Well, I think I've officially lost track of the days (weeks, months...) we've been raising these little guys. I know they are very delayed for sure. The batches we gave to two other families are well ahead in development, some are nearly full grown frogs. Nevertheless, we do have some progress, hind legs have developed on most of our tadpoles recently. They are now carnivorous, eating blood worms which we feed them daily.
I don't know what we've done "wrong" with these guys that has resulted in them being so behind, but it isn't for lack of trying. We've tested about every variable in their living conditions possible:
-cleaning the water more frequently
-leaving the water alone and letting it get slimy and green
-using water from different sources: stream, pond, lake, river and de-chlorinated tap water
-we've had the tank inside and outside
-installed a filter and bubbler
-no filter or bubbler
-feeding algae wafers
-adding rocks/plants
-no rocks/plants
I've noticed the greatest growth spurts have occurred consistently during the first few days after a water change, then it slows again. That could just be coincidental though.
The pump I bought (brand new) a few weeks ago to filter and oxygenate the water stopped working yesterday. I'm guessing the motor burnt out from being overworked. Or it could have been faulty. Either way, I didn't keep the receipt so can't bring it back and am not buying another one. So they'll have to do the rest of their growing in still water that I'll change up for fresh every few days. This is getting to be a drag and a lot more work than reward. Still, we'll keep at it and hopefully soon we'll have frogs to admire and then release.
Aren't those little legs adorable though?
thinking on this...would the sunlight that affects the invisible but necessary organisms in the water be making any difference? when we had an outdoor pond (totally different environs i know) we had filtered light, beneath a small tree and what lived there seemed to thrive.
ReplyDeleteit sems logical that the closest mimic of a natural pond (still, murky, full of other plants and other critters, maybe insects that poop etc) would be the target ecosystem for the water, and natural food, not human food...maybe the beginning set them back, but they are slowly catching up now that they have blood worms? it sounds like you tried these variables though. i keep wondering about direct sunlight, that most living things need...could there be something there?
Sorry to hear it is dragging for you, i suppose the tough parts may be great to reflect on when they (finally!) emerge into adulthood, and you have the whole learning project to look back on in perspective? Here's hoping!
~erin xo
Thanks for your thoughts, Erin. The tank gets a dappled (and at times, full on) sunlight all day where it is. Going on at least a couple of months in its current location. It's a mystery I tell ya! A mystery! I'm sure you're right, sometimes the tough parts are great fodder to reflect on (and be grateful for) later on, hey?
ReplyDeleteOn a happy note, the pump is working again. Or rather, it was always working, but I was unaware that T had been messing around with the breaker box one day while here and had neglected to turn the outside fuse back on, so the outlets were simply not working, no issue with the pump. Took some sleuthing to figure that out but I'm glad I did. They've got a nice oxygenated water flow again.
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