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COMMoN FROGS: |
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arataon Member Joined: 30 Sep 2010 No. of posts: 10  View other posts by arataon |
Posted: 30 Sep 2010 Hi, I live in Birkenhead (Merseyside) and need some help regarding common frogs. In March I found 15 bits of frog spawn in a puddle in my garden. I am not sure how it got their as looking at Google maps no-body nearby has a pond, and the nearest park is about 1 mile away. I didn't know anybody with a pond so I decided to make up a tank for them. Anyway, they all hatched, some died, some got eaten and I ended up with 2 frogs. When I came to feed them yesterday evening, I found that one had died. I don't know how this could have happened, the water is very clean, it has a pH of 7.3 and there are no other animals in their tank. I check them everytime I go into my kitchen (where they are) and they are always swimming around or sitting on their rocks. They were both fine in the morning and they both get fed every day. I need to know if they can live on their own (happily) or if there is anything I can do. I don't really want to let it go in the park as it is too small and winter is coming. Also, if anybody has any suggestions of what may have killed it I would appreciate it. Thanks for your time. Kind Regards, Cobain ;) |
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Suzi Senior Member Joined: 06 Apr 2005 No. of posts: 860  View other posts by Suzi |
Posted: 30 Sep 2010 It is OK to rear tadpoles up to frogs in a tank but once they make it to froglets they need to be released. You say you have a garden - well let them go there. Raising one isn't such a disaster as there is a huge mortality rate in the wild. The fact that a frog was in your garden and pregnant shows there must be a few about. Gardens are pretty good habitats for frogs. Suz |
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GemmaJF Admin Group Joined: 25 Jan 2003 No. of posts: 2090  View other posts by GemmaJF |
Posted: 30 Sep 2010 The thing with frogs and newts for that matter, is once they go through metamorphosis they are not that great with water. Seems odd, but many little frogs drown in aquariums or large water containers, they really need a fully terrestrial habitat in captivity. The main problem I've had with keeping tiny froglets over winter is finding enough tiny food for them. Now I would always release them before the winter. Wild froglets vary in size but some are really tiny at this time of year but seem to do OK. Gemma Fairchild, Independent Ecological Consultant |
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arataon Member Joined: 30 Sep 2010 No. of posts: 10 View other posts by arataon |
Posted: 01 Oct 2010 Hi, Hmm, my frog is in a tank with just under 5 inches of water. Would it be better if I were to put it in a smaller tank with only 2-3inches of water and more land space? I have kept newts, lizards, snakes, mantis' and loads of other insects all my life and none have been so difficult to look after. I have done the same for the frogs as I have done for newts, expecting a similar result. Thanks for your replies. |
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Suzi Senior Member Joined: 06 Apr 2005 No. of posts: 860 View other posts by Suzi |
Posted: 01 Oct 2010 I would agree with Gemma. Even with objects to climb onto, froglets tend to drown if they can't get away from the water completely. Adult frogs don't need to be in water much either. Suz |
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arataon Member Joined: 30 Sep 2010 No. of posts: 10 View other posts by arataon |
Posted: 01 Oct 2010 Yeah, when I was making a tank for them I did design it with slight sandstone slopes, they could easily get in and out, just very confused. I think I will make another tank with less water and more land. |
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GemmaJF Admin Group Joined: 25 Jan 2003 No. of posts: 2090 View other posts by GemmaJF |
Posted: 09 Oct 2010 There really should be no more depth of standing water than the frogs can sit in with their heads comfortably above it. A simple set-up would be some pea gravel with just enough water to cover it and plenty of damp moss for cover. Or even just a container of water with pea gravel in it with just a couple of milimetres of water over the gravel and the rest damp moss. The other big problem with common frogs I've found in captivity is that they will simply never figure out that glass is a barrier and will spend most of the day jumping at it, once they get to any size they quickly damage their snouts. Another reason why it is best to release them. Gemma Fairchild, Independent Ecological Consultant |
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