Brought in Gray Tree frog tads, now what?

[charlamanda]

With the weather dropping I was getting worried for the tads in my pool, so as predicted, I captured 19 and brought them in. It wasn't easy either. I used a small plastic cup to scoop them up and searched through my 18' round pool, that's filling with leaves very fast. With my fingers numb I picked out the leaves, one by one, since they are usually underneath them and them scooped them up as they fled. There are many more, but for now I only got the 19.
So here is my reasoning and plan for the tadpoles.
Since it's getting colder the tads are growing very slowly. At this rate they will either not morph at all or if they do will not have enough reserves to survive the winter. I thought if I took them inside the house, which is around 70-74' F, they will morph much quicker. I then can fatten them up as froglets, so they can safely hibernate in a container in my garage, which I will do gradually. First in the basement where it is cool, then in the garage where it is only slightly warmer than outside and then possibly in the shed where it is the same temp as outside. Then in the spring simply release them outside.
So here are my questions and concerns with my plan:
***At what point will it be safe for them to be put into hibernation, since it will not be at the same time they would be if left in the wild? (size, girth, age, etc.) A pic would be helpful for me to determine this if possible.
***What would be the minimum amount of time I would need to keep them in their hibernation, so I can successfully reintroduce them into the wild, come spring? I am concerned that they will only be hibernating for a month or 2, since I will need to fatten them up after they morph, which may take some time before they can safely be put into hibernation.
Is my plan reasonable, if not insane (LOL), and is this doable to help them survive?
I thought this would be my safest and best bet, so (1) I don't have to keep them or find others to, and or (2) I can minimalize my interference with their natural development and cycle. I am only assuming that with my minimal feeding etc., after they resorb their tails, I will be able to release them without any problems I created by helping them.
I know many of you disagree with my interference, but since I already have, I would like to hear your thoughts on what would be the best way to go about this.

[Rae]

Aww =) I hope all goes well... cant wait to here how they fair and I am also quiet intrested in how to induce hibenation safely if we ever get more adults to breed.

Good Luck

[charlamanda]

Thanks Rae, Hopefully some will find a home before I need to hiberate them

[charlamanda]

Can anyone tell me when is the best time, after the tadpoles morph, to hibernate them safely?
Hello?....Help!

[Kurt]

Sorry no answer for you there. Gray treefrogs can partially freeze and survive, so I wouldn't worry about them.

[Eel Noob]

Wish I can find that many grays around here. Did you ever hear back from fish and wildlife about shipping some out?

[charlamanda]

So far the only thing I got was a notification that they received my email, but nothing definative yet. I am not holding my breath, but I am trying to stay hopeful.
Every day or so I check the pool that's filling up with leaves. I have 30 tadpoles in total that are now inside. Non of which are very close to sprouting their legs and leaving the water.
I am just not sure how long after they do morph would be an appropriate time to put them into hibernation. If I do it too soom they won't have enough reserves to survive the hibernation. If I don't hibernate them then they will become too dependent on me for food and I want to kept my interferrence to a minimim and kept their experience as close to nature as possible, which is why I am going to hibernate them.
I just don't want to make a mistake and hurt or kill them, but I guess since they probally wouldn't have survived anyway a few deaths wouldn't be the end of the world either.
Hopefully I'll get an answer before they need to.=0