Skin Rubs / Skin Infection

Cureable, with higher success when caught early.
Unaddressed, it often leads to death.
Preventable in some cases as environment can be the cause

DESCRIPTION:
A patch or scratch of discolored skin, usually grey and small when first developed. If it becomes infected, the grey area expands, sometimes becoming white and slimy, as the bacteria/fungal infection eats away the surrounding skin and the frog loses its color. Infection is highly likely in vivarium settings and should be treated as precaution. Sometimes they do heal on their own, but there are far more stories of infection setting in than self-healing.

CAUSE:
Rubs are formed when the frog rubs its skin raw. This is often seen on the nose but is not unusual to see on the eyelids, top of the head, the back, hip bones, or ankles. Because of it frequently seen on the nose, skin rubs are often referred to as nose rubs, no matter where they are found on the body.

Most often seen with frogs placed in sparsely/newly tanks with screen portions and from time spent in transportation / shipping cups. Dendrobates tinctorius, Phyllobates, and large Oophaga tend to have more issues with this than other species, but any frog can get rubs. For frogs in the Oophaga and Phyllobates genus, rubs on the face are not unusual to see caused during shipping. For this reason, some shippers are using smaller, individual containers such as large test tubes which restricts movement and might lessen stress.

Rubbings can be a marker for stress (not always) and care should be taken that the cause is addressed.

TREATMENT:
While nose rubs themselves can heal up on their own, they can easily become infected. It is highly recommended to treat the wound when noticed to prevent infection. Neosporin (without pain reliever), Polysporin, and 1% Silver sulfadiazine have been used with success. Other treatments such as Baytril have been used and this space will need to be updated to account for the multiple variations of treatment.

Also, one will need to find and address the cause. If the cause is not from shipping/transport, check their environment. What stressors are present? Providing hides, lots of plant cover, and exchanging screen portions for glass can reduce risks. Plastic plants and even rough wood pieces have been associated with rubs. If the tank’s plant cover is sparse, offering temporary shady areas while waiting for plants to fill in can help.

EXAMPLES

Phyllobates terribilis

Treated with Bacitracin neomycin polysporin ointment. Increased ventilation and changed the habitat be more dry. Healed up well.
(Photo credit: Anonymous)

Oophaga histrionica 'Tado'

nose rub treated with silver sulfadiazine
(Photo credit: Peter Gordet)

MORE EXAMPLES

Case A: Phyllobates terribilis

Phyllobates - nose rub from shipping cup. Healed on its own with no treatment. PC: Bobbie Hewell

Case B: Dendrobates Auratus

An auratus with skin rub on back. Possible cause of rubbing against plastic plants. Treated with Neosporin without pain reliever for a few days while waiting for Silver Sulfadiazine to arrive in the mail. Started healing faster after SS was applied. Made full recovery in a little over a month; no loss of color.

Case C: Den. tinctorius 'Azureus'

An adult proven pair of Azureus arrived via post with no noticed nose rubs. Male developed nose rub first, then while being treated the female also developed nose rub. Owner received advice to not treat, that it would heal on its own. Sometimes this is true, but most of the time it is not. Treatment started in the vivarium, but quickly moved to quarantine tank (QT) when male developed bloat. Suspected the rub cause was from hiding under the mopani wood, and was removed. Large sycamore leaves were added for additional cover.

QT tank consisted of an aquarium tank with paper towels as a base and large sycamore leaves for cover. Nose rub was treated with Neosporin without pain reliever while waiting for Silver Sulfadiazine to be delivered. SS was applied most days. Applied at night to reduce stress. Bloat was treated by soaking in flavorless/colorless Pedialyte. Ringers solution, Baytril, and 2% Calcium gluconate were also ordered but upon their arrival, the bloat had subsided. As of this writing, they are nearly at full health recovery.