Leopard frog tadpole growing disorder?

[emfroggy]

Hello some time ago my dad brought home a tadpole for me that was in a tank with feeder fish at a nearby pet store. I had him in my room in a plastic cage with some rocks to climb out on and a bubblier for the water. Just recently he started growing into a frog, but he has two legs, his tail still and only one arm, the other arm is a big lump on the side of his mouth. I dont know what is happening to him. I have a pic of him. Please if you know tell me im very worried. I believe his is a leopard frog from looking a some pics online of them.

[Frogman1031]

How long ago did the arm come out. For some tadpoles it can take up to a week for the second arm to show itself. I wouldnt worry because that is a normal part of develpment. One arm first, then the other

[emfroggy]

I don't really know when the first arm appeared, it had to be at least a couple of days ago because last time a looked at him he only had legs. Thanks for the info i thought both arms would appear at the same time. Thats kinda fascinating. This is really the first time I had watched a tadpole grow. Usually I put them in my outside pond, but that was when i caught them from my uncles pond.

[emfroggy]

R.I.P Mr. Tadders. He didn't make it. He is now in tadpole haven.

[Frogman1031]

Sorry fir your loss. Besides the arm was there anything else that may have led to this? Swimming weird, weird growths or dirty water?

[emfroggy]

He did have a weird habit when he stopped swimming he would end up on his back. like he could not keep himself belly down. I also saw his mouth opening and closing alot. He could of had a problem developing his lungs?

[Frogman1031]

Opening and closing the mouth is normal. However, the belly up sounds all too common and dangerous for tadpoles. This is why sinking food is the best. The tadpole may have swallowed too much air. This prevented him from swimming properly. It is usually a death sentence especially when the lungs are developing.

[LilyPad]

Sorry for your loss Emfroggy

[emfroggy]

Thanks Amy and Eli I did feed him pellet food that said it was for tadpoles and aquatic frogs. It floated at first then sank to the bottom. That's probably what kill him. Well at least i know now if I try another tadpole next spring.

[MsBlueRose]

I am so sorry to hear about your loss of your little tadpole. I, too, just lost a leopard frog tadpole that did not develop right. She died of complications after eating her first meal as a frog. I think her internal organs did not form right when she morphed...?! Now I only have one leopard frog tad (Chip) and he is so lonely. He used to follow Cookie around everywhere, even once she morphed he would try to follow her up on the rocks. I have a cute pic of him trying to be as close to her as possible while she was out of the water. Now that she has gone, he is not the same tadpole. He used to be full of life and was always darting around the temporary pond I have made for them on the kitchen table. Now he just sits on his leaf and stares out the side of the tote. He barley eats, he rarely swims anymore; I am worried he is giving up on life and he is taking SO LONG to morph. I have had him since around the second week of March and his legs have not grown any since his sister passed away. She morphed into a frog over a month ago now and passed a little over a week after morphing, Chip has not changed since then. He still has tiny little back legs, though he has grown arm bumps in the front they have been there for over a week now and still no front arms. I am so sorry you lost your little baby. I know first hand how hard it is to lose a tadpole that you have been watching grow all that time and to lose them just as they are becoming frogs. It is so heart breaking. Don't give up. Your post has allowed me to learn something about tadpoles that I never knew before. I had no idea they could take in too much air from the surface and die. I also have 3 tree frog babies (one just morphed about 2 weeks ago and the others are still tads) and all the tads love to take air from the surface and blow bubbles. The tree frog tads even attach themselves to the bubbles they have created and float at the surface of the water hanging from the bubbles. Here is the pic of my leopard frog tad and froglet, I just want to share it to keep Cookies memory alive. She will live on in my heart and Chips forever. R.I.P. Mr. Tadders and little Cookie! You will both be missed and always loved! Best Wishes; MsBlueRose



Cookie is the froglet and Chip is the tadpole. Chip followed Cookie everywhere from the first day I brought them home and now that he is alone, he is just not the same spunky little tadpole anymore. It breaks my heart to think about how he must feel with out her. If anyone has a Leopard Frog Tadpole they need to rehome, please let me know. I am in St. Louis Missouri and I need to get Chippy a new friend before it is too late! Thanks. MsBlueRose