Quote Originally Posted by jonpwn View Post
Thanks for the link on MBD, i came across it before and used that list of symptoms as my basis.

I'd rather let nature run it's course, I've never euthanized any of my pets and wasn't sure if i could even do it. Describing any method of euthanasia as humane is subjective to each individual and I honestly do not know where i stand on the issue because i've never come across this decision until yesterday.

The tadpoles were kept in a 10 gallon tank, 30-50% water changed every day. Water was slowly added in increments over an hour to allow the tadpoles to acclimate. Initially I used water from the pond they were caught in. I fed them lettuce and spirulina discs (algae discs that i used to feed my plecostomus). as far as vitamins, i've never really given my pets any supplements/vitamins. Of course now it has come to my attention. 6 survived to become toadlets and i tried feeding them pinheads but no success. They slowly died one by one. I won't say i did my research before i brought them home but i did the day I got them in terms of immediate care, and subsequent care to adulthood.

container was a poor substitute for a habitat, it was a plastic shoebox. The toad was approximately an inch and a half from head to butt. However I've been feeding it crickets since the day i got it and was fine up until the day my parents didn't properly place the container on my table while i was away for school. I don't know exactly what happened, i wasn't home. I'm not blaming my parents and let's not start a discussion on my poor pet keeping. I've learned from then and have a close to proper habitat set up for my remaining toad in an actual aquarium tank. Local laws and park rules did not say it was illegal to keep wildlife as long as it was not of any conservation concern.

I have a lot to learn and i know it is unfair to learn through the consequences of death/misfortunes of innocent animals. I am trying harder to be a better pet keeper so please help and guide me when i have questions. As far as the original purpose of this thread, it can be disregarded..
Sorry to put this so harshly, but if you can't take the time to take care of these animals the right way, and be ready to bring them to a Vet when needed then you should not be owning any animals. You need to be OUT of school then if you know you have no time for them and let others ( your parents) that have not the first clue how to take care of them help you. In any event if you need to be away for a bit you need to leave a detailed care sheet for them to follow. What bothers me to death is all the excuses you are giving for your negligence and then saying your letting nature run its course. What you are doing to these animals is not humane, you are doing them more harm then good. If you really care for these animals then you need to really understand and research them way before you get them not to mention are ready to take on the responsibity.