Finn's new-yet temporary-digs.

[Jace]

I recently set up Finn's new temporary 5 gallon home. I have soil and moss for a base, but decided in such a small setup, I would stay away from live plants for the time being. So, instead, I went to the dollar store and picked up some silk plants, cut them down to size, added a glass water dish and a glass cricket bowl, and a small terra cotta pot for some extra coverage on land. For a 1" long frog, this little one can jump, and has already cleared from one end of the 5 gallon to the other. Hope the setup will do him for now until I can get a bigger one bought and ready.

[John]

I'd go bigger. Bullfrogs can travel. If you've never seen a large adult American bullfrog jump, you haven't lived. The first one I ever saw in person (keep in mind I am from Ireland) was on a dirt road in Oklahoma last year. I've got an adult male African Bullfrog, so I know what a large frog is. This American gave my African a run for his money. The American was picked out by my headlights sitting in the middle of the road. I got out, walked up to it and it just sat there. I then tried to pick it up. The instant I touched it it leaped clear of the road in one, then on the second crashed into the fence of a field. You could hear it _slam_ into the fence. The third leap carried it through the fence and far beyond. All told, it was gone in less than 3 seconds.

[cricketfrog30]

but isn't finn a leopard frog.

[Jace]

Yes, Finn is a leopard frog. However, I have to keep Johns' story in mind for when Poe grows up. Right now, at 2" long, he is a wee American Bullfrog, but I hope he gets to be a decent size. Finn is 1" long, but he can already jump higher and further than anything else I have seen. I have a 33 gallon on order for Poe, and I am hoping a 25 gallon will do for Finn.

[John]

I got myself mixed up. Sorry for that. Leopard frogs hold the world record for the longest jump made by a frog, so I think the info is still relevant .

[Paul Rust]

For a permanent setup you will want a fairly large pond as these guys are semi-aquatic.

[Jace]

That's okay, John. I think it will apply to both Poe and Finn in the long run. Looking at them now, so tiny, it's hard to believe that they could grow up to be the longest jumper or give an African Giant a run for its money, but I have a feeling I have both in those two!!

Paul, should I invest in a 33 gallon for Finn as well? I have to be conscious of space. I live in a small house and it's getting to the point that I might have to kick my daughter out of her room and make it into a frog room......

[Paul Rust]

That's okay, John. I think it will apply to both Poe and Finn in the long run. Looking at them now, so tiny, it's hard to believe that they could grow up to be the longest jumper or give an African Giant a run for its money, but I have a feeling I have both in those two!!

Paul, should I invest in a 33 gallon for Finn as well? I have to be conscious of space. I live in a small house and it's getting to the point that I might have to kick my daughter out of her room and make it into a frog room......

Frogs come first! Move into your camper and put tanks all over the house. Or get a bigger house!
As far as tanks got, he bigger the better for large frogs like you have.

[Jace]

We're working on the bigger house thing....the so-called guest room is now a much needed frog room!!

I am used to non-moving large frogs-my African Giants barely move except to dig or to get in and out of their water dish. Something tells me that American Bullfrogs and Leopard frogs are a bit more active. Hopefully a 33 gallon will do for both, because I can't go much bigger than that. I have a 55 gallon that my geckos are in that I could possible use, and put my geckos into a 15 or even 10 gallon each.....I have some rearranging to do for sure. Out of the two (Bullfrog or Leopard), who would do better in the 55 gallon?

[snakeboy7167]

I would put the bullfrog in the 55 gallon. I live in Illinois and we have an abundance of large bullfrogs, and I can tell you from experience, these guys can get 8 to 10 inches long from nose to toes, and can use every bit of space that you give them. Also, being a fairly aquatic frog, bullfrogs love plenty of space to swim, and half to three quarters of your enclosure should be dedicated to a swimming area. You can pile gravel at one end of the tank and do it that way, or use a divider to create a separate land area. Just make sure that the frog can easily access the land area. Your local pet stores should sell something called a turtle dock (I think Zoo Med makes them), they work well also. Another idea if you are creative and even slightly handy is to silicone large pieces of cork bark or driftwood to the back glass, effectively making a land area above the water, just make sure to put a piece on an angle sticking into the water so that the frog can easily climb onto it. Also make sure that if you silicone a land area to the glass that it is well supported, bullfrogs can get pretty heavy. You can silicone a piece of driftwood under the cork bark leading down to bottom of the aquarium like a support column, that works pretty well and looks cool, too. You will also want to use a filter for the water, as bullfrogs will soil the water pretty quickly (they poop in there). There are several brands of in-tank filters at your local tropical fish store that will work perfectly for this type of application. Lastly make sure that you have a very secure lid. As you said yourself, these frogs are excellent jumpers, and with them being the largest frogs in North America, they have the ability to knock traditional fish tank lids right off of the aquarium, and the last thing you want is a large bullfrog hopping through your house, or drying up and dying somewhere. I hope some of these ideas work for you, or maybe spark some other ideas of your own. The best thing to do is have fun with it, the options are limitless.

[Jace]

Thanks for the advice! I was thinking of putting Poe into the 55 gallon, and then getting a 33 gallon for Finn, the leopard frog. The only problem with the 55 gallon is it is not that wide.....but it might work for now. Thanks again-you have definitely given me a starting base!

[snakeboy7167]

No problem. If you are concerned about width a 75 gal. is wider than a 55 by six inches, which makes a big difference, however the price of the 75 is much more than a 55. Glasscages.com has some decent pricing on both glass and acrylic aquariums, along with some custom sizing options as well. They also ship to Canada. Another option is to build your own, but it does take some skill, although glasscages.com does also sell parts for doing that (frames, and corner pieces). The hardest part about building your own aquarium is making sure that it goes together nice and straight, and of course making it waterproof.

[Kurt]

You can pile gravel at one end of the tank and do it that way.

Not really a good idea, unless you feed exclusively out side the enclosure. Feeding the frog in side the tank with gravel pilled up like that, can lead to accidental ingestion of said gravel and inturn lead to a gastrointestinal impaction, which can be fatal.

[snakeboy7167]

Good call, Kurt. When I spoke of gravel, I meant of the larger variety, something that would not be as easily ingested as standard aquarium gravel. The local hardware store by me sells very large gravel (golf ball size, which would be much harder to ingest). I have to say though, I really am not the biggest fan of piling gravel in one end, it's just a really easy way to make a land/water setup. The downside of doing the gravel thing is that bullfrogs are large, and will rearrange setups like that when they move around, so keeping the gravel piled up in one side requires constant "landscaping". The turtle docks or cork bark/driftwood land areas are much better. Also, speaking of frog safety, I never mentioned before that if using silicone to glue anything to the tank let it cure for at least 36 hours so that any toxic fumes are gone, otherwise it can be harmful to the frog. Once silicone is cured it is harmless to any terrarium occupants (as long as you use 100% silicone sealant). Also make sure to do any glueing in a room that the frogs are NOT in, preferably outside. I hope that clears things up.

[Kurt]

I would go even longer that 36 hours. more like 48 or more. Man, do I love the smell of silicone!

[Jace]

Thanks for all the great advice guys! I don't think I have the skill level to make my own aquarium, so store bought it is. I honestly have no idea how I am going to do Poe's setup-I have heard several great ideas, but it comes down to the fact that I want a setup that meets Poe's needs and is easy to maintain. I also need to keep cost in check. I received these tadpoles for free, but their final setup bill may be a bit hard to swallow on my end.

[Kurt]

Simple answer, tank, water, turtle dock.

[Jace]

Okay, maybe I should clarify more: simple but not boring!! lol