Collecting amphibians

[REDDEV1L]

I keep native species over here in the UK, and it's amazing how few people do it. (Alot think its illegal...which I suppose is a good thing)
although we have very few species compared to the states, so im sure that has something to do with it.

The only reason I would remove a juvi/adult amphibian is if it was in need of help, couldn't properly fend for itself (injury/deformity) or was an albino which would be much more likely to be eaten by a predator.

The main reason for my current collection is due to raising some spawn which I thought would be nice for my little bro to learn about etc.
Unfortunately, I didn't have any proper info regarding supplements and lighting etc and many of them developed MBD and died. This is what brought me onto forums tryig to find out how to help etc... and luckily I still have two remaining toads who are now over 3 yrs old.
After learning more and more, and being more confident, I collected some frogspawn, and raised 3 frogs to adulthood. They bred last year, so I raised the tadpoles until close to metamorphosis, then released most but kept a few back. This year the adult trio bred again, so i'm partially raising the tadpoles, and once the weather settles down, EVERYTHING will be released back into the wild. (the adult trio, the 6 juvies and the tadpoles)

I have a MFF trio of common toads and next year intend to try & breed those, and if successfull will release the offspring (except a couple)

[kueluck]

I love it when people raise them from tadpoles. Since the mortality rate of tads and morphs is so high they need any help they can get to increase the population. Last year I raised 46 Cope's from tads and released all but 2, and the 2 that I tend to are happy and healthy. I remember as a kid I would be able to find frogs and toads in great numbers, but not anymore. It's very sad and I'm guessing it's the same all around the world.

[REDDEV1L]

For anyone interested here's a short video of me releasing my 6 rana temporaria froglets (10 months old when released yesterday and they were big for their age)
I released the tadpoles too, but am keeping the adults back a little while longer (Afterall they've already spawned... there's no rush to release them!!)

[John]

Just a note on releasing things. Since you have so many exotic amphibians, it's highly likely that some of the pathogens (nasty organisms and diseases) being carried by the exotic ones are making it to the native ones that you are collecting and releasing. That's not a healthy situation. In some countries it's illegal to release back into the wild, because of this very problem.

[kueluck]

John, are you talking about non-native species? If so, I hope people are keeping the species separated, and also releasing only natives.

[frogluver]

John, are you talking about non-native species? If so, I hope people are keeping the species separated, and also releasing only natives.

I understand what John is saying....here in Alaska it is illegal to capture native amphibians and them release them back into the wild after keeping them in captivity. You must treat the amphibians as biological waste....

[ViperJr]

John, are you talking about non-native species? If so, I hope people are keeping the species separated, and also releasing only natives.

He's talking about both native and non-native. An individual person releasing (native) amphibians is potentionally a much worse crime against nature than collecting a few and keeping then until they die. Does not matter that much if they live in seperated enclosures or not, because that's not garantee of not spreading pathogens.
According to some articlea I've read, at least some scientiests belive that one of the problens with chytrid and its global prescence is that people have released native species they've kept, after they've been exposed to chytrid via theie more exotics pets.

[kueluck]

I guess I just don’t understand how captive, native amphibians can have pathogens that are bad, yet still be healthy and should not be release back from where they came from. Example: I have 14 toad tadpoles in hopes of having a few females to keep, then letting the others go (not for breeding purpose). I also have Cope’s Grays raised from tads last year, and 2 Fowler’s toads, raised from toadlets last year. So releasing any of these would be bad for the population?

[REDDEV1L]

Yup, I totally agree with you John.
That's why I keep everything seperate. The only thing they share with my 'collection' is food from the same sources.
The frogs are kept in the garage, all my exotics kept in my room upstairs.
All utensils (forceps, paintbrushes, sponges, basters, dusting tubs etc) are tank specific apart from the dusting tub was shared downstairs between the adult frogs, their offspring and two of my native toads (who live in the kitchen at the moment) who came from the same pond as the frogs.
The only downside to my set-up is the food is kept upstairs in my room but I expect I do alot more to stop contamination that some others.
(I even have disposable nitrile gloves which I use for single tank use only when cleaning out waterbowls and handling if needs be)

[FROGHUNTER]

I personally find no problem with taking adult animals out of the wild, especially during breeding season when they are easier to nab up.
I usually just find the biggest and loudest ones i can, lighter throat ones and peacefully use them to fill my belly.
God put animals on this earth to eat. i just see it as controlling or "limiting" the population so that we dont have an overrun of frogs in the near future.

[S13]

I personally find no problem with taking adult animals out of the wild, especially during breeding season when they are easier to nab up.
I usually just find the biggest and loudest ones i can, lighter throat ones and peacefully use them to fill my belly.
God put animals on this earth to eat. i just see it as controlling or "limiting" the population so that we dont have an overrun of frogs in the near future.

So you created an account just to make this homerun of a comment?

[frogluver]

I personally find no problem with taking adult animals out of the wild, especially during breeding season when they are easier to nab up.
I usually just find the biggest and loudest ones i can, lighter throat ones and peacefully use them to fill my belly.
God put animals on this earth to eat. i just see it as controlling or "limiting" the population so that we dont have an overrun of frogs in the near future.

Well ya don't go about eating FROGS!!!!! Especially when they are facing a world crisis here!!!! And that seems sooo mean!
Ah, you've got me worked up....I'm going to keep my mouth shut, for now.

I don't know, maybe I'm just sensitive.....

[frogluver]

Was I too harsh with my words?
I don't usually lash out like this.....sorry

[S13]

Was I too harsh with my words?
I don't usually lash out like this.....sorry

Pretty sure the guy was just trolling, it was the worst troll attempt I have ever witnessed though. I wouldn't pay too much attention to him lol.

[frogluver]

Pretty sure the guy was just trolling, it was the worst troll attempt I have ever witnessed though. I wouldn't pay too much attention to him lol.

Oh, hahahaha ok!

I must be a little tempermental after being stuck in bed for a few days, trying to fight off this darn cold!

[ViperJr]

Well ya don't go about eating FROGS!!!!! Especially when they are facing a world crisis here!!!! And that seems sooo mean!
Ah, you've got me worked up....I'm going to keep my mouth shut, for now.

I don't know, maybe I'm just sensitive.....

There's nothing bad by default to eat frogs, they're animals and edible like many other animals. However, it's a matter of perspective and how one does it, not to mention global commerce/private consumption. For example, a private person hunting and eating some American bullfrogs are actually helping the decline of some amphibians, since they're a very invasive species in many part of US, where they eat both the food of other frogs, and other frogs. However, let's leave that specific topic to this thread, which actually deals with the eating or non-eating of frogs.

[matt palm]

[QUOTE=FROGHUNTER;110374]I personally find no problem with taking adult animals out of the wild, especially during breeding season when they are easier to nab up.
I usually just find the biggest and loudest ones i can, lighter throat ones and peacefully use them to fill my belly.
God put animals on this earth to eat. i just see it as controlling or "limiting" the population so that we dont have an overrun of frogs in the near future.[/QUOTE

not cool bro

[FROGHUNTER]

Im sorry im not ill in the brain and keep my frogs like theyre children and S$@%

[S13]

lol, idiot... Go troll some where else.

[matt palm]

trolling is for facebook not forums...