Copes Tree Frogs?

[amythyst]

Hi, I was told in a reptile identification group that I have Cope's Tree Frog tadpoles. We found them in my son's water table on our deck just one day. I believe it was probably almost a month ago we found them. Well, my 3.5 year old son fell in love with them and they are his "best friends"... so mommy bought a fish tank and some frog food and wha la... we have a tank of tadpoles. I have read a lot and know what they eat and to change the water and only use spring water... but I am wondering about temperatures. We live in Northern, VA and when we first found them the temperature was like 80-90 degrees ... now, the temps at night are in the 40's and 50's. I have the tank on my deck still since 1) we found them wild outside and 2) we have cats and I can't bring it inside. How cold can these little guys take? Should I get a tank heater? I'm also curious if they really are tree frogs and how much longer they are going to take developing. They seem to have little tiny legs so far. I just didn't think tadpoles would be around so close to winter?

I have attached a video of them for your viewing pleasure.

Thanks!

https://www.dropbox.com/s/yd557zj1mi...poles.mp4?dl=0

[amythyst]

Bump? Nobody can help me? We did end up bringing them inside as we started getting some frosty days... but still curious about what they really are and how much longer it will take them to grow up.

[otofrog]

Once they start growing legs everything else speeds up. Don't worry about temperature unless it's super cold to the touch. Your tadpoles are just taking longer to morph because they are getting fed and can afford to stay a tadpole for a few weeks longer than usual.

[amythyst]

Once they start growing legs everything else speeds up. Don't worry about temperature unless it's super cold to the touch. Your tadpoles are just taking longer to morph because they are getting fed and can afford to stay a tadpole for a few weeks longer than usual.

Thank you! Are you able to tell if they are Cope's or not? Or do I have to wait till they morph first?

[Yoda]

Hi there I wouldn't disagree that they are Gray tree frog tadpoles. I had a little trouble identifying them because the tadpole colour is too dark in the video. As to my experience I have always found that Gray tree frog tadpoles in the later stages of metamorphosis have a flaming orange/red tail. Based on the pattern of the tail it definitely looks like GTF tadpoles so don't have too many doubts there. BTW I have no idea what a water table is but if you found them on your back deck as an egg mass or just tadpoles that makes it pretty fair to assume they are tree frog tadpoles as tree frogs are commonly known to lay eggs in rain barrels, old vehicles/boats that collects rainwater, and any other junk left to collect water where it requires them to climb. Toads like shallow widespread marsh, and pond frogs (ranidae) like permanent bodies of water. Keep in mind that in your region the Gray tree frog (Hyla versicolor) and Cope's gray tree frog (Hyla chrysoscelis) overlap. These frogs are differentiated at the chromosomal level because they are exactly identical in appearance. However males are identified based on their mating call so if you really care to know that exact species Cope's gray tree frog has a faster trill rate and higher frequency. Hybrids occur too because females of Hyla chrysoscelis will breed with Hyla versicolor during warm temperatures if male H. chrysoscelis mating call is a very fast trill rate. If temperatures are cool especially during night when they are active usually starting around May, females are more attracted to the slower produced advertisement call of H. chrysoscelis. So I actually have no idea which species it is, LOL. Watch out for calling males especially on warm rainy nights to tell their call it's not hard. I also live in an overlapped breeding zone too so I find that 90 percent H. versicolor and 10 percent H. chrysoscelis, but it's probably different for you. The tail is a huge giveaway for GTF tadpoles. Let me know if I helped at all!

[amythyst]

Thank you! That is super helpful! A water table is just a toddler toy that holds water and they splash and play in it. So yes, we found the tadpoles swimming in my son’s water.

i have a few more questions... we now have an official frog! Most of them are still tadpoles but one has transformed. He is quite tiny and a greenish color I think. I see him just sitting on top of the rock I have outside the water level of our tank.

Since it’s almost winter now, should I wait on releasing them till spring? Also... what do I feed them now that I have actual frogs? The food we have been giving them says frog and tadpole food... will the frogs still go back into the water to eat?