How to Breed Frogs

By eHow Pets Editor

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Breeding frogs involves convincing the frogs that they want to mate.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately challenging

Things You’ll Need:

  • Spray Bottles
  • Aquarium Screen Covers
  • Aquarium Water Test Kits
  • Aquariums
  • Mosses
  • Plastic Containers

Step1
Understand that you cannot force your frogs to breed. You can, however, create conditions that will make them more likely to breed.
Step2
Make sure you have a male and a female frog. It can be difficult to identify the sexes, but some females have a triangle-like protrusion between their rear legs. The best way to be sure you have both sexes is to request this when purchasing your frogs.
Step3
Learn about the type of climate your type of frog naturally lives in. You need to replicate spring in that climate to make your frogs think it is time to breed. This may mean you'll need to lower the temperature (so your frogs will hibernate) and then warm the frogs' environment. Or you may have to create a dry period (usually done with dry moss) followed by a "rainy" period, during which you mist the frogs often. The change in climate triggers the impulse to breed.
Step4
Talk to the person you purchase your frogs from to determine what type of climate change your frog requires. You can also check with your vet.
Step5
Be sure to provide plants for the frogs to hibernate under or climb on (if you have a tree frog).
Step6
Understand that the length of the cold or dry spell will vary with the type of frog.
Step7
Provide your frogs with fresh water at all times even if you are simulating a dry spell.
Step8
Watch for your frogs to mate. The male will climb on top of the female and fertilize her eggs as they are laid.
Step9
Separate your frogs from their eggs so they do not attempt to eat them.
Step10
Expect your eggs to hatch into tadpoles in 6 to 21 days, depending on your type of frog.

Tips & Warnings

  • Do not release your tadpoles into the wild unless they are a local species of frog.
  • Once your tadpoles hatch, separate them into individual containers or provide them with lots of floating plant life to hide in. Tadpoles will eat each other.

Comments

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Anonymous

Anonymous said

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on 6/30/2006 I've kept tadpoles for a long time and discovered many different things for them to eat. The preferred meal for tadpoles is soggy bread, although too much will foul the water. Another tadpole delicacy is that stringy algae stuff that the tadpoles rummage through to find a meal, just like in the wild. Sucker fish food works quite well, but is not a favorite.

Anonymous

Anonymous said

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on 8/8/2006 When you have tadpoles, make sure that they have at least one big rock that they can limb on when they grow front legs.

Anonymous

Anonymous said

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on 8/8/2006 Don't purposefully or accidentally throw tadpoles down the drain or toilet either.

Anonymous

Anonymous said

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on 11/22/2005 Don't use plain tap water for your tadpoles! Either leave the water out for a few days, or buy the drops at a pet store to take the bad chemicals out of tap water immediately.

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eHow Article:  How to Breed Frogs

eHow Pets Editor

eHow Pets Editor

Category: Pets

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