Cope's Gray Tree Frog Tadpole with Hurt Tail

[Ichthyostega]

OK, it's not that serious, but while netting my gray tree frog tadpole out whilst changing its water, the net broke the very end of its tail. Should I be worried? Would it heal as it reabsorbs into the body, or will it die as bacteria take over that broken part and the tadpole suffers necrosis or bacterial infection? Note that my tadpole fully devloped its back legs and is starting to grow front limbs.

 

[John]

It'll be fine. It won't regrow at this point but it will resorb it just fine (that really is the word).

 

[John]

By the way, I notice you said tadpole, singular - is it your only one? If it is then be very careful after its front legs pop out (they grow under the skin) - Gray Treefrogs can and do drown during resorption of the tail. I take them out of the aquarium when the second front leg pops out because it is at this point that they cease feeding and their mouths begin to change - they won't eat again until the tail is completely gone. I put them into a long tupperware box that I place on a table with one end up and the other lower, so that there is a little water at one end and none at the other. This prevents them drowning and you know when it's time to put them in a real terrarium when they start climbing the inside wall of the container.

Gray Treefrog metamorphs are capable of climbing straight up aquarium walls but they can still drown.

 

[Ichthyostega]

Oops, I meant that it fully devloped its back legs and is starting to grow front limbs. It always has its tail fully developed until it grows into a frog, silly me.

Yes, I have one gray tree frog tadpole living by itself. About it drowning, I learned that lesson with my green froglet, because I stupidly didn't provide him with enough land to climb on (I only provided him a brick-shaped rock).

Also, is it OK to release your tadpoles once they grow up into frogs if they are native to your area?

By the way, I love your avatar, so cute! Are those gray treefrogs?

 

[John]

I would say it's alright to release it provided it hasn't been in contact (or near the vivarium of) other amphibians that weren't collected with it or from the same area (and so on).

Thanks for the compliment on the avatar! Yes, those are Gray Treefrog tadpoles, but Hyla versicolor, not H. chrysoscelis. They are two of the 60+ Gray TF froglets I have in my house right now!

 

[Ichthyostega]

Aww, it's even cuter when it grows up into a baby frog!

Anyway, the dead, broken tip of his tail fell off. I can really see its front legs growing under that layer of skin, and they will imminently pop out.