Tadpole questions

[SE18]

Hi everyone. While you are getting more and more interested in trains, I'm getting more and more into the water aspect! My friends who have trains only, I'm trying to coax them to get their feet wet so to speak.

So last night I wanted to get some photos for you of the taddies. They didn't want to pose for the camera so I had to chase them around the aqueduct and finally when I said "cheese" they sort of posed. Along with doggies, who use the aqueduct as a sort of racetrack.
I don't have proof of this, but I think the big taddie got that way by eating little ones. I probably should shake some flakes for them tonight. Enjoy.

oh, if anyone can tell if these will turn into frogs or toads, I'd like to know. Or maybe princesses? I'm starting to bone up on reading and found to my surprise that some tadpoles stay in that stage for up to 8 months, while other types are much less time. I always thought they turned into frogs by June and it's already July.

 

[koidaddy]

Or maybe princesses?

Are you willing to kiss them? :lol:

 

[addy1]

humm then he would have to build a castle room to keep her in

 

[CountryEscape]

Very neat pics of the tadpoles. You have 2 different sizes, so I will be interested to hear what people say about the little black guys for sure, as I have them in my bog as well. I have the little "spring peeper" frogs in my pond, started with one, and after a week had maybe 4, now I've seen as many as probably 8-10 at a time. Also have one that is much larger, maybe small bullfrog, or some other type. Lots of toads in my area, too, so wondering what the little tiny tadpoles are. I never knew toads had tadpoles in water. Who woulda thunk it!

 

[SE18]

I know that you can tell frogs and toads apart from the egg mass. One has a clump and the other has strings of eggs. I don't know which are which. I somehow missed completely seeing the eggs but I do recall the tadpoles when they were really tiny. They were so tiny i thought at first they were aquatic microorganisms.

I'm soon going to add some rocks for the little fellows to climb atop. There certainly are plenty of bugs for them to catch in the area. I have bite marks all over my leg so I know.

With all the maintenance woes regarding fish I'm reading about on this forum, I'm currently content with the tadpoles, which seem pretty low maintenance to care for and are entertaining as well.

 

[CountryEscape]

Totally agree with the low maintenance of the tadpoles! And, the little frogs I have are barely longer than an inch, and they can jump well over 2', so you probably don't have much to worry about them getting out ... unless they are toads. I never saw the eggs either, just one day saw the tadpoles. And, the frogs are not singing as much in the evening either, so maybe they are done with their mating ritual for this year. I have huge bullfrogs in my farm pond, but the local pet shop told me that a large bullfrog would eat the fish! OK, so I can see them eating fry, or maybe feeder guppies, but anything larger than that? Comment anyone?

 

[stroppy]

bullfrogs will eat mice rats and fish anything that they can get into there mouths .... they also eat other frogs !!!

 

[SE18]

When I was a kid, used to visit the reptile house in Bronx Zoo (early 60s). There was a humongous frog or toad there and the description listed its diet which included small mammals and doe (does,plural?)

 

[jagan314]

Wow!!! so cool..

 

[SE18]

OK over the weekend I was awakened by mating calls so I stealthily crept outside, camera and flash in hand, following the call of the wild. As I approached each mating call, the froggy would suddenly stop croaking. This happened again and again. Then I heard a splashing sound and went to investigate.

Here's the little culprit. About the size of a half dollar in my aqueduct. It sort of looks like a toad but how could it jump 2 feet up to the aqueduct?

Well I looked it up and it's a Grey Treefrog.

I was thrilled listening to it trill.

So this is what has been laying eggs!

Still, it seems like there are 2 types of tadpoles so I may find something else. First link below shows that Gray treefrogs love clean water so my aqueduct must be just right for it.

http://www.news.vcu.edu/news/Pesticides_alter_how_frogs_choose_habitats

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gray_tree_frog

Also including some other photos showing railway construction, aqueduct extension, etc.

My water grass went from a foot high to 6 feet high! (see photo).

 

[j.w]

Happy you found your little trilling frog. Maybe he will hitch a ride on your trains for a thrilling, trilling ride

 

[jagan314]

The grey tree frogs are very common.. and very much like the Pacific Tree frog we have in Southern California. I love their call.. and hope they populate my sons pond. I've raised a dozen or so in my sons pond.. but never know what became of them.. No predators in his pond as all his fish are small platy like or mosquito fish. I like their call, kind of lulls me to sleep along with the sound of waterfall. Lucky YOU for being blessed with this.. They found your pond good enough to have babies in!

 

[addy1]

Our tree frogs and others politely quit singing around 10 pm or so. It must cool down enough to make them decide to be quiet.