Extremely perplexed with my Gray Tree frogs
I am extremely perplexed over the size of 3 of my Gray Tree Froglets.
I just don't understand why they are still so small?
As most of you have know this past summer my closed pool was hedonism for the local adult Gray Tree frog population. Having incredibly lousy parental instincts I was left to tend to them, all 1,000 plus, that took over my yard, deck and house. Since they hung around for months I took in several of the remaining froglets for pets.
I have 13 in two separate tanks that are identically set up, one being 10 gal and the other a 33 gal tank.
I originally had 10 in the big tank, but 8 of them grew really fast and are mostly around 2" , just about adult size, but 2 were still really tiny, about 1". When it came to dinner time I continued to take then out in a separate container for dinner so I could make sure they were eating. They were, but after grabbing a cricket or two they would both climb to the top of the container while the others continued to eat for another 10-15 minutes.
I decided to take the two out and put them in with the 3, 1/2" froglets that were closer to their size, they being just slightly larger. They seem much happier and the smaller froglets seem to love the larger of the two, Dorian II, who is about 1" and is calling! Odd since he is tiny, very tiny compared to the 2"+ frogs calling in the other tank.
It seems that size isn't necessasarily a factor, but age is. They are all about the same age, but the size difference is buggin me!
So finally we get to the questions...
*Is there or can there be dwarfism in Gray Tree frogs or any frog for that matter?
*Can there be or is there an alternate explanation for the abnormal small size of 3 of my frogs?
Keep in mind that one of the three really tiny frogs, <1/2", is Baby the extremely emaciated frog I rescued. Oddly he, I think he's male..call it a hunch, is that largest of the 3. All three are small enough they can sit comfortablly on the tips of my fingers.
Here are a few pics I've taken on different days showing how the 3 small frogs, Hoppy, Baby and Shadoobie, seem to gravitate to Dorian II, about 1" and the larger of the 2 larger frogs in with them. Keep in mind again he has been calling regularly.
*Is or could his calling be the reason the others are so enamored with him?
The other one I transferred from the larger tank, Jennifer, who is slightly bigger than Baby, keeps to herself, is basically ingnored and unaffected by Dorians' calling.
Lastly...besides Dorian II in the small tank, there are 3 or more now calling in the larger tank, mostly all random at anytime day or night. It's actually not as bad as I thought it would be and is quite pleasant. We call back to them for incouragement, it's kind of fun.
Anyway besides the occasional calls, they are now calling to certain sounds. If the phone rings they answer it!LOL Last pm my Persian, Mush, was howling like a ban chi and all the frogs all at once called back to him every time he screeched. It was so funny and odd, since his meowing sounds nothing like a frog call, yet every time Mush let out a howl they ALL called back together! I am so shocked, amused and confused by this!
*Anyone have any thoughts on this one? I'm stumped!
Thanks for any info for thoughts
Pic #1-Shadoobie sitting on Dorian II
Pic #2-Baby on Dorian II
Pic #3-Baby(back left), Hoppy (right) and Shadoobie (front)
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