Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hi all.
My husband and I keep turtles and bearded dragons, so tree frogs are a bit foreign to us. We've been digging trenches for a new turtle habitat. With the rain we've had it quickly filled up with water. And a few days ago I discovered tadpole eggs in there. They are most likely cope's gray treefrogs, we've identified several of these guys hanging around in our turtle homes (we think they converge on our are since it is right in the middle of two forest lines, for mating).
Anyway I collect three jars of the eggs, and now I've got squiggly little tadpoles. Glad I did too, because once the rain stopped the trenches dried up pretty quick.

Anyway, I'd like to see if I can actually get a few frogs to grow. I've put a stick of reptomin (turtle food) in each jar, thinking they'd have atleast something to eat. But I'd like to know what they actually eat, so I can feed them properly. Also if I can find out what kind of set up they need, temps, lights, heat, etc....I'd be very happy.
Also, how long does it take until they turn into frogs?

They sure are cute little squiggles! I'm so happy these frogs have come to our house. One great advantage of having our outside turtle habitats is the other creatures that also find them enjoyable!

Thanks a bunch in advance for any help!
Lesha

Here's a great post from a few threads down. It covers a bunch of GTF rearing tips:

http://forums.kingsnake.com/view.php?id=25210,25210

Feed them concentrated algae tablets they sell for corydora catfish...I usually use the Hikari brand. When the tadpoles are really young and small it's usually 1/4 tablet every other day, and as they get bigger I eventually wind up giving 2 tablets per day. (If you have more than 60 tadpoles it'll probably be even more food needed). As the tablets break down in the water the water will change color a bit. If the water is clear the next day, then it means you should probably increase the amount of food as it was all eaten up. I do 1/3 water changes every day and about every 3rd day do a complete water change. Try not to overcrowd the tadpoles... spread them out among several containers. Reptomin sticks are also useable though they seem to gunk the water up much worse than the straight algae tablets.

Once the tadpoles develop the rear legs start keeping a close eye on them. Once you get front legs, make sure you have a gravel sloped area they can climb out of the water. Once out of the water individuals should be transferred to a separate terrairum. Froglets will eat pinhead crickets, fruit flies, termites, springtails, tiny worms, and other small inverts.

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Wyvern

Thank you for the great advice.
They are actually starting to look like tadpoles now.

Finally, at what point are they safe to be released? Once they have legs? As much fun as it will be to see them grow, I really have no desire to have any inside as pets. But since they have come from local frogs, I plan to just let them go back out in the yard I found the eggs in.

Any thoughts on that?

Thanks!
Lesha