Question about my Bullfrog Tadpole?

[BullFrogGurl]

So, I caught a bullfrog tadpole from a nearby pond about a month ago. She's about 3 inches big, and it's winter where I live. My question is will she transform into a froglet soon? I really want a froglet so since it's winter, will I have to wait until winter is over? Thanks! BTW her name is Specks ^^

[Mentat]

Since you are keeping the tadpole in a controlled environment; the fact it's Winter outside in a couple month's will be of no significance to tadpole maturation. In American Bullfrogs tadpoles, size is more related to future froglet size than age. Take good care of it, and it could start metamorphosis either later this year or next .

[BullFrogGurl]

The water feels kinda cold, will this affect anything?

[BullFrogGurl]

Her tank is half water and half land so she'll be ready and like I said her water feels kinda cold and I feed her a mix of boiled frozen lettuce and fish flakes. Her tank is ten gallons, and she has a little bamboo plant in their that's alive should I change anything to make her metamorphosis come faster?

[Truffs1178]

The warmer you keep the water the faster she will develop but you should just concentrate on keeping its temperature and other living conditions ideal rather than making her morph faster because this usually leads to a weak froglet that's easily susceptible to disease.

[BullFrogGurl]

Ok I'm glad you told me that Jack so I will make the water warmer. I figured out how to out the heater low enough to have it warm the water. I have it set to 75, should I set it to a different temp?

[Mentat]

75F is fine for tadpoles ! Avoid fast temperature changes because tadpoles can die from them.

[BullFrogGurl]

Thanks Carlos! I'm usually really patient about stuff, but I really want a frog, not a fish!

[UncleChester]

Her tank is half water and half land so she'll be ready ...

I'd just make it all water, and deeper. Your tadpole appears to have very minimal usable space in the tank. The change won't sneak up on you. Once the hind legs start looking developed you can drop the water level and make land available.

[BullFrogGurl]

Ok but I'm scared she'll drown

[UncleChester]

Ok but I'm scared she'll drown

From the time the back legs appear to the time the front legs appear can take 3 weeks or more and it won't try to get onto land until it has 4 limbs. You'll have ample time to make land available once legs begin to appear. They can sometimes reach over 4" in size before the metamorphosis even begins so it may still be many months before your tadpole starts to transform.

[BullFrogGurl]

Ok so I should fill up the tank with water and make land available when she has 4 legs right?

[UncleChester]

Ok so I should fill up the tank with water and make land available when she has 4 legs right?

That's what I would do, yes. Or make the change when 3 legs are visible. The front legs 'pop' out abruptly and once one appears, the other won't be far behind. Or if you're really paranoid about drowning you can do it when the back legs are starting to look developed.

[N3XU5]

My bullfrog changed when it had all of its arms and legs

[N3XU5]

Here is a picture of Dwight when he was morphing