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Every year we find tadpoles in an area of standing water within a field at Cox Reservation in Essex, MA. We raise them and then release them when the first few have their tails and arms and lost their tails. We always release them to the same place. This year, the standing water has dried up, and we are thinking we should release them somewhere else. I am wondering what kinds of habitats might work -- e.g. vernal pond, woodland creek, etc. It would help to know what species this is. Among the tadpoles, there are a couple of smaller ones that still don't have legs or arms. I wonder if they are just behind schedule (maybe they were born later) or if they are another species. We collected them all at the same time. I also wonder at what point the frogs begin to eat insects. Up to now we have been feeding them pond weed and boiled romaine lettuce. In other years I have put insects into the tank but the tiny frogs/toads have shown no interest, as far as I could see. Any insights re. identification, the remaining tadpoles, and the frogs' diet would be much appreciated. Are these maybe Fowler's Toads or American Toads? They climb up the sides of the glass tank, if that is another clue.
Questions are always welcome! If the tadpole is tiny and black, then it is a toad. You can always upload a photo of it too, but I bet it is a toad just like the rest of them
OK, that sounds good. We'll release them in July or August. I have one more question. I hope you don't mind the bombardment of questions! We have this one tadpole which we collected at the same time. It is still very small and has no legs or arms. Do you think it is a different species, or could it just be slower to develop? Maybe there isn't enough information to go on, but I thought you might have an idea..
No problem! Growth rates depend on food availability and temperatures. Will probably take over a year to get to a full-sized adult, but I don't recommend keeping them that long because they need to go through the natural process of hibernation during the winter. Longest I would keep them is until August; if you release them right before it gets too cold they won't know how to find a hibernation spot or how to find food before hibernation. I would probably just release them all once they metamorph and get onto land, in the meantime you can pick up fruit flies from a pet shop to feed the metamorphs with!
They are either American or fowler's toads, you cannot ID them to species level when they are this small. Keep feeding aquatic vegetation like you are, but throw a few insects in too if the toadlets are all at different stages, some may be interested in them soon. They just need to be tiny insects! As far as where to release them, if you release them while some are still tadpoles then release them in a temporary pool without fish. But if you release them after they have all left the water, then somewhere shady with more permanent water would be best!
Spotted on Jun 21, 2015
Submitted on Jun 21, 2015
