16 replies to this topic

[Moontanman]

It looks like my last bull frog tadpoles are turning into frogs, it this the right time of year to catch young BF Tadpoles? 

[gzeiger]

They're always around, since they have a 2-year larval stage. Very young ones were hatching in May here in NJ.

[gerald]

Bullfrogs in the Carolinas usually have a 1-year larval stage (transforming in summer a year after they hatched) according to Amphs & Reps of the Carolinas & VA.  But yes, tadpoles can be found all year.

[Casper]

I hear / understand / tell 3 years to morph day at the Conasauga.  I could be wrong.  Conditions surely have a factor.  I don't quite have enough time to watch and wait.  I have plenty a plenty in the cement pond.  Several species, mostly Bull and Green.  Barking Trees too.  They are all excellent algae eaters and make your gravel and wood shine.

[Moontanman]

I have a drainage ditch in front of my house I can catch big tadpoles but I wanted to get some new hatched bullfrog tadpoles. All the ones I have are growing legs! 

 

I do like tadpoles as algae eaters in native tanks. Fun to watch them turn into adults, interesting to have a frog jump across the table unexpectedly when you are eating dinner... 

 

Do the small ones look pretty much like the big ones? I've never noticed them when they are small... 

[gerald]

All the common local Rana (Lithobates) frog species look fairly similar when the tadpoles are small: Bullfrog, Green frog, Leopard frog, Pickerel frog, Carpenter frog.  If you find a good tadpole ID key for the NC/SC region, please share.  Peterson Guide (mine is 1991 edition) has drawings of a few species. Lips and teeth are crucial ID features.

[Matt DeLaVega]

If you misidentify any tadpoles in your area is it a big deal? Do you have any T&E species around you? If not I would guess you would not hurt a population. But is there any chance of them escaping with some odd disease? I don't know one way or another, but I would stay on the safe side.

[Irate Mormon]

 They are all excellent algae eaters and make your gravel and wood shine.

 

Tadpoles!  Tadpoles is a winner!  I gotta try some in my low-tech planted tank.

[Moontanman]

 

Tadpoles!  Tadpoles is a winner!  I gotta try some in my low-tech planted tank.

 

 

Bullfrog tadpoles are big and ugly, i love em and they do a great job as scavengers as well... 

[gzeiger]

If you misidentify any tadpoles in your area is it a big deal? Do you have any T&E species around you? If not I would guess you would not hurt a population. But is there any chance of them escaping with some odd disease? I don't know one way or another, but I would stay on the safe side.

My understanding is that release of captive frogs is a much bigger deal than release of captive fish in terms of potential disease introduction to the wild population.

[Irate Mormon]

My understanding is that release of captive frogs is a much bigger deal than release of captive fish in terms of potential disease introduction to the wild population.

 Bullfrogs can be eaten

[Matt DeLaVega]

 Bullfrogs can be eaten

If I recall correctly, fish are known to be edible as well?

[mattknepley]

It's my understanding that as they age tads change from vegetarians to meatatarians. Seems like that change would be much easier as a tadpole than right at the time of leaving water... I very much like finding them in my plants' water trays. (Not bullfrogs, though; usually Green Treefrogs.)

[Irate Mormon]

If I recall correctly, fish are known to be edible as well?

Hence the "Tank O' Death"!

[Casper]

I was leading a trip to the Conasauga last Tuesday and Wed.  There were vast quantities of Froglets, having just developed legs, amassed along the edge where water meets land.  Seems like August is the month of transformation.  I presume they are Bull Frogs but perhaps Green is a possibility.  Back in the Snorkel Hole there were lots of small speckled tadpoles as well... next year's frog crop?  It is surprising how many there are consistently through the years in the hole, i suspect most fish reject their taste.  They are still a wary bunch so something makes them nervous.  Turtles?

In the cement pond i had a big fat Dixie Chub that i terminated, fearing he was eating my named fish.  Doing an autopsy i found several tadpoles in his gullet and i had to do a post-mortem apology.

[littlen]

 

In the cement pond i had a big fat Dixie Chub that i terminated, fearing he was eating my named fish.  Doing an autopsy i found several tadpoles in his gullet and i had to do a post-mortem apology.

 

Now that's funny right there.

[Casper]

Not for the Chub.

 

In my snorkeling dreams i am often haunted by this incident.

Edited by Casper, 23 August 2016 - 07:50 AM.