New Frog Owners - Need Id ??

[LittleFoot]

We are brand new froggy owners. Actually, my 5 year old son begged and begged for a tadpole so my husband caved and bought three. Only one survived, he's adorable. His name is Little Foot and he seems quite happy.

I need to know what he (she?) is so I can make sure I set up his tank correctly. He's about 1-2" big but he only lost his tail last week (not sure how big he will get). He loves being in running water. He's more active at night. He's is TERRIFIED of us sticking our hands in his tank (any way to socialize a frog ??) We'd also like to get him a friend if that's something that can happen safely.

Anyhow, I'm sure he'll be an easy ID for most of the froggy experts, but we can't find any pictures that look enough like him to say that's what he is for sure.

Thanks and we look forward to meeting more froggy friends.

[Paul Rust]

Welcom to Frog forum!

My guess is:
Eastern Spadefoot Toad (Scaphiopus holbrookii).

Please select you national colors in your profile. Thanks

[nana]

Have'nt got a scooby on what your little frog is hunny but welcome to the forums
I'm sure someone will be on shortly to let you know

[LittleFoot]

I looked at some Eastern Spade Foot Toad pics.... not sure He doesn't really look like them now but maybe he will grow into it ??? and the tad pictures I see of them don't look ANYTHING like he did. The write up I read said he's extremely rare, but usually from Southern Ohio (which would fit with where I got him ).....

I also added my country ... thanks for the heads up

[Paul Rust]

He is very young. I was going by the shape of the head, the low tympanum behind the eyes, and the markings. When Kurt or John get online I'm sure they will nail it down for you.

[Chaya]

hi, welcome, am new here too enjoy the frog/ toad...they are lots of fun... however dont plan to handle him too often as human skin has oils in it naturally that frogs dont always like

[LittleFoot]

Well I read some more than you may well be right. He loves to dig in the rock and he likes to burrow. So those would be indicative that he could be an Eastern Spade Foot. He also happens to be illegal to own in the state of Ohio and is endangered......

[Paul Rust]

Let's get a positive I.D. and go from there. It is probably illegal to release a captive also.

[LittleFoot]

Let's get a positive I.D. and go from there. It is probably illegal to release a captive also.

don't really want to release him ... lol. my son is quite attached. I think i may go get some sand for him tonight and see what he does. if he starts shoveling I think that will help with our answer (though I have seen him do this with rocks already...)

[Paul Rust]

I am not a toad guy but Kurt, John, SethD, and a few others are. When they see this they can help you get a proper setup made for him. Congrats on your new froggy (or toad) family member!

[SethD]

It isn't a spadefoot toad, my guess is that it is a young bronze frog, that is what it resembles most to me.

[Kurt]

don't really want to release him ... lol. my son is quite attached. I think i may go get some sand for him tonight and see what he does. if he starts shoveling I think that will help with our answer (though I have seen him do this with rocks already...)

Skip the sand. I would set up a semi-aquatic tank for him. You can use the floating turtle platforms they sell in pet stores. Maybe a submerisble filter.

[LittleFoot]

Skip the sand. I would set up a semi-aquatic tank for him. You can use the floating turtle platforms they sell in pet stores. Maybe a submerisble filter.

YAY!! I am quite thrilled that he's NOT the spade foot toad. Aside from it being cool to have a rare endangered toad I really wanted a FROG .

Looking at the pictures I found LOTS of the Lithobates clamitans that look just like our Little Foot !! The clincher was hearing the green / bronze frogs call which we have heard from little foot (only once.... and we weren't sure it was him at the time). I do have a sub filter (which creates a waterfall over a slate rock that he LOVES to sit on ). He was an unusually large tadpole which also fits with the Lithobates clamitans identification.

Any idea on if I could get him a friend or would it cause issues? And any idea where I could get one if it would be okay ? (I could just go get another tad... but I suspect he killed the other two he came home with ? ? ? )

[JimO]

I believe the tympanum is too small and positioned too far from the eye to be a bronze frog, I believe it's a river frog Rana heckscheri.

The bronze also has a nearly entirely white chin, while the river frog has dark and light splotches on the chin.

[JimO]

We are brand new froggy owners. Actually, my 5 year old son begged and begged for a tadpole so my husband caved and bought three. Only one survived, he's adorable. His name is Little Foot and he seems quite happy.

I need to know what he (she?) is so I can make sure I set up his tank correctly. He's about 1-2" big but he only lost his tail last week (not sure how big he will get). He loves being in running water. He's more active at night. He's is TERRIFIED of us sticking our hands in his tank (any way to socialize a frog ??) We'd also like to get him a friend if that's something that can happen safely.

Anyhow, I'm sure he'll be an easy ID for most of the froggy experts, but we can't find any pictures that look enough like him to say that's what he is for sure.

Thanks and we look forward to meeting more froggy friends.

If my guess is right, he'll grow up to 5 inches. Here are a couple of websites with photos and descriptions.

http://www.wec.ufl.edu/extension/wil...heckscheri.php

http://www.uga.edu/srelherp/anurans/ranhec.htm