Wana raise some tadpols. Could use some advice

[InfinitysDaughter]

With the passing of my beloved Gray I decided that I want to raise some Gray tadpols this spring/summer. I've read the care guide so I think I have a handle on how to take care of them when I get them but I'm not sure exactly how to attract them to my yard. I live about 3 blocks from a creek (and our "summer home" is only a few yards from one too) so I know there out and about in my area I just wondered what I need to set up to encourage them to choose my yard to have there babies. (by the way I live in central illinois)


I've heard mixed advice on the subject. Some say a tub of de-chlorinated water, some say set out an empty tub and let it fill up with rain water. Would the de-chlorinated water be better if I want to keep mosquitoes from taking up residence in my tub or would it attract them/do absolutely nothing? (I'm expecting a bad year for mosquitoes this year since it never really got cold enough to kill anything off)

How large does the tub need to be? Or how shallow should it be? Would a shallow clear Rubbermaid tub work? And could I keep the tads in it with a mesh lid until they turn to froglets? And could another larger tub with a mesh lid work for them when there froglets (building up 2/3s as land and leaving 1/3rd as shallow water like the care guide says)?

Is there any way to attract JUST Gray's? We have bull frogs and toads a plenty in the area and I would really like to focus on Gray's one because of Helly, and two because other frogs/toads would probably need to be housed away from Percy who would really like to have another Gray for a tank mate I think (ya. probably giving her a bit too much credit thinking she could show a preference but she HAS been looking all threw the tank today like shes looking for something. Shes only ever done that once and thats when I took her away from there tank when she was hurt. I put a fake frog in there in the same place Helen would usually sit but its bright green and looks nothing like Hel so maybe she can show a preference...?)

Do I need to put some plants in the tub to simulate a pond-like feel?

I have a friend who might be interested in taking a few of the tads if/when I get them so his daughter can watch them turn into frogs. Is it better to give them away as eggs or wait until they have hatched or until they are eating fish food? (I'm especially concerned about this one because I dont want to disturb them at a bad time and have them all die shortly after getting to there new home. I'm pretty sure that might be a little too "natural" for there young daughter to have her new pets die suddenly after getting them)


And last but not least! Is it ok to raise tads to froglets (tail completely absorbed) then release them if they were wild caught in the first place? I want to keep a couple as tank mates for Percy but I like the idea of raising some healthy frogs that can turn around and raise healthy frogs of there own the next year. I'd assume that frogs will instinctively know what to do in life but I would hate to raise some babies then say "ok your on your own!" and toss them out the door. Would being raised in de-chlorinated water then set loose near a wild creek be too much of a shock?

If they can be released could I take the Rubbermaid tub outside with no lid and just let them leave on there own or should I take it down to the creak and release them all at once?


Thank you much in advance for any and all help! <3

[kueluck]

My neighbor had grey's lay eggs in her rain tubs last year. They are 20H x 40L x 12W (inches) and once the eggs hatched, there were tons of tads, we cooked romaine lettuce daily (don't float the food, they suck in to much air) to feed them, and also added a air stone to keep the water oxygenated. Thousands of tads were released into the pond down the road, but she kept up with hundreds of them all summer/fall long. As they grew they were released in to the wild. I took 50 tads and raised them in a 10 gal tank, which 4 didn't make it to full froglet, but I kept 2 out of the bunch and they are doing great!! The others were released down by the pond while still froglets. I would put them on a tree and they just kept climbing until they were out of sight. When in the outside tank and the 10 gal tank inside only rainwater was used. If you were in NC she still has a few that will be released in a couple of weeks.

[InfinitysDaughter]

Cooked romaine? Hu. Never thought of that. Did you just boil it? And did you let it cool before putting it in the tubs? And an air stone like what you would put in a fish tank? Ok. So I can divide the frogs as tads and they'll be ok. I was planing on raising about 50 myself and giving 50 to my friend but releasing the rest of the tads in the creek water sounds better then um....culling them (ya....thats a nice word....).


Also, do you think its too early to put out my tubs? Its mid march but the temps around here have been record breaking in the low 80s so I'd think that the little froggys might be out and about already.

[kueluck]

Yes you cook the romaine for 1 min, let it cool then sink it to the bottom by placing a stone on it. I would cook up several leaves at a time and store them in the frig, then let it come to room temps before putting into the tank. Yes an air stone like in a fish tank. I would put the tubs out now, and you’ll know if grey’s are around, you can’t mistake their call! I’ve got some pics of the tads and froglets in my album if you want to check it out.

[KingCam]

Leave your back porch light on all night every night. This will attract lots of moths and other insects. This will provide plenty of food to lure your tree frogs in.

Put a large tall container of water near the light on your back porch. If it's tall toads and bullfrogs won't be able to get to it for breeding. Tree frogs can and will climb the tub, especially if it's near the light swarming with food

Don't worry about dechlorinating it, I've seen frogs breeding in chemically treated swimming pools. Besides, most of the chlorine will evaporate after a few days of sitting out, anyway.

I would definitely add plants if I were you. The tree frogs will appreciate having lots of options for attaching their eggs; long blades of grass, twigs, aquatic plants, etc, etc

The only way to keep mosquitoes from breeding is the have some current. You can purchase an airpump/airstone to put in the bottom of the barrel to create a current. Mosquitoes only reproduce in stagnant (non-moving) water. You don't want a ton of movement on the surface, or the frogs may not feel comfortable.

Gail is right about feeding the tadpoles boiled lettuce.

[InfinitysDaughter]

Our back light is movement sensitive but I might be able to find a light I can hang near where I plan to put the tub at the dollar store or something that I can leave on. And I've got a perfect tub in mind if it needs to be tall (tidy cat cat litter tub's for the win. dont worry. its been washed out of left over litter cuse I was gona use it to make some wild sticks safe for my tanks) and I'll leave some large sticks and see if I can find some large leaves to add to it. I'll go ahead and get that air stone asap. I'd assume if its at the bottom of a 2-3 foot tub it would make some movement but not enough to unnerve the frogs.

Ima see what I can put together tonight and see if I can get lucky quick-sih.


*wanders off to Gail's photo's* :3

[kueluck]

Make sure you set the tubs in a shaded area so the water doesn't get to hot as spring turns to summer. The tubs she had got maybe 1 to 2 hours of late morning sunlight a day.

[InfinitysDaughter]

Right now its in front but when I get the battery light I'll set it in the back that dosn't get as much sun. But thanks. Never thought about the water getting too hot.

[InfinitysDaughter]

So I'm pretty sure I found frog poo on the inner sill of the bucket but still no eggs. But we've had some cold weather again so I didn't expect any.

The water is getting pretty dingy, though. And dads been spraying stuff for ants and things (though he has been nice enough to stay away from the bucket, but that dosn't mean some didn't float into the water). Should I change out the water so its cleaner?

I think I finally found a decent spot for the bucket. Couldn't find a light but there is a spot that attracts spiders and other bugs that I set it near and it gets a decent amount of sun and shade so the water dosn't get too hot.

But I do have a back up plan that if I dont see eggs soon a friend lives out in the country and her house is "infested" with little frogs. She said they come out to feed from her dusk to dawn light then live behind her shutters. I figure I can take the bucket out there and give them a place to lay eggs....at least I hope so.....

Oh! How small are baby gray's? I have an american green tree thats about 1.5 inches. I have a tank that I'll set up as a "graduation" tank when they get all 4 legs but I'd like Percy to have tank mates again (she's still having stress issues and dosn't eat regularly). I dont want to introduce them too early and have Percy, well, EAT them. ^^;