary holding container while you prepare the environment. If you do the later, be sure not to keep the amphibian in the temporary container for more than a few hours, and give it moisture.
For the environment you will need:
1. A terrarium or aquarium preferably at least 5 gallons in size. For up to 4 frogs or toads use 10 gallons. This might be a little crowded, but if done right it will do fine.
2. Substrate. Do not go digging in your backyard for this! Get some topsoil from Wal-Mart or go to your local pet store and purchase amphibian friendly bedding. This will most likely come in the form of a dried block that you soak and expand. That is what I use, but getting a bag of top soil is MUCH easier. Fill the tank with substrate up to about 1-1.5 inches.
3. Lid.
4. Light. This is why an aquarium is most preferable. If you get a florescent strip light from your pet store, it could melt the lid of a plastic terrarium. With an aquarium, you can get a simple wired lid and the appropriate size of light strip. It should go all of the way across the tank length ways. There is another, but more tricky alternative. You could get a heat/light lamp and a bulb to provide enough lighting. The trick to this is depends on how you have your setup. If you have a metal lid, just sit it on top of it and make sure it is stable. If your lid is plastic, you will have to find a way to hang it above the tank so that the animal(s) still can get enough light.
5. Water bowl. Get a water dish from your pet store that is large enough for the amphibian to freely bathe in and move around.
6. Shelter/decorations. Fake leaves, branches, etc. do just fine. Don't get any little cave things with small holes in them unless you want an animal that died because it got stuck! The animal(s) need to feel protected and like they're in a more natural surrounding.

Be sure all items are clean, and once you have your setup put together you should be ready to go! Keep the light on the animal(s) during the day and off at night. Change the water every day, or every other day at the very least. When you do this, be sure to add a dechlorinate to the water each time. If they don't seem to be using the water bowl much, put them in it once a day so that they get enough moisture.

Food... amphibians must have live food. No dried cricket or meal worm is going to show itself on the dinner plate. Amphibians have motion censors, and I find that they prefer crickets. Crickets are much less expensive and larger (yum!) if you get them from a bait shop. Feed each animal about 3 or 4 crickets a day. If you want to go further with this, there is cricket dust available at pet stores to coat them with. This turns the crickets white because it is rich in calcium, a vital part of a reptilian or amphibian diet. Don't catch insects from outside. You don't know where they came from and they could have pesticides on them, or worse, the fungus.

If treatment need be applied, read on to Solution #2 for the how to and symptoms.

SOLUTION #2: Follow Solution #1. The animals will need to be treated for Chytridiomycosis with 0.01% itraconazole in 0.6% saline solution. This can be obtained by going to your local vet and asking for it (explain the reason too). The vet's office should have ties to a pharmacy that can accurately dilute the solution. Treatment should include a bath in the substance only deep enough to cover the feet and belly. For amphibians that seem healthy, use a preventative treatment. Bathe them for 15 - 60 minutes once a day for five days. For amphibians that are sick, bathe them for 5 minutes once a day for eleven days. Treatment may need to be repeated for infected individuals if they go downhill again.
Symptoms of Chytridiomycosis include:
1. pale or discolored skin
2. pinkish tone on belly or other areas (may or may not have)
3. peeling skin
4. lethargy
5. weakness
6. no appetite
7. weight loss
8. low or 'hunkered down' pose
9. little attempt to hide itself
10. holding legs away from body in later stages

Chytrid basically slowly suffocates the amphibian, so it must be a terrible way to die. If you see an infected amphibian, please treat it. I do warn though, itraconazole solution does cost money. But if you have the money and the heart, save a life or two! Amphibians need our help.

I dedicate this to my male that I had for almost 2 years. Life was too short for him and he suffered. Rest in peace little guy.

[Little Animals! Crabs R Cute!]

thanks for this great article schnauz! i can tell you're a really caring person! :P but now i feel like i can make a toad sactuary(or toaduary) of my own!

[Winter's Morning]

I have a question. I know it's illegal to take squirrles and things from the wild without a license. Is taking and caring for amphibians legal?

[Schnauzer]

Yes as far as I know. Just don't go to the rain forest and take any from there lol. If you find one and you want to take care of it, just be sure it isn't on the endangered species list.