Leopard Frog Help

[John]

- Tadpoles from the genus Rana generally don't eat a lot of animal matter. I would add a rabbit pellet or two to his tank and he should eat those.
- Tadpoles stop eating when they start to absorb their tail. A few days after metamorphosis (complete or near complete absorption of the tail) they will start eating tiny foods.
- Metamorphosing tadpoles are incredibly prone to drowning. I would remove him to a small tupperware container with a little island in water that is just barely deep enough to cover him - that way he can touch the bottom and breathe at the same time, or come out onto the island.
- Leopard frogs are more aquatic than many of the members of the Rana genus but frankly they are not an aquatic frog, and certainly not for the first 6 months or so post-metamorphosis.
- Leopards are known as big jumpers and they don't really make great pets because of their space requirements. The reason that mail order companies sell them is that they are incredibly common and used somewhat in science.
- Regarding an enclosure for the frog, when it is relatively small it won't be very aquatic (or not at all), so a completely terrestrial aquarium with no water is in order. It doesn't have to be very big (a 40 liter / 10 gallon would do for a metamorph) but as the frog gets bigger its space needs will grow dramatically.
- I wouldn't consider keeping a jumping frog like an adult Leopard in an enclosure any smaller than 45 cm wide by 120 cm long (18x~48 inches), and personally, I wouldn't keep one at all since they require so much space.
- The size of the water area for a large sub-adult or adult isn't important as long as there is one, so the size is up to you.

I hope I've been helpful.

[Kurt]

[quote=John;393- Regarding an enclosure for the frog, when it is relatively small it won't be very aquatic (or not at all), so a completely terrestrial aquarium with no water is in order. quote]

I just want to clarify one thing. I don't think John meant no water at all. A small water bowl should be provided as amphibians are prone to dessication. To pprevent accidental drowning the bowl shouldn't be too deep.

[Wogsmom]

That does help. As far as what these companies do with selling these little guys, I am where I am now. He or she might be a lot of work, but darned if I am not in love with that little guy.

I will drop a rabbit pellet in there to see if is interested. So to clarify. Now that he has his front legs and back legs, I should have the water much lower than I have now. I should lower the water to just barely cover him.

[John]

Wogsmom - you are exactly right in your last sentence.

Kurt - yes, you are correct. I overlooked that.

[Wogsmom]

Well, we moved him into a 20 gallon on Monday. He has a nice rock soaking tub about 3 inches deep (only have it filled with water about 1.5 inches) with rock stairs leading out. I used the block dirt bedding that you soak for 30 minutes as it soaks up the water. It made a nice dirt bed. I did the bed about 2 inches deep across the bottom and then place round larger pebbles (as big as his head) all around the tub. I placed him in the tub with room temp dechlorinated/ oxygenated water with a scooper (didn't touch him). He seemed so happy. He sat there for about 10 minutes and then OUT on the land. He loves the dirt. He spends most of his time around the edge of the water or back in the moist dirt. I am having a blast with the little guy. We bought baby crickets and gave him his first one today. You are right, even at 12 weeks that little guy can already jump. Gonna have to get a special hood. Thank you for your help. I am sure he will be just fine. I have to say he is very funny. He seems to sleep so deeply and then all of a sudden he does a lap with no rhime or reason. Too much fun.

[Kurt]

Just make sure any gravel and/or pebbles are not small enough to be accidentally swallowed by your frog, as this can cause bowel impaction. FYI, the "dirt" as you are calling it is ground up coconut shell.

[Tiger Cub]

Hello. I am so glad to have found this forum. I have a Leopard Frog named Lucky that I adore (he was an Uncle Milton's Planet Frog special). He has taken an entire year to morph and has yet to absorb much of his tail, but just this week got all 4 legs and the tail is shrinking so based on your post warning of drowning I've moved him out of the Milton/Planet Frog plastic habitat, and put him in a small shallow dish where he can breath and be submerged at the same time. But I'm so worried I did this too soon, or that he'll wriggle up and over the side of the dish and his little legs are not yet big enough for him to manage to jump back in? Or whatever. I just want the little guy to make it. Not sure how well the four legs work yet. Any advice on how to get him through this stage of his morph safely is TRULY appreciated. Lucky's "life partner" frog drowned in the terrible Planet Frog habitat shortly after he'd absorbed his tail so I am completely terrified to leave my little frog in any deeper water now that all four legs are out... Any and all advice on how to know if I've moved him too soon and how to keep Lucky alive period is greatly appreciated.

[Kurt]

Kurt - yes, you are correct. I overlooked that.

I kind of thought that was the case. I figured we were dealing with a newbie, so things have to be really clear for her. Nothing can be left to be misinterpreted.