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Thread: Why is this tadpole still a tadpole (8 months later)?

  1. #1
    MikeTe
    Guest

    Default Why is this tadpole still a tadpole (8 months later)?

    My kids (10 and 12) caught this tadpole last June, as a little guy. As it got bigger, we figured it was a bullfrog tad.

    Why hasn't it metamorphosed?

    They've been taking good care of it..... obviously, I guess, b/c it has grown and it's still alive after all this time. They're quite experienced keepers now b/c of all the other frogs and toads that we have in the house. They change half the water every few days, feed it (and 2 big snails) turtle pellets and fish food every couple of days. It's 2.5 in. long and as active as a tadpole cares to be.

    What's up?

    Here's a pic from today:

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  3. #2
    eric048
    Guest

    Default Re: Why is this tadpole still a tadpole (8 months later)?

    whats the water temp, keep in mind some frogs take up to 3 years before they grow up

  4. #3
    SkeletalFrog
    Guest

    Default Re: Why is this tadpole still a tadpole (8 months later)?

    Bullfrog time to metamorphosis depends on lattitude and temperature - in Florida, it can be as little at 6 months, but north it an be over 18 months.

  5. #4
    MikeTe
    Guest

    Default Re: Why is this tadpole still a tadpole (8 months later)?

    The water was around 75 F last summer, early fall, but has been about 67 F this winter. I didn't realize that tadpoles would over-winter...... they all seem to disappear by the end of summer in the river. I've never, in my life, noticed a big bull-tad in the fall (they're generally hard to miss in the spring/summer, they're so big and fat).

    ...learn something new every day....

  6. #5
    SkeletalFrog
    Guest

    Default Re: Why is this tadpole still a tadpole (8 months later)?

    Quote Originally Posted by MikeTe View Post
    The water was around 75 F last summer, early fall, but has been about 67 F this winter. I didn't realize that tadpoles would over-winter...... they all seem to disappear by the end of summer in the river. I've never, in my life, noticed a big bull-tad in the fall (they're generally hard to miss in the spring/summer, they're so big and fat).

    ...learn something new every day....
    From what I know of the literature, bullfrog time to metamorphosis depends on frost-free time at a given site, and they often over-winter at high latitudes. Once it gets cold, they'll just sink to the bottom and go dormant until next spring.

    However, I don't know how much plasticity there is in this - if you raise a Canadian bullfrog in Florida temperatures, will it metamorphose as quickly as a Florida bullfrog, or is the duration somehow genetically pre-set? I poked around and didn't find any papers on it, so it may be unknown.

  7. #6

    Default Re: Why is this tadpole still a tadpole (8 months later)?

    Northern Green Frogs, Rana clamitans, will overwinter as tadpoles as well. They start reappearing in the early spring long before the adult versions have started calling.

    I can't say I'd be able to distinguish one from a bullfrog at the tadpole stage though.

  8. #7
    Jimbok3
    Guest

    Default Re: Why is this tadpole still a tadpole (8 months later)?

    can you post a bigger pic and a closeup pic of the tadpole?

    if you can than i should be able to distinguish what type it is......

  9. #8
    MikeTe
    Guest

    Default It has legs!!!

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  10. #9
    KiwiSugar
    Guest

    Default Re: Why is this tadpole still a tadpole (8 months later)?

    This can be normal depending on time of year, season, weather etc... He will be strong when does change

  11. #10
    Jimbok3
    Guest

    Default Re: Why is this tadpole still a tadpole (8 months later)?

    I agree, here in VA bullfrog tadpoles take around two years to change (I have personally shortened the time, but it was through a high nutrient diet)

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