Bullfrog information
The bullfrog is the largest frog in North America. The bullfrog population is not as abundant as it used to be because people kill these frogs to eat their legs! This is a fascinating creature that needs protection.
The bullfrog is most common in the southern part of the United States. They are known for their large size, throaty call, and extraordinary jumping ability. Bullfrogs can grow to be six inches long, but when they stretch their legs, this adds another seven to ten inches in length. They can also jump up to two meters away!
The songs of the frog are heard throughout the summer when they mate. The male makes a call to get females and then the females respond with another call. Sometimes you may see two males fighting because they are very territorial. Frogs are not seen in winter because they are hibernating.
If you want to have these frogs, it is best if they have a shallow pool that they can get in and out of very easily. Try not to use tap water in the pool because it contains chlorine, which could damage them. Tadpoles are especially sensitive to this. To remove chlorine from the water, filter it or let it sit for two weeks. Frogs like the water to be around eighty degrees. Just fill the pool so that the depth covers the frogs halfway. You should also put pebbles or stones on the bottom.
If you keep bullfrogs in captivity, you can feed them all kinds of insects, baby mice, and feeder fish. Be careful if you are keeping more than one frog together, because they will usually eat anything that is smaller than them, including other frogs.
When the bullfrog lays eggs, it can lay up to 20,000 eggs at a time. These eggs will later turn into tadpoles. The tadpole stage lasts between six months and two years, depending on the climate. When the eggs first hatch, the babies cannot swim, so they simply cling to the plants. Very soon they begin to develop hind legs. Once these legs are fully developed, they use them to swim and push through the water. The tadpole continues to develop into a frog when the skin grows over the gills, the lungs develop, the front legs grow, and the tail disappears.
If you want to take care of tadpoles, you must keep them in an aquarium. The water in the tank must be filtered. Do not put any fish in the aquarium with the tadpoles because they could hurt them. It’s best if you only put two to four tadpoles in a tank together. They will swim together and are very active if kept in small groups. Tadpoles can be fed pellets, flake food, aquatic plants, and algae. When they grow up, you can also feed them bloodworms.
It is so amazing the way a frog changes from an underwater creature to a land creature. They are very fascinating and fun to see in nature. Fortunately, laws have been passed to regulate how many frogs can be caught and eaten. Hopefully this will help your population recover.