Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I had a small 50 gal backyard pond. There were five bullfrogs in the pond, but they had left. I bought a new 100 gallon liner and began to clean out the old one, and I discovered a HUGE tadpole in the bottom of the pond in the muck. He must be 7 or 8 inches long, and I assume he's a bullfrog. He has tiny hind legs, but no front legs, and he's not coming up for air, so he's not morphing all the way yet.

The problem is, he seems very lethargic, right from the get-go. When I took him out of the muck, he just laid in my hand and didn'g struggle. I put the new 100 gallon pond in and transferred him into it. I can reach in and pick him up, and he lays there limp. Is that normal? He does appear to be eating; I bought some algae at the pet store for him, and he does occasionally eat, but he just sits around on the bottom, totally listless. I'm in north Florida, and it's cold here, anywhere from 40's to occasionally below freezing at night.

Would this guy be better off if I put him in a bucket and brought him inside where it's warmer, or should he stay in the pond? And should I provide anything for him to keep him warm; he was in a couple inches of muck in the old pond, but of course the new one's clean and there's nothing for him to snuggle into.

Also, I have some general frog questions, if anyone knows the answers to any, I'd sure appreciate it:

1) How do frogs sense water? Can they hear it? I created a small waterfall in the new pond, hoping it would entice them, but not sure how they determine where water is.

2) Do frogs have a sense of direction? I guess what I'm asking is, the frogs that left my pond, can they find their way back there?

3) Anyone know how to discourage snakes from coming round the pond? I use Snakeaway, but frankly a little worried that that product could harm the frogs if they hop thru it. I've placed it in a large arc around their pond, outside where they usually ranged, but still wonder if anyone has any better idea how to discourage them from coming round.

Again, appreciate any tips anyone has for attracting frogs to the yard. I love them; such cute faces!

J.W.

with the temperatures that you posted, the tadpole is most likely trying to hibernate until the temps warm up. he was better off in the old pond with the muck, but since that is gone, try putting some leaves or building a rock hut in the bottom so he can hide. you should also leave him alone until it warms up and you see him swimming around on his own. he also will not eat or eat very little during this time. If you wanted to, you could put him in a 10 gal tank inside with water from the pond and a small filter. you can feed them spincah greens, commerical tadpole food from stores, or live plants from the pond(usually the best option). but once it warms up, put him back outside.

frogs can sense moisture in the air and may be able to feel the vibrations of moving water if they are close enough. i don't believe that they can truely hear water, but i would have to do some research to be sure.

i have a outside frog pond up here in western NY and the frogs i have leave every fall to hibernat in a near by creek, but return almost every spring to my pond. i have one bullfrog with odd markings that has returned every year for the last 6 yrs. if you create a good enviroment for them, they usually will return as long as they don't find some place better or get eaten in the mean time.

most products, including snakeaway, have very little effectiveness. they use synthesized pheromone's in an attempt to drive snakes away, but most are only a mild deterrents and lose their effect after a week or two. snakes are a natural part of a frogs life and they help keep populations in check. it is best if you just let them be and let nature take its course. just be careful of the many venomous species you have that may enjoy your pond as much as the frogs. the less piled rocks and high, thich plants you have, the less likely snakes will be to stay, but that also goes for frogs, too.

Thank you so much for the awesome information!

The tadpole does seem to be somewhat better today, so maybe he'll adjust. I will put some stuff in the bottom for him. There is a PVC elbow pipe in the bottom now, but perhaps he would like a few rocks as well.

I can help with a few...

Love frogs...got 9 grey treefrogs and 1 spring peeper

1) It is a bullfrog tadpole and just leave him be...he is hibernating and will mature when it gets warm enough...he comes up for air just not so often as he would in summer...frogs are masters of metabolic rate adjustment...and they don eat a lot ever.
2) Frogs can mostly hear water ie that is to say the croaking of a mate luring them to a wet breeding ground...little evidence suggests any other "sense".
3) Some sense of direction, yes, but greater variety and abundances of food are always found in a bigger ponds, bullfrogs need many big dragonflies a day and or other frogs.
4) Try some marigolds, low lying, fast flowering, butterfly attracting flowers...keep the menu lively and the customers will come back and stay longer.
5) snakes alive ... good luck there, more frogs = more snakes

ps I work at USGS so little to no mumbo jumbo here.

Bruce

Thanks, Bruce. Good information.

Sure wish somebody, the "Frog Whisperer", perhaps, would write "the book" on frog behavior. Until then, it's bits and pieces and lots of observation, but that's the fun part.

J.

hmmm...us frog freaks are the path less taken types...too many "wart fearing" amongst us...which is fine by me...as these little barometers of our environment need to remain unpopular pets to provides us with the true readings as their numbers increase or decrease naturally. But if I do right that book...its thanks to you. My Folks live in Spring Hill FL...anywhere near you?

Bruce