Sunday, April 17, 2011

Bucket University

Almost all the green tree frog tadpoles have grown into froglets and "graduated" from the plastic bucket they called home, to the big wide world. All except for one. We've had the tadpoles since early February. They have survived a mini cyclone, my initial experiments in feeding them, plagues of mosquito larvae and visits from a neighbour's inquisitive cat.


The thought that tree frog tadpoles consume mosquito larvae is a myth. I have witnessed many a tadpole surface for air right near mosquito larvae and completely ignored them. The fact that these larvae developed in multitude to latter stages also proves the lack of interference from tadpoles.


Contrary to popular belief, green tree frog tadpoles also don't eat each other. The dead tadpoles I found (two in total) bobbed on the surface unmolested and intact. What caused their deaths, I know not, but I assure the reader there was plenty of water and food.


Green tree frog tadpoles are definitely herbivores. Once developed however, grown frogs eat insects and spiders, smaller frogs and even small mammals.



Here's an example of a 'graduate frog' in the backyard (note the tail):

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