Why won't my tadpole turn into a frog allready?

Question

I found some tadpoles in a temporary pond that i discovered to be boreal toad tadpoles (western toad). I have had them for over 4 months or so. I've been feeding them boiled lettuse and fish food. About a month ago, I went back to he pool that I found them in and they had all turned into little toadlets allready. Even though mine are still the original size that I found them. Why haven't my tadpoles metamorphosized yet?

Answer 1

Well - how warm is the water you're keeping them in?  Frogs/toads select tire depressions/filled holes/pooled water inside an upright tire, and just about every other shallow water filled place you can think of, etc., for egg laying due to the high temperatures the water obtains, aiding development.  (But you must be careful, and not end up with tadpole soup!)

Also, these shallow pools are usually full of 'muck' (which equates to plant debris/algae, and nutrition filled water in ample supply)!  The pools tend to have a good supply of sunlight, too, spurring the algae growth, etc.

You might want to consider picking up a few bunches of live water plants from your petshop (google this first, to see what plants are safe for the tadpoles to eat).  Algae (if you supply an UVB light, or expose the tank to a bit of sunlight, WILL grow on the glass/plants, and provide a better meal for your slow developing tadpoles.

I would also suggest you further google the proper temperature for the water, and what else to offer them to eat.

How many tadpoles did you catch?  ARE you prepared to deal with and feed that many emerging frogs/toads, and do you have habitats/homes ready to receive them all?  (Or will you return them to the wild, where they should have remained in the first place?)

Not all will make it... larger tadpoles which outpace their siblings in development often consider smaller/weaker tadpoles another food source.

If you notice insects to be more and  more of a problem - just remember lots of folks like to remove tadpoles from these spawning places, and that decreases the number of amphibians, etc. in the wild, and the insect control they do so well naturally.

It's always better to observe and enjoy an animal in its wild and native habitat.  Leave it where you found it, so it can do the job nature intended and others can enjoy it, too.  

If you desire a pet frog/toad, then google the creature first; learn all you can about its care/diet/housing requirements and which species you would like to own.  Once you are educated; have everything the frog/toad will need for a healthy and happy life, then purchase a pet from a petstore or area breeder.

Good luck.  I hope the little guys make it.

I hope this has been helpful.

Answer 2

patince