While waiting to talk to my advisor one day, back when I was in college, I came across an interesting article hanging outside the office of one of the other biology professors. It was about a scientist who, back in I believe the late 1800's, was studying development of tadpoles into frogs. He added radioactive iodine to the water containing the tadpoles, and being iodine it collected in their thyroid glands, and being radioactive, it destroyed their thyroid glands. This had the effect of preventing metamorphasis. According to the article the tadpole would continue to grow to it's adult (ie frog) size, but would remain a tadpole. I immediately thought: some day I'm going to have to get a big aquarium, a bullfrog tadpole, and some thyrotoxin.
The thought of a 2.5 pound tadpole as an aquarium pet was just irresistable.Actually, I have been surprised that such things aren't, or at least don't seem to be, available in the pet trade. A thyroidless tadpole would remain suitable for the aquarium since it wouldn't develop into a frog that many aquarists would not have the space or desire to keep. Not saying it is right or wrong to do, just surprised that they don't seem to be available.
I was wondering though, if anyone on the forum has ever kept or worked with such a creature. Do they actually continue to grow to their adult size? Does the lack of a thyroid gland pose any problems to the tadpole other than preventing development?
Another interesting note, the scientist in the article was able to restart metamorphasis, by feeding the tadpoles pieces of the thyroid gland from a horse or cow.
NANFA Youtube Channel 
