Please help - bloated ADF

Here you go:

"Bloat:
Aquatic frogs may appear fat for a number of reasons including just eating too much or being a female with eggs but sometimes they get bloat. Bloat is probably caused by an internal bacterial infection which messes with frogs ability to drain excess fluids (mostly water) from its body. So, it gets larger and larger, full of fluid. Treatment is to use aquarium salt at about a tablespoon per 5 gallons and to try aquarium fish antibiotics. I will add more on this topic later. A frog with bloat will literally look like it is ready to explode. "

from http://www.fishpondinfo.com/frog4.htm#dwarf - Robyn's aquarium frogs under Aquarium Frog Health. From your post and the info above, sounds like you're thinking on the right track.

Oh my. Poor guy. Is his coloring off too, or is it just the photo? In that picture it almost appears to be albino (or even an ACF! Though you seem to know the difference quite well).

He looks as if he could be past the point of no return.

Salt causes you to retain water, as far as I know, so I'm not sure if that'd help much. Bloat is one of those things where it's so hard to tell what causes it (disease or organ malfunction). Epsom Salt (magnesium) can extract fluids from the body for slight temporary relief. I'm not sure of the concentration off hand though. I think there was a post on here once that explained it. It's probably only a teaspoon or two per 10 gallons. But please don't take my word on that, I'd have to look it up.

I've never heard of OmniPure, so I am terribly afraid I can't help much You may want to try something general like a broad spectrum antibiotic (Maracyn Plus - or Maracyn I and II) as well as some Epsom salts (the kind you get at the drugstore).

There's no need for a hospital tank since he's alone. As for his water, you want to keep it as clean as you can. Just remember that you'll need to replace any medications that will come out in a water change.

I'm really sorry I can't give you anything definitive. Bloat is just one of those things It seems like you take excellent care of him though, if he's got his own filtered tank and is 4.5 years old.

Welcome to the forum. Sorry you couldn't join under more jovial circumstances.

EDIT: Now, this is normally for Malawi cichlids with bloat, but it is suggested to use Metronidazole (commonly sold as Emtryl or Flagyl), or Clout to treat bloat. As for the Epsom salt, I'm going to say about 1.5 teaspons per 10g.

The websites I pulled up say it has a laxative effect, but it seems to me that it out to draw fluid out....perhaps not. I know bodybuilders will up their Mg intake before a competition because it increases vascularity by lowering the water content..Hm.

I've not used clout before. I just found it while searching for other alternatives. I would indeed be wary of anything that specifies not to use on scaleless fish. Perhaps in a 1/2 -1/4 dose strength?

Bloat is kind of like dropsy. It happens a lot, but without the scientific examination of it and tests, it's hard to know what's causing it and therefore how to fix it.

Maybe someone who has experienced bloat more can help out.