Reptile & Amphibian Forums

My American bullfrog used to croak all the time, but I don't hear it much--actually rarely now. Is this normal since the weather is starting to cool off? Or do they croak year round???

He's still eating like a horse though. what's up with this not croaking?

Thanks
Madame JadeFox

Breeding season is coming to an end so he may just feel no reason to call anymore right now. Don't worry, the music will return next spring.
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Heather

Did you catch him in the wild? My wildcaught male never called in the winter; he spent most of his time buried then, not even eating, but not losing any mass because he was inactive. His biological clock was telling him to hibernate, even though the house was warm. He is now in an enclosed outdoor pond at a nature center; poor frog led a confusing life
I would say that your frog's silence has something to do with the weather. They do call all through spring and summer and sometimes even on warm fall days. Is yours burying himself?
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*~Ginevive~*

No-at least not yet, he hasn't buried himself. He seems content to look at me and beg for food. Where I bought the bullfrog, they caught him in the wild. I guess the cooler days is making him more silent. I *really* miss hearing him croak! I think it's an awesome sound.

My treefrogs croak sometimes but not as often, but my eyelash frog now he REALLY croaks still--and very loudly. Sometimes I walk by the room then QUAAACK so loud it makes me jump...it frightens me from time to time. But very cute. But I hear nothing from my bullfrog.

Thanks
Madame JadeFox

I love hearing the bullfrogs croak. My mother in law stayed overnight last year and actually thought there was a bear outside when she heard mine croaking! I guess it could really startle someone who has never heard it closeup before.
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*~Ginevive~*

With the absence of any other symptoms, I would say it is season related. What is your setup like? I am intersted in knowing how bullfrogs are being kept for future recommendations.
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...the oldest task in human history: to live on a piece of land without spoiling it."
Aldo Leopold (1938)

"Sometimes I think the surest sign that intelligent life exists elsewhere in the universe is that none of it has tried to contact us."
Calvin and Hobbes

I keep mine in a 100 gallon container made of translucent plastic. I prefer the softer plastics because sometiems you can hear it bang against the sides. Most of the enclosure is simply peat moss mixed with bed-a-beast. For water, I'm very simple--use a large container used to hold plants--it's large and shallow, for which I can change the water *daily* No amount of filtration can beat a daily water change. From time to time I scoop out some peat/bed-a-beast and replace it with new. although it lasts for quite a long time cause bullfrog mostly poos and pees in the water. he just loves to soak and seems very happy in his setup, basic as it is-but very clean.

His favorite hobby is staring at me looking very innocent which means feed me. One time I changed his water and forgot to throw in crickets. Man did he give me a sorry looking stare, then I remember I forgot to feed him! He can't talk but he knows how to communicate his needs.

One time I let him outside for a romp in the yard. It actually terrified him. He settled down again after I put him back in his terrarium (I gave it a good water scrubbing). He didn't croak for a few weeks after that then resumed....until now but its getting cooler outside. and I miss the croaking very much.

I found the water bowel very satisfying for ease of daily cleaning of treated water (removed chlorine and ammonia), and the frog seems to like it too

Madame JadeFox

It is great to see someone giving bullfrogs the adequate sized habitat they deserve! You are clearly seeing the rewards of your compassion. Believe it or not, there is somebody on this forum preaching how adults can be kept in a 40 g or so. I highly encourage you to stick around on this forum and give advice on how to keep bullfrogs. I mostly try to discourage it because I know most people will not give a bullfrog a 100 g tank. Thanks.
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...the oldest task in human history: to live on a piece of land without spoiling it."
Aldo Leopold (1938)

"Sometimes I think the surest sign that intelligent life exists elsewhere in the universe is that none of it has tried to contact us."
Calvin and Hobbes

I know, you can't house a bullfrog adequately in a 55g tank, much less a 40g one. I believe that you need a minimum 100g enclosure also. I also agree with the water container idea, as opposed to building a false-bottom tank; much easier to change the water daily. No need for a filter either, which could scare these sometimes skittish frogs.
I wish more bullfrog keepers did their homework before having these frogs, which can be a handful! I read about some people having 7 or 8 bullfrogles, and I think back to when I had one bullfrog, what a handful he was. I did donate him to a local nature center, where he lives in a big indoor pond setup thing and is much happier; he was one who did not adjust well to aquarium life.
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*~Ginevive~*

That's very nice of you to donate your bullfrog to a more happier setting. Maybe it's frog personality, but mine seems content in his setup. in fact one time i let it out to roam outside and it was extremely terrified and only calmed down after I held it and put it back in. poor thing. so now I'm just going to scoop old bed-a-beast out (I change it every 3 months) while he's in the container. That's the only drawback because Bed-A-Beast is not cheap but nothing beats it. And beware of cheap imitations--they smell bad. Only bed-a-beast is acceptable.

Madame JadeFox

Actually with some research one can find a hundred gallon plastic container--sold for purposes of storage, makes an ideal frog place. It costs a fraction of what glass tanks cost, and the softer plastic helps prevent nose injuries. If not available locally, huge plastic containers can be ordered, I'm sure.

I don't care what anybody says about filtration--bullfrogs eat a lot and poop and urinate a lot and really requires *daily* water changes, and I found my bullfrog quite happy with a large plastic dish (normally used as a water chatcher for large planters) and it only takes seconds to clean it.

I went to a reptile show and seen an ALBINO AMERICAN BULLFROG--man I totally freaked! but I didn't buy it because I don't have room for it. My male frog is getting real big and 100 gallons is not enough space for 2 bullfrogs.

Madame JadeFox