New to frogs

[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?

[John]

Blaurie, please set your country in your profile.

If you can put the bullfrog froglet somewhere cool, say a nice cool basement, it will almost certainly do alright without food for a week, provided you've fed it well before you leave.

[Paul Rust]

I stand by our first impression. Without knowing your location I think it looks like Rana catesbeiana.

[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.

[Jace]

Kurt, are dorsal ridges apparent right away? I am currently looking at my frog book, "The Frogs and Toads of North America" and Bullfrogs and Pig frogs look remarkably similar. I just can't believe how much the partially morphed tadpole picture looks like Poe, though. What is the best way to distinguish between these two frogs appearance wise?

[Paul Rust]

The thing keeping me from being confident that it is an American Bullfrog is the lack of a camo pattern on the throat, but sometimes it is not present.

[blaurie]

Thank you so much for all your input. I have attached a few more photos to perhaps better identify our frog.

He sure does like to eat. We are not thrilled with the idea that he may become huge. I saw some photos of American Bullfrogs and I was taken aback. I think that he would need a much larger space than the 30 gallon aquarium we prepared.

How much can I expect him to grow each year and at what point does he become his full size? Is it a gradual thing, or can I expect him to reach maturity this year?

I am sorry about not showing my country, I could not figure out how to change that. I am in Quebec, Canada

[Jace]

A fellow Canadian! Always good to see more of us on the Forum. I honestly can't say what Bubbles is; I am still learning about how to identify frogs and where they are located in North America. From a top view, he looks a lot like my American Bullfrog, but John, Kurt or another more experienced senior member will be able to give the final vote.

If-and it is still an if until we get confirmation-it is a bullfrog, it will get big. Not much you can do about it. However, I think a 30 gallon will suffice. Just provide lots of cover and it will be one happy frog. I am not sure how big Pig frogs get, if Kurt is right, but they seem to be similar in habitats and diet as bullfrogs. Hopefully John or Kurt will be able to give you a 100% I.D. soon.

[Kurt]

Thank you so much for all your input. I have attached a few more photos to perhaps better identify our frog.

He sure does like to eat. We are not thrilled with the idea that he may become huge. I saw some photos of American Bullfrogs and I was taken aback. I think that he would need a much larger space than the 30 gallon aquarium we prepared.

How much can I expect him to grow each year and at what point does he become his full size? Is it a gradual thing, or can I expect him to reach maturity this year?

I am sorry about not showing my country, I could not figure out how to change that. I am in Quebec, Canada

OK first off, since you caught it behind your house in Canada, it's not a pig frog, which is native to the US deep south.

So the two possible candidates are the American bullfrog, whose range barely comes into Quebec. It is a large frog that lacks dorso-lateral ridges. In otherwords a smooth back.

The next possible candidate is the mink frog, Lithobates septentrionalis. It ranges well in to Quebec. It can have dorso-lateral ridges or not at all. They have a tendency to be spotted as well. They get their common name from the odor they produce when rubbed. They smell like a mink or rotting onions (according to the Peterson Field Guide). So rub your frog and smell it. If it smells like onions, then its not a bullfrog.