Bella Sara Charter Superscriber
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Okay, this is about as off-topic as I think I can get, but you guys are one of the best brain trusts on the internet for random questions. I'm sure there's a biologist or someone who's done something like this that can give me some advice.
My daughter's 3rd birthday is coming up. She's inquisitive and seems to have a keen interest in the natural world. She watches the birds in the bird feeder and has a small garden of tomatoes and strawberries she and her mom tend (though the damn rabbits keep getting in and I need to add some chicken coop wire around the garden). I think she would get a big kick out of getting some tadpoles and seeing them grow into frogs.
I've seen kits like this in educational themed stores, but I'm not sure I want to go that route. The cages look cheap and I'm not sure if they would work. Does anyone have any experience with such cages? Anyone know if they are ideal for raising tadpoles into frogs or if there is a more ideal cage?
The other concern I have about the kits is that I want to make sure the frogs are a native species that I can release into the wild when they are adults. I don't want to go and take some tadpoles out of a river somewhere, because I don't want to disturb them (and, honestly, I'm not certain I could find them and get access to them because they may be in preserves). So, what I'd like to do is find some place to get tadpoles of native species - is that possible? Is there someone I could contact? I know that there are programs where you can adopt an endangered tortoise here in Southern California (the tortoise is even marked with a metal plate), so I wonder if something like this is likely. I know that frog populations are in decline, and I want to make sure that I can raise these tadpoles and release them into the wild without upsetting the natural ecosystem. If I can't, I likely won't do it.
So, that's my long question. If anyone has any expertise on the topic, I'd be grateful for any advice, links, or comments you may have.
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Try contacting a local college or university biology department as a first step. At the very least they may be able to point you in the right direction. Also, you may want to contact the zoo curator listed in this story. You would probably not get red legged frog tadpoles, but he would probably be very enthusiastic about anyone in the private sector who had interest in raising frogs, especially since you are looking at reintroducing them to your surrounding habitat.
I would recommend an aquarium type set up ... heat lamp, a "pool stone" (holds water for the tadpoles and later frogs) and some kind of "soil" substrate. I used coconut husk fibers for my pet frog years ago (yes I had a pet frog for about 5 years ... a friend gave him to me when he moved into a small apartment and could not keep all his reptiles and amphibians); they worked really well ... absorbed a good amount of water to keep the frog from drying out when he would bury himself.
Good luck and have fun with the project!
My mom got several tadpoles for her backyard pond a bunch of years ago. She also had lily pond tubs that she started them in, with the thought to transfer them to the larger pond once they were older and so she could watch them grow :) Only one made it all the way to froggy, but he's either been going strong or his children have, as she is now up to around five frogs I believe, one of which is rather large ... and they all love to scare the crap out of us by jumping into the water when you walk by :)
I am pretty sure she got them from the local nursery that also dealt in water plants and carp. They'll often also get you mosquito fish to help with that issue, and in Southern California, you can call someone and they'll give you free mosquito fish.
Being as it is almost midnight now in California, I can't call her unless I want to be skinned, but I'll see if she can remember more and any of the places. Are you a fellow Californian, Sebastian?
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Bella Sara Charter Superscriber
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Thanks Zylphryx, that's a good idea - I'll give UCSD a try.
I am pretty sure she got them from the local nursery that also dealt in water plants and carp. They'll often also get you mosquito fish to help with that issue, and in Southern California, you can call someone and they'll give you free mosquito fish.Being as it is almost midnight now in California, I can't call her unless I want to be skinned, but I'll see if she can remember more and any of the places. Are you a fellow Californian, Sebastian?
I am! I live in San Diego. That'd be great if you could get more info.
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I'm not so sure about the tadpole thing, but I do have a suggestion for the garden/rabbit situation:
I new an old dude once, who had a problem with deer, rabbits and such getting into his vegetable plot. Apparently, he went to the local barber shop, got some excess human hair, and spread it on the ground around his plot. The animals smell it and think a human is around. The only drawback is that you have to renew it ever so often.
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Bella Sara Charter Superscriber
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I'm not so sure about the tadpole thing, but I do have a suggestion for the garden/rabbit situation:
I new an old dude once, who had a problem with deer, rabbits and such getting into his vegetable plot. Apparently, he went to the local barber shop, got some excess human hair, and spread it on the ground around his plot. The animals smell it and think a human is around. The only drawback is that you have to renew it ever so often.
Thanks! I'll have to try that - much easier than building a fence.
Thanks Zylphryx, that's a good idea - I'll give UCSD a try.
I am! I live in San Diego. That'd be great if you could get more info.
I am pretty sure she got them from the local nursery that also dealt in water plants and carp. They'll often also get you mosquito fish to help with that issue, and in Southern California, you can call someone and they'll give you free mosquito fish.Being as it is almost midnight now in California, I can't call her unless I want to be skinned, but I'll see if she can remember more and any of the places. Are you a fellow Californian, Sebastian?
Okay, just got the email back from Mom. She's up in San Gabriel, and here's the info she gave me:
"Hi- We went to Upland Water Gardens in Upland, and purchased five and they gave us one, so we came home with six. Care? We dumped them in the pond and didn't see them until they were frogs. So much for "CARE"!!!!You might see if they have a web site. I know they have a catalog that you can order from. You buy the insurance and they guarantee the water life. Comet fish, frogs, plants and I think pond supplies can be ordered. The place itself is a huge disappointment as it isn't at all pretty, just a bunch of old bath tubs and horse troughs and areas full of aquatic plants. BUT that's the place where we got the comet gold fish that lived for over eight years!! My two frogs are back and croaking. I think we are going on eight or nine years with them. Always a thrill to know that they came through another hibernation. Good luck. xxoo- Mom"
I tried looking for the name before posting, but didn't get that particular place to pop up on the first try. But I'd check out places in San Diego that have similar deals on animals and plants for backyard ponds, and you should have luck :)
I'd give advice but I don't think you want buttered tadpoles...
When I was a kid we kept a 40 gallon fish tank in the back yard on the patio, the dog used to drink from it, and we threw some swamp wood and tadpoles in. Then some mud on the bottom.
They raised themselves pretty well after that even with the dog trying to eat them, and when they grew legs we caught them and took them back to the swamp.
