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helenh_gw

leopard frogs eggs in Sept.

16 years ago

What will happen to tadpoles that aren't froglets by freezing weather? We had a nice 5 inch rain after very dry weather and the frogs deposited more eggs in my stock tank. I have had tadpoles all summer in tanks that I use as rain barrels; they don't seem to be turning to frogs very fast. My frogs are Leopard and tree frogs and other small types. I would ask on Nature Net but that forum is not active.

Comments (4)

  • 16 years ago

    Helen, since no one with more knowledge than me has responded to your question, I'll give you my two cents worth.

    The frogs you mention usually spawn in the spring and their tadpoles may take, on average, two to four months to become small frogs, depending on conditions, i.e. food supply,temperature, etc, and then leave the pond.

    My thoughts are if your pond is deep enough i.e. three feet of more, then some of the tadpoles may survive the winter and delay the change into becoming a frog, until next spring.
    I'm not positive about this and it is only my own opinion but the only other answer is to remove the tadpoles from the pond and keep them inside in a tank over winter. The question then is, what do you do with all the young frogs you have as a result of this rescue?

    Maybe best left to Mother Nature to look after the situation!!??
    "Horton"

  • 16 years ago

    I have sort of teh same issue. Our Green Frog and the little fella she brought to the pond laid eggs early June. They turned into tadpoles, but the Goldfish and their insatiable appetite ate every one. She then went with the male to the kiddy pool where we had duckweed and pond plants being held and laid more eggs, but these were laid mid to late July. We now have oodles and oodles of tadpoles and it is doubtful they will turn before colder weather gets here. I tried to dipnet some to the other side of the pond while the GF were busy across working on pellets, but there are always GF all over and they must have alerted the others because not a one tadpole is left. I have no way of overwintering Green Frog Tadpoles and would really like to put them in the pond now while they still have the cover of the roots of the Water Hyacinth and Water Lettuce....but I know they will be devoured by the GF! Such a Deal!!

    Cyndi

  • 16 years ago

    Love green frogs... would take all I can get. I've had them overwinter as tads in my 30" deep pond that does not freeze to the bottom.

  • 16 years ago

    Thanks for the answers. I will have to find a place for them because it is already getting cool at night. I have hundreds no way they can stay in the house. I feel like I'm 12 years old again playing with tadpoles.