New to frogs

[blaurie]

About 2 months ago my daughter found some tadpoles in the creek behind our house. She has been taking care of them and we have brought them inside. We have been getting answers from the pet shops but we are looking for better answers. We started with a 10 gallon tank and when we saw that one was soon to become a frog, we prepared a 30 gallon tank which we divided into half land, half water. The water side equals to about 6 - 7 gallons of water. Our frog has been eating crickets now for 4 days, on average of 2 per day. The other tadpole is still in the tadpole stage and its legs are tiny. We are not sure it he is a late bloomer or what.

The main question we have is how to keep them alive when we go on vacation. We may not be able to find anyone to feed them. As long as the tadpole remains as such we can probably drop in a gold fish feeder that lasts a week, but what to do for our frog?

These photos are not that recent our frog no longer has a tail and the aquarium now has water in it, a filter and a light.

[Jace]

Welcome to the Forum. The first picture looks like an American Bullfrog. These guys can get big and eat lots. As a froglet, they need to be fed every day as much as they can eat. Your tadpole will make do while you go on vacation, but I would recommend trying your best to find someone to feed your froglet.

[blaurie]

We will certainly try to find someone, but some people are a bit squeamish about crickets. I found a container at the pet shop where you can fill it with live crickets and maybe 20 or so will keep for a week or so.

If these frogs get big, will this aquarium be big enough for 2 frogs?

We have also put feeder fish in the water side and so far, our frog, Bubbles, has not eaten any.

[Jace]

American Bullfrogs are cannablistic-in fact, most frogs are to a certain degree-especially if one is quite a bit smaller than the other. If these are American Bullfrogs, your best bet is to separate them sooner rather than later. A 30 gallon will be sufficient for one Bullfrog, but depending on the size it finally gets, it might need more space. Depending on how long you will be on vacation for, the live cricket container might work. I wouldn't want to make any promises though. Feeder fish are not recommended as part of a staple diet for frogs as they can contain parasites that can be passed on to your frogs. Love the name Bubbles!!

[Paul Rust]

If these frogs get big, will this aquarium be big enough for 2 frogs?

If it's an American Bullfrog (and it looks like it is) it can get 8" from snout to vent and another 10" for the legs. That's an 18" frog that is mostly aquatic and needs room to swim. I would say only one in a 30g for an adult.

[Paul Rust]

We are stepping all over each other Jo. You got this one so I'll back off, love ya!

[Jace]

We are stepping all over each other Jo. You got this one so I'll back off, love ya!

Lol. Considering I only have experience with one tadpole, I'm not sure I am all that qualified!! Besides, I am just passing on the great advice I got from eveyone else, including you, so I hope I make eveyone proud! Hugs, Paul!!

[blaurie]

Goodness, I hope that they do not get 8 inches long. That sounds like a monster to me. My daughter insists that Bubbles is not an American Bullfrog, but we are not experts. So here are a few more photos to help identify.

Over the years we have seen many frogs on and around our land and creek and have never seen one as big as you have described

[Jace]

Bubbles sure is cute! I do not have enough experience identifying frogs, so until someone else jumps in and gives a positive I.D. I am not going to confirm or deny Bubbles is an American Bullfrog. I was going by the first pictures you posted, because those pictures look almost identical to my Poe who I know for sure is a bullfrog. Paul, can you say for sure what Bubbles is based on the new pics?

[Kurt]

The lack of dorso-lateral ridges suggest to me that this frog is either an American bullfrog, Lithobates catesbeianus or a pig frog, Lithobates grylio. Not knowing your location I can't say for sure which it is, but a quick look at the toes makes me think it may be the pig.

[Paul Rust]

Froglets are voracious and need a constant supply of food. As long as it is still absorbing it's tail it might be ok without food for a short time, but when the tail is gone it will need to be fed.

[blaurie]

My eldest son works in a pet shop. His specialty is lizards but he said that they only feed the frogs every second day. The first day, Bubbles ate 3, second day 3, third day none, and today we think he ate 2. We have not put in more than 3 per day, he does not seem that big and we cannot imagine that he could eat that many more. He seems so small.

[Jace]

Is Bubbles the one in the first picture? His appetite might not be in full drive yet because his tail has not fully absorbed. Once it does, I agree with Paul: he will be seeking out food and eating whenever he gets the chance. I have an American Bullfrog tadpole who has just had his front legs pop and I am on alert for his appetite to increase the smaller his tail gets. Right now, he hasn't taken crickets, but I can't wait for him to start.