"Grook, Groook!" The American Bull Frog or American Bullfrog is easily recognizable by its voice. This type of toad is called a “bull toad” or “bullfrog” because it sounds like a cow's moaning, and this amphibian is a good animal to study because it can transform from a tadpole with gills to the largest frog in North America. To properly care for these frogs, follow some of the tips below while learning about natural things in your backyard or in your room.
Step
Part 1 of 3: Deciding whether you want to keep a bull toad
Step 1. Learn the basics about bull frogs
This type of frog is the largest frog species in North America and can grow up to 20 cm long and can weigh up to 0.6 kg.
- This frog is also long-lived and can live up to 7-9 years in the wild.
- Bull frogs are very greedy and cannibalistic. These animals need food from live animals that are plentiful and stable (for more details, will be explained below).
- Male toads are very territorial and aggressive, and are notorious for occasionally eating young tadpoles and toads.
- For this reason, think carefully about the reasons and whether or not you really want to commit to raising bull toads.
Step 2. Think of a bull toad as a pet
While bull toads are more fun to raise than tadpoles, and caring for bull toads can teach children many lessons, they are not really the best choice for pets.
- Bull frogs should not be handled. Oil from our hands can be harmful to the toad, and toads can also carry dangerous salmonella.
- Since bull toads can live very long, you need to be sure that you can commit to caring for them in the long term. If your child's interests are varied and easily switchable, you might want to rethink your options!
- If you can no longer care for a bull toad, you should exercise caution when releasing it into the wild, unless the frog is native to your area. Frogs that come from other areas can be referred to as invading animals so that they can cause damage to local ecosystems.
- Since bull toads are cannibals, you should only keep one frog in an aquarium.
Step 3. Think about the commercial aspects of keeping bull toads
Frog legs are known for their tenderness and American bull frog meat is also highly prized. So, it is very possible if you are thinking about caring for frogs for commercial purposes.
- While it is tempting to raise bull frogs for meat, it is a risky undertaking. A successful bull toad business is usually located in a location that provides optimal outdoor habitat for caring for bull toads.;
- If you decide to continue in this business, you will obviously need a much wider setting and habitat to care for bull toads.
- You should also research and verify certain laws that will relate to this practice. Apart from that, you have to collect all the required permissions, etc. Keep in mind that laws vary from country to country.
Part 2 of 3: Creating a Bull Frog Habitat
Step 1. Choose your frog's new home
If you're lucky enough to live in a pool house that is already occupied by a bull toad or is a good fit for introducing a frog to a new setting, you don't need to prepare much to make a home for the toad. However, if you plan to take care of these frogs at home, you will have to do a few extra things.
Step 2. Find a suitable aquarium
The aquarium used should be as large as possible. If you're keeping only one frog, you'll need a tank that holds 20 gallons, and a general rule of thumb is to add 5 gallons for each additional frog (bear in mind that you may lose the young toads being eaten by the adults).
Step 3. Fill the aquarium properly
You'll need to fill the tank with pond water, soil, gravel or rocks, and plants from the frog's natural environment.
- There should be a "wet" area in the tank with water deep enough to submerge half the frog's height.
- Be sure to add plenty of hiding places in the aquarium (with the rocks and plants you collect).
Step 4. Invest in providing good equipment for your frog aquarium
It's a good idea to buy a good, strong filter for the aquarium to keep the frog's new home clean.
- Depending on the location of the aquarium in your home, lights may also be required.
- If the room where you keep the aquarium is warm enough (25-28o C), you won't need a heater for the aquarium.
- Bull toads need a humid environment, so you may need to use a humidifier every now and then.
- It's a good idea to cover the edges of the tank (except the front where you can see the frog) with colored paper or a background image you use in a typical aquarium. This will help the frog not to jump up and down the glass and injure himself.
Step 5. Get your bull toad
Experts agree that it's better to harvest local tadpoles yourself rather than ordering or buying tadpoles or breeding a pair of frogs.
- Get a cage or container with a lid (depending on whether you're catching adult frogs or tadpoles). Make sure that the cage has a tight seal so that it can prevent the adult frog from jumping out.
- If you catch tadpoles, bring a strong net to catch these little frogs. The hole in the mesh should be smaller than your pinky finger so the tadpole won't slip and escape.
- If you plan to catch adult toads with your bare hands, wear gloves.
- If you haven't set up an aquarium with water, soil, and other materials from your pond, be sure to gather enough material for your frog's first new home.
Step 6. Move the bull frog to its new home
This step is actually pretty self-explanatory! Once you've caught the frog, slowly move it into its new home.
Give your new friend time to adapt and make sure you have plenty of good food to hunt. Read the next section for more detailed instructions on feeding and caring for bull toads
Part 3 of 3: Taking Care of Your Bull Frog
Step 1. Feed your tadpoles food
The need to eat tadpoles is actually very simple. Tadpoles were originally herbivores; so as long as you fill the tank with plants from their natural habitat, the tadpoles will have an adequate food source.
- You can also add animal feed available at pet stores.
- The American bull toad will survive the tadpole phase for quite a long time-up to a year or longer depending on your species and climate. When it reaches the adult phase, feeding will change.
Step 2. Feed your bull toad
The American bull toad is known for its blind appetite, so you'll want to prepare a varied and steady diet of choices.
- Adult frogs eat insects, tadpoles, small fish, even small frogs and snakes.
- These toads only eat moving prey, so you have to provide live food.
- Since the bull toad's appetite seems endless, you must be careful not to overfeed him. Young frogs should only be fed once a few days, and adults should only be fed 2-3 times a week.
- Also consider adding extra calcium to the frog's prey.
Step 3. Clean the frog's house
Even if you've created the most natural environment possible for your toad, the ecosystem you're creating isn't self-sustaining, so you'll need to take a lot of care.
- Better buy some tweezers. This tool will be useful for removing frog droppings and food debris. You should do it regularly (ideally every day).
- Be sure to change the water in the aquarium regularly. Once a week, you should remove about 1/3 of the aquarium water and replace it with clean, non-chlorinated water.
- The acidity of the water for the frogs to live in should be slightly higher, and contain no pesticides or other contaminants.
- You can also use a commercial dechlorinator.
Step 4. Keep the bull frog healthy
Bull frogs are susceptible to various viruses and diseases. Be aware of some changes in his behavior and appearance:
- Do frogs look lethargic?
- Is the frog's appetite decreased or not eating at all?
- Does the frog's stomach look distended?
- Does the frog's skin turn red (or change to another color)?
- If so, these are all signs of a health problem, and you should be prepared to take your bull toad to a trusted veterinarian.
Step 5. Have fun with your bull frog
You may find that getting everything ready for your new bull toad is a hectic process. In fact, not so! With love and care, you can see and have fun with your American bull toad for years to come!
