Raising Tadpoles 2021 edition

I'm a bit sad to see them go, but overall it's a happy day. 5 out of the 10 Spadefoots graduated today (the remaining to graduate tomorrow.)  It was the plan after all: raise them until they're ready to go off on their own, to give them the chance they otherwise would not have. They came from the yard, and now they return to the yard. As one would expect, a mountain of photos below. Hoss is easily stands out from the rest in the photos below.

Graduation Day is here for many of our Spadefoots! They have now all entered the froglet stage.   I managed to get some photos of Hoss on Pinecone rock.  The plan is for Graduation Day to actually be a two-day event. Planning to release Hoss and the ones in the completely clear bin this afternoon and the other 5 tomorrow. They're really starting to look like miniature toads.  It's interesting how all of their tails become bent during the process of metabolizing their tails. 

Our Narrowmouth has decided to remain at the academy for now to engage in advanced studies.  So far, the combination of not cleaning his water out as often as I normally would with other tadpoles and feeding the fella algae wafers seems to be working, although it's too early to know for sure. I've decided to give him the name Hope, in hopes of breaking the Narrowmouth curse.

It was a bit of a busy day for me but I still managed to get some photos. I tried to get a photo of Hoss on Pinecone rock, but he kept keep going off of it. I noticed later on two seem to be hanging out together.  I've come up with a group name: The Indoor Campers.  The last photo is of Hoss.

Tonight I noticed that he went on Pinecone rock. It means he's just about ready to graduate.  Will have to get some pictures of him tomorrow on it.

Everybody seems to be doing well.  Nobody has really decided to come out of the water yet, but it will probably happen in the next day or two, then it will soon be graduation time.  As promised, I took some photos and videos today. The first two photos are of Hoss. 

Just wanted to give that quick update that 6 out of the 10 Spadefoots have become froglets. I switched them over to containers that allow them to come out of the water when they're ready.  Don't have any pictures to share yet (will likely post photos tomorrow.)

Sorry about no updates yesterday, was a very busy day for me.  I was able to get some photos and a short video clip of Hoss.  When I put him into his hew container, he was a bit afraid of it at first, but since he's settled down a bit.  He has the honor of being given use of the Pinecone rock(named after the first tadpole that I raised, he was a green tree frog) when he's ready to come out of the water.

Was a bit busy to get video today, but I noticed that Hoss's legs appeared to be coming out. Sure enough later on this afternoon they did! Congratulations Hoss, he's just about ready to graduate. I'll move him to another container either tonight or tomorrow to allow him to come out of the water. They usually stop eating and start metabolizing their tails soon after they enter the froglet state. I just gave some extra food to Hoss and he's still eating it.

I expect any day for the Spadefoot tadpoles to have their front legs pop out.  Again, everyone seems to be doing well.

Everyone still seems to be doing well. Tadpoles such as Hoss are now demonstrating some control of their rear legs.  Instead of doing the normal video this time, I broke out my camera for some close-up photos.  I wish I could upload the full-res originals, but that pesky darn 5MB file limit.

It was challenging getting any decent shots due to a combination of Hoss being afraid of the camera and slow autofocus/no manual focus option. You can see a distinct pattern on his back on the second to last photo, a pattern that will still remain when he becomes an adult.