A WELL DONE FROG TALEA WELL DONE FROG TALE

A Frog TaleA Frog Tale  Just before Christmas Just before Christmas

2010, I found the 2010, I found the tadpoles in the glass tadpoles in the glass

fishbowl I had fishbowl I had discarded to the discarded to the

backyard.backyard.

I brought them onto the back verandah, fearing birds would I brought them onto the back verandah, fearing birds would eat them if they were left out in the open. eat them if they were left out in the open. 

As they grew bigger I put most of them out into ponds in the As they grew bigger I put most of them out into ponds in the yard. If tadpoles are too crowded they may become yard. If tadpoles are too crowded they may become

cannibalistic. cannibalistic.

They will be safe there, it is protected by many plants. They will be safe there, it is protected by many plants. 

I really wanted to watch them grow though. I really wanted to watch them grow though.

So I kept twelve and put them into a small fish tank.So I kept twelve and put them into a small fish tank.  

The taddies grew well, they were so cute. I fed them floating fish The taddies grew well, they were so cute. I fed them floating fish food and fish worms, used rain water in the tank and kept it clean by food and fish worms, used rain water in the tank and kept it clean by

regular, part, water changes. regular, part, water changes. By Feb 18th 2011, they were fat, healthy and had sprouted back By Feb 18th 2011, they were fat, healthy and had sprouted back

legs.legs.

I floated a stick in the tank and a plastic container lid with corks I floated a stick in the tank and a plastic container lid with corks pinned to it. They will use this as an island for when they need pinned to it. They will use this as an island for when they need

to come out of the water, which will be soon. Without these things to to come out of the water, which will be soon. Without these things to rest on, they would drown.rest on, they would drown.

Their back legs grew, lungs began to form, their mouths became Their back legs grew, lungs began to form, their mouths became broader but no arms yet.  There were two in there with funny looking broader but no arms yet.  There were two in there with funny looking tails, if they develop deformities I will keep them rather than let them tails, if they develop deformities I will keep them rather than let them

become food for a predator that eats frogs.become food for a predator that eats frogs.

This is me on the morning of Feb 18th 2011, see that pot plant This is me on the morning of Feb 18th 2011, see that pot plant

over there in the background behind me?over there in the background behind me?

Look inside it … Cool huh?Look inside it … Cool huh?

This fine young prince appeared in my tank on the This fine young prince appeared in my tank on the Feb 21st 2011, just three days after the last photo shoot. Feb 21st 2011, just three days after the last photo shoot.

I swear he wasn't there yesterday! He was just a tadpole then.I swear he wasn't there yesterday! He was just a tadpole then.

In a comparison photo you can see the difference between my In a comparison photo you can see the difference between my young froglet and his brothers and sisters, the tadpoles. Look young froglet and his brothers and sisters, the tadpoles. Look

at their eyes, mouths and bodies. Their tails are still fairly at their eyes, mouths and bodies. Their tails are still fairly similar.similar.

My prince has a white stripe from his mouth to his shoulder and brown stripes My prince has a white stripe from his mouth to his shoulder and brown stripes from his eyes to his nose, spots on his tail.from his eyes to his nose, spots on his tail.

He swims to the water surface about every 30 secs or so, for air. Then he just He swims to the water surface about every 30 secs or so, for air. Then he just floats back down again, he's doing that in this photo, he has not yet landed on floats back down again, he's doing that in this photo, he has not yet landed on

the bottom of the tank.the bottom of the tank.

The little princess in this The little princess in this photo is one with a strange photo is one with a strange

tail, “Pony Tail”,tail, “Pony Tail”,she's one of the tadpoles she's one of the tadpoles

that I fear will be deformed.that I fear will be deformed.

Compare the tails of the two Compare the tails of the two tadpoles in the photo.  They tadpoles in the photo.  They

are very different.are very different.

Only two of the twelve in the Only two of the twelve in the tank have these unusual tank have these unusual

tails.tails.

This is “Pony Tail” and you can see her arms and hands developing so well inside her body.

I think she will be a froglette very soon. Maybe she will be OK and my fears for her are un-warranted. 

Please give me a silent pat on the back for the photo it took a long time for me to get it for you.

……And I am just so proud of Prince Froglet!And I am just so proud of Prince Froglet!

On the afternoon of the 24th Feb, I came home to find one of the On the afternoon of the 24th Feb, I came home to find one of the

tadpoles had developed one arm and not thetadpoles had developed one arm and not the other. Look hard in the other. Look hard in the

photo below and you can see that the froglet (in the middle) has a photo below and you can see that the froglet (in the middle) has a right arm and no left. When I look through the magnifying glass I can right arm and no left. When I look through the magnifying glass I can

see the left arm is still tucked away inside the froglet’s skin.see the left arm is still tucked away inside the froglet’s skin.

The one in the middle (bottom) is “Poker” our one armed The one in the middle (bottom) is “Poker” our one armed froglet. In the background (your right) you can see my new froglet. In the background (your right) you can see my new

froglet sitting on the pebbles.froglet sitting on the pebbles.

On the 24On the 24thth Feb, “Prince Froglet” was out of the water altogether and Feb, “Prince Froglet” was out of the water altogether and I swear his tail disappeared by the hour.I swear his tail disappeared by the hour.

He is not happy here anymore. He is not happy here anymore. It is time for him to go and do his “thing”.It is time for him to go and do his “thing”.

He is beautiful. He is beautiful. It was a sad day for me but a happy one too. It was a sad day for me but a happy one too.

Prince Froglet has gone to the wilds of my back yard. Prince Froglet has gone to the wilds of my back yard. Good Luck little prince!Good Luck little prince!

A job well done!A job well done!