Rescued a tadpole from a carnival. NEED HELP!

[Deku]

Hmm here is my opinion and experience. I have caught and kept tadpoles constantly. Most of which morphed in to frog/toadlets. Only problem I used to had after that was finding fruit flies so id let the frogs go since they were native. Anywho as for caring for this little guy here is what you may need:
-10gallon tank
-Low powered filter(a hang on the back filter has lower suction, also the fluvals infilters are also good its all preferance). Just make sure the filter cleans up all t he waste but isnt strong that the tadpole is constantly fighting against a current.
-Air pump with air stones: this produces extra oxygen in the water which is a good thing to have.
-Pea sized gravel is really good because they can forage on it and it wont crush them. You can also use sand. Ived used sand before.
-Live aquatic plants: Provide some shelter and a secondary source of food.
-Food: I use spirulina waffers, algea waffers, shrimp pellets, fish flakes. You can also try dropping a small piece of fruit in every once in a while. Iam sure theyd appreciate that. I just avoid anything citrus.


You dont need a heater because they come from temprate regions. Which have a higher oxygen level because its colder. Colder water=higher oxygen. Warmer water=lower oxygen.

Warning!!!:
-DO NOT!!! Release this tadpole into the wild!!!! Bullfrogs are an invasive species!

Also frogs/tadpoles are not reptiles. They are amphibians.

Also you may and should get acquainted with the cycling proccess for fishtanks. Ammonia could possibly kill your tadpole.
Ammonia:Found on poop, urine and dying matter. Which your tank is not made for dealing with it. So again id get educated. Look onto a site called "fishforums.com" they SHOULD explain to you perfectly well on the cycling proccess. I mean id explain it myself but I dont know the exact phrasing for it. I just know how to cycle a tank.

I recommend you also heavily plant the tank. In my experience they feel more secure. Again thats just what I think. I mean I use duckweed, anachris, and a few other plants when I had tadpoles. They were fairly easy to keep. Id buy a plant light also itll keep the aquatic plants alive which will provide shelter for the tadpole and some grazing.

Temps should be around 72. Try not to get it to go more than 80 at most. That may be a little TOO warm for it. Ideal temps are 68-72. I could be wrong on that fact though because thats just the water temperature from my region which bullfrogs are native to.

Good luck and hopes this helps.

[JimO]

Warning!!!:
-DO NOT!!! Release this tadpole into the wild!!!! Bullfrogs are an invasive species!

If it's an American Bullfrog (Rana catesbeiana), it is not considered an invasive species in LA, although it is a non-native species introduced in the 1920s. Here is a map showing its current range.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Bullfrog_range.gif

It's range is mostly limited by high elevations and dry climates.

Here is a good California site about American Bullfrogs, with lots of pictures.

http://www.californiaherps.com/frogs...tesbeiana.html

[Deku]

If it's an American Bullfrog (Rana catesbeiana), it is not an invasive species in LA. Here is a map showing its range.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Bullfrog_range.gif

It's range is mostly limited by high elevations and dry climates.

Here is a good California site about American Bullfrogs, with lots of pictures.

Rana catesbeiana - American Bullfrog

Hm I stand corrected. I just thought they were introduced in the west(us) where they are becomming an invasive species.