Frogs & Toads

Amphibian Folklore

For thousands of years, people usually associate amphibians with myths and magic.

Unfortunately, much of the folklore surrounding amphibians is negative, portraying them as devious, ill-hearted monsters.

However, some cultures view amphibians in a positive light, relating them to good fortune, protection, fertility, and more.

It is interesting to note the origin of such thoughts, and amazing to know they survived for so long.

The following passages summarize a few tales of amphibian folklore, including the origin of the belief where available.

In ancient times, people collects clay from from sites that may have abundant amphibians.

The people of Mesopotamia, for example, collected clay along the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers, where they encountered frogs often.

Thus, These encounters have inceptions in the ancient words for frogs.

What did Frogs symbolize in ancient Egypt?

Egyptians adopted the word “krr” or “krwrw”, which resembles the sound a frog makes when spoken.

Babylonians used the word “krůru”, which also resembles the sound of a frog.

Ancient civilizations were clearly aware of the amphibians, and some adapted them into their beliefs.

Egyptian history denotes that frogs are born from mud and water; a belief that seems to be a reflection of the semi-aquatic amphibian lifestyle.

This belief materialized as a result of Nile River floods during the rainy season when frogs would seemingly appear out of nowhere and begin their mating rituals. 

Frogs also have depictions on jewelry and other ornaments in ancient Egypt and other civilizations.

Frog-laden knives placed atop the bellies of pregnant women and newborn babies were believed to bring protection to the youngsters.

Frogs in general were so important to the early Egyptians that they were often embalmed upon death.

Frogs in Greek Mythology

Greeks and Romans adopted much of the Egyptians’ traditions, including the belief that frogs originates from mud and water.

It was also around this time that the “Frog Rain” phenomena came into existence.

During ancient times, before global amphibian declines, frogs often reproduced in hordes during their mating season.

Thousands of tiny frogs and toads covered walkways, entered homes, invaded public areas, and were generally regarded as pests.

This was dubbed as “Frog Rain” because such occurrences took place after the first heavy rains of the season. 

Frogs also associate themselves with weather predictions because they begin croaking just before rains.

Preceding this observation, They often impale frogs until they scream, and nature of their screams was asscoicated with weather.

Frogs in Witchcraft, Dark magic, Totem, Spirit & Omens

Witchcraft and Frogs

Frogs and toads association with dark magic and other evil matters.

• To control the weather Witches use concocting brews of snakes, toads, and frogs often referred to as “Toad Soup”.
• Witches mangling toad bodies in satanic rituals or concocting malicious spells and potions from body parts of toads.
• According to Basque tradition, you can identify witches by the presence of a marking in the shape of a toad’s foot,
• In the great Pyrenees, people believe that witches have a toad image in the left eye.
• Some tales also depict witches extracting toad skin secretions or toad saliva for use in flying potions, and invisible spells.
• In Christianity, they consider frogs as evil demonized creatures, especially in the book of Revelations.
• You can find the Frog’s associations with gossip, boastful sinners, and hypocrites.

Apostles frequently donned their lessons with deliberate questions such as, “What do frogs and sinners have in common? They both live in dirt!”.

Henry David Thoreau, Walden

Frogs In Totems and Dark magic

• Ancient people consider Swamp frogs unholy and exemplify the power of baptismal water to expunge evil and purify sinners.
• In middle-age Europe, People referred Devil displaying three toads on his coat-of-arms.
• Some believed that toads are in possession of witch spirits and conspire to poison people.
• Some tales expound procedures for removing a toad from one’s home, to prevent witches’ wrath.
• People believed that animals were the embodiment of sinners, and when humans sinned, they were like animals.
• They believed the purpose of civilization was to overcome animalistic characteristics, thus becoming close to God.

The men are trying to destroy the “wicked” frogs as they come out of the water to torment and infect mankind. In the background, you can see small children trying to flee the frogs.

Sacred Pageant of the Ages Vol 02

Contradictory to the common beliefs, some Christian documentation portrays frogs and toads as semi-mischievous house guardians. 

Interestingly, the Christian visionary, Jakob Lorber (1800-1864) claimed to have received the following message from the Lord, alluding to the role of frogs as teachers of life:

“The frog croaks almost all day in joy of the life stirring in his puddle and praises me with his croaking joy about the gift of life”.

Frogs and Toads in Ancient Science

During the middle ages, societies showed more interest in science, namely the study of animals. Although these studies were embodied by myth and folklore, they were the stepping stones to modern biological sciences.

The book Physiologus, from the middle ages, was perhaps the most important literary work pertaining to the science of animals during that time.

In this book, frogs have two categories: land frogs and water frogs.

• Land frogs symbolize stamina and steadfastness, as they must endure the heat of the sun.
• Water frogs, on the other hand, symbolized cowardly behavior, and flight from danger.

Toads and Frogs in Alchemist Beliefs

In Alchemy, toads have associations with flight, and symbolized the watery-earth portion of the Ur matter (primeval matter).

This tale was metaphorically described in such inscriptions as, “Set a toad upon a woman’s breast, so that it may suck, and the woman die, the toad will grow very large from the milk”.

What is a Herpetofauna?

It comprises of two words Herpetology and Fauna; Refers to all reptiles (like snakes) and amphibians including frogs, toads, salamanders of a particular habitat, region, or geological period.

Herpetology refers from Greek word herpetón, meaning “reptile” or “creeping animal”.

Fauna refers to all the animals of a particular region, habitat, or geological period.

Herpetofauna in Traditional Folk Medicine

Amphibians were regarded in the ancient times, and into the middle ages, as possessing medicinal properties.

Frog potions: They use them as aphrodisiacs, impotence and infertility prevention, contraceptives, and more.

Frog liver: They believed it consists of two halves, one of which is the antidote to all any poison in the world,

Toad lungs: They believed to be the means of the “perfect murder of a husband”.

Cleanse mind: The believed frogs can remove any thoughts of adultery from ones wife mind. 

Undoubtedly, much-experienced illness or death after ingesting or applying frog-made brew that has toxic secretions.

Newts and Salamanders Folklore

Newt and salamanders association with evil and mischief.

Salamanders are linked to fire as far back as the times of Aristotle (384-322 BCE.); the word salamander is of Greek origin, and translates roughly to “Fire-Lizard”.

It was believed that salamanders were immune to fire, and could extinguish the fire with skin secretions.

In 1607, Edward Topsel published the book The History of Four-Footed Beasts and Serpents, which, along with illustrations of newts and salamanders resembling serpents and dragons,

hypothesizes about the ability of salamanders to extinguish the fire, receive nourishment from fire, and traverse through fire unscathed. 

This leads to the origin of the of the vernacular name “Fire Salamander”, given to the species Salamandra salamandra.

The Belief that Salamanders were Born in Fire.

Because salamanders inhabit cool, damp places, they have settled down in collected firewood.

When they kindle the wood, the salamanders would attempt to flee to safety.

Such a site could have prompted such notions as the salamander’s affinity for, or immunity to fire.

Not relating the two, the quenching of fire may have been linked and blamed on the salamander. 

Salamanders in Medicinal purposes.

In ancient times people often burn salamanders to ashes, which they collect and use in medicinal formulas and concoctions.

The Belief that Salamanders Saliva make Hair Fall Out.

Even today, the skin and body parts of salamanders are integral part of some traditional medicine.

In Some parts of Asia people sell torched newts as aphrodisiacs, and advertise them for curing skin diseases.

Salamander’s Negative Association with cows.

In past people believed that Salamanders suckle cows, resulting in the cow’s inability to produce milk from that point forward.

The myth came into existence from sightings of dead newts or salamanders that released their milky fluid when squashed by a cow. 

For Further Reading

I hope that you enjoyed reading this nostalgic article, and have enough information about amphibian folklore.

here are some more article related related to amphibians that may potential be in your interest.

Do you want to Know if Newt or Salamander bites hurts?

Why not go ahead and learn about What is Albinism? ( What are Albino Amphibians and Animals)

America and Canada is full of several frogs and toads species, These Species vary from tiny to large and even toxic ones.

Enthusiasts loves to tame them as pets in enclosures so, here are 8 best ones for you.

Wood Frog (Rana Sylvatica)

Time to Hear: Early-April to Mid-April, some snow on ground under trees, pond water cold, calls 1-2 weeks

Where to Hear: Temporary woodland ponds, bogs, open meadow pools.

The American Robin is not the only sure sign of spring. The Wood Frog is a terrestrial species for most of the year.

For herpetologists (those who study amphibians and reptiles), they are first sign that spring is around the corner.

When temperatures start rising in the spring, the wood frog emerges from hibernation from under leaf litter in forest.

In actual fact, the wood frog does not hibernate like some mammals, such as bears, do.

Its body temperature instead drops to that of its environment, and it can actually freeze almost solid!

Can wood frogs freeze?

The wood frog has [cyto=cell], known as cryoprotectants [cryo=cold]

These cells allow it to partly freeze without damaging cells when the temperature falls below zero Celsius.

Do wood frogs need to freeze?

It can not totally freeze, with an insulating layer of leaf litter and snow on top of perishing over the winter.

When temperatures are right, wood frogs thaw out and head to local breeding pond in masses.

Males arrive first and start calling in a group, called a chorus.

What sound does wood frog make?

Wood frogs calling in a chorus sound like a bunch of ducks quacking in the distance.

If you are walking through wet woods in the early spring and hear this sound, it is probably wood frogs.

You have to be lucky to catch them calling, since they will only call until the females arrive, which could take 1-2 days weeks, depending on weather conditions.

How do wood frogs reproduce?

Once the females arrive, breeding ensues and is done all in one night usually.

Females deposit egg masses communally, meaning in one general location.

Usually, one favorite dogwood shrub is chosen in standing water, where the water depth and temperature are just right.

It allow eggs and then tadpoles to develop quickly before the pond dries up.

Do female wood frogs die after laying eggs?

The simple answer is no they don’t die, Once egg laying is done, both males and females disperse back into the woods to forage till their next hibernation.

Tadpoles emerge as froglets a few weeks later. Just in time, since the water level in the pond is usually pretty low.

Now that you know a bit about where and when to find wood frogs, go out and listen for them.

Early evening is usually best, but if your timing is right you may be able to hear them calling during the day.

Western Chorus Frog (Pseudacris Triseriata)

Time to Hear: Early April to mid-May, calls for 3-4 weeks, may start calling before wood frog.

Where to Hear: Temporary open meadow pools, sedge edges of ponds, shrubby wetlands.

The chorus frog is a tiny frog, about 1 1/2 inches long. A sure sign that spring is here is the call of the Chorus Frog.

What sound does western chorus frog make?

Chorus frogs call for a longer time than wood frogs are heard well into may until spring peppers arrive.

Its call sounds like a thumb running over a cheap plastic comb running from large to small tooth end.

It can be found calling in the early spring in wet meadows that are inundated with spring meltwater and rainwater.

Even though it is a small frog it sets up a territory and will defend it from other chorus frogs.

It crawls onto a narrow stem of grass or sedge and sings, warning other males, and hopefully, attracting nearby females.

Once Female selects a male, she will approach and allow the male to externally fertilize her eggs like fish.

What is the purpose of Amplexus?

The male clamps on female from behind (known as amplexus) and as the female deposits her eggs, male fertilizes them.

Is Amplexus internal or external? So, its quiet obvious that Amplexus is an external fertilization process.

Each egg is deposited singly spaced, evenly along the narrow stems of grasses, sedges, or rushes,

that are in water deep enough to allow eggs and tadpoles to develop before the meadow dries out in early summer.

Female frogs leave after laying their eggs. Males will return to their calling perch to attract females to mate ahain.

Northern leopard frog (Rana pipiens)

Time to Hear: late-April to July, calls over many weeks.

Where to Hear: Edges of ponds, marshes, lakes, rivers, and streams. Also found in farm sloughs as they hang out in fields and meadows foraging in the summer.

What sound does northern leopard frog make?

Northern Leopard Frogs are the first prolonged breeder to start calling in the spring.

Wood frogs and Chorus frogs are known as “explosive” breeders as they breed quickly before their watery habitat dries up.

The Northern leopard frog is often difficult to hear calling because it calls in small groups like other species do but calls from the edge of a pond or marsh individually.

Their call sounds like a guttural snore but may vary to sound like it is hiccupping as it’s snoring.

As well, it can make a squeaky sound like a person rubbing their hands over a wet balloon.

The snore can often be confused with its close relative, the Pickerel Frog,

which also snores, but often has a softer snore (they often call underwater) which rises and falls in volume.

The Pickerel frog also starts calling a bit later in the season near bodies of running water.

The Leopard Frog is most resilient, next to the American toad, as its habitats are outside the breeding season.

How does a leopard frog reproduce?

It forages in meadows and fields in the summer, hence easier to find in summers than during the breeding season.

A field near a permanent water body will usually turn up many young froglets in mid to late summer.

If you are a cottager, you may have noticed the paucity of leopard frogs that used to once be abundant.

These declines are due to a variety of factors, including harvesting to be used as bait,

pesticides used (including lawn herbicides ), and loss of habitat due to construction (loss of both wetland and field habitat).

So, if you see a leopard frog, do not think of it as just ‘a common frog’, think of it as frog world representative.

Spring Peeper (Pseudacris crucifer)

Time to Hear: mid-April to late-May, call for 3-4 weeks.

Where to Hear: Shrub swamps, shrubby pond and lake edges, meadows.

“Such a tiny frog for such a loud call,” most people say when they see the 1″ Spring Peeper. Its call is exactly the way it says, it peeps.

Why are frogs called peepers?

Each peep of a peeper has a short pause of about 1sec, depending on how cold the little guy is.

By himself, the lone peeper is not much to shake a stick at as far as volume goes.

Put him with his buddies and your ears will be literally ringing with the cacophony of noise they make.

What sound does Spring Peeper frog make?

A “blurr of noise” is definitely the correct phrase describing a full chorus of these frogs.

They are so called peepers because of their chirping call marking the initiation of spring.

The territorial call sounds somewhat like a chorus frog trill but is not as ‘comb-like’, rather, it is on one pitch and more musical.

At what temperature do peepers come out?

Peepers start calling early in the spring once the water temperature reaches about 8 C (46 F).

The water temperature may drop after that but calling will continue.

Where do spring peepers mate?

They sit just above the water, or partly in it, depending on which is warmer, the air or the water,

and call from this site until a female is attracted to this little Romeo and chooses to mate with him.

The male will defend his site from other males when he is calling.

If the male is off mating, he will often come back to find his call perch has been usurped by a ‘satellite male’.

They hover around an occupied call perch (often keeping low in the water, acting like females) until the occupant leaves to mate, then they steal his site to start up their own love call.

Where do peepers go in the winter?

When you’re out near shrubby lake or pond shores, keep an ear open for these guys. They’re the easiest frog to hear, but probably the hardest to see.

Let me know if you are successful at seeing one. I’ve spent a long time staring at the base of dogwood shrubs before I actually saw one.

American Toad (Bufo Americanus)

Time to Hear: early-May to mid-May, ‘explosive’ breeder with short 1 week breeding period

Where to Hear: Temporary pools or ditches, ponds, marshes, lakes, flooded meadows, slow rivers.

What sound does American Toad make?

One of my favorite calls, the American Toad has a long-drawn-out trill that can last for several seconds.

We can distinguish each individual toad can be by the pitch of its call.

American toad is an explosive breeder, it only calls for a short time in May, depending on weather .

What temp do spring peepers come out?

It starts calling when the air and its internal body temperature reaches 13 Celsius

(you don’t really want to know how they managed to find this out…think ‘proctologist’).

How do Spring peepers breed?

When the conditions are right, the females moves in pond and breeding may take place all in one night.

Toads are resilient creatures we find where there is a suitable breeding pond within walking/hopping distance.

Where do spring peepers mate?

They don’t really jump or leap like other frogs of foraging areas.

So, you can find them in your backyard outside the breeding season, foraging for grubs, worms, and slugs.

Therefore, some people put out toad houses in their garden, as they eat the bugs that can ruin vegetable crops.

I do not recommend transplanting a toad into your garden though as the poor thing will most likely die.

They usually try to move back in their natal breeding pond dies over winter, if they fail in burrowing below the frost line.

Provide sheltered areas and a pool of water and if you are lucky, you’ll find a toad in your backyard.

If your pool is deep enough (over 2 feet or so) then you may even have local toads calling and breeding, there.

Gray Treefrog (Hyla versicolor)

Time to Hear: mid-June to mid-July, calls for 3-4 weeks.

Where to Hear: Temporary and Permanent pools, ponds, oxbows, and floodwaters along rivers, often waterbody and shrubs.

The Gray Treefrog (Hyla Versicolor) starts calling in early to mid-June when nighttime temperatures reach 10C (50F) or so.

You may hear them from trees outside of the breeding season, even on warm days in the winter or early spring.

What sound does Gray frog make?

It sounds almost like a bird, especially a red-bellied woodpecker, as its call is a loose, slow, resonating, bird-like trill that lasts about one second.

If you are out birding and hear a call that sounds like a woodpecker’s call, it’s a gray treefrog calling from a tree.

Where do gray tree frogs mate?

In the breeding season, they come down from the trees and call from the edge of ponds near their treetop lookouts,

usually using a convenient calling perch in the water such as a twig or stem.

You won’t mistake them for birds if you hear a large chorus calling as they call quite vigorously and repeat the call every few seconds or so.

Even trying to find them when you hear them calling is a chore and requires a keen eye.

Can tree frogs camouflage?

They can change their skin coloring to match the background of their perch (from Gray to green only-not purple or pink etc.) so they blend in with bark very well.

Trying to find them outside the breeding season is almost impossible.

Look in the forks and hollows of trees to see if they are roosting there.

They are up to 2 1/2 inches long so are not as hard to spot as a chorus frog or spring peeper.

Green frog (Rana clamitans)

Time to Hear: late-May to August, prolonged breeder 1-3 months.

Where to Hear: Edges of ponds, streams, springs, marshes, bogs, slow sections of rivers, oxbow lakes.

On land sometimes, but always near water. Ah, the green frog. A common frog in ponds and marshes, but easily overlooked.

They camouflage well with their green and brown bodies which blend into the shoreline where they hang out.

They are more aquatic widespread species than the leopard frog but less so than the bullfrog.

What sound does Green frog make?

To hear a good green frog chorus you need to go at night, but they often hear them calling during the day.

The sound they produce is similar to loose banjo strings, A short ‘gunk’ sound. when we pluck its strings

They also give a throaty rumbling territorial call which may sound similar to a bullfrog.

If you hear the banjo pluck in the same area as the rumble, then they are green frogs fighting over territory.

If you get enough of these guys fighting, they may sound like a wood frog chorus, with all the overlapping calls.

These guys start singing about early to mid-June and continue through July, sometimes into August.

How do Green frog Mate? Where they do it?

The females choose the male with a territory containing abundant submerged and floating vegetation.

They lay their eggs in a floating mass on top of the aquatic vegetation.

When the eggs hatch, the fat, fish-like tadpoles remain in their pond over winter.

You may find some early the next spring moving about in the water long before anything else is stirring.

It may take 1 to 2 years for green frogs to metamorphose from tadpoles to adults.

Therefore, they need a deep pond which does not freeze to the bottom as they bury in the mud or rest on the bottom in the winter.

Bullfrog (Rana catesbeiana)

Time to Hear: mid-June to early August, call 3-4 weeks

Where to Hear: Permanent ponds, lakes, marshes, reservoirs. Larger, deeper water-bodies than for other species.

The Bullfrog is the largest of the frogs in Ontario, and the most aquatic.

What sound does Green frog make?

It sounds somewhat like a bellowing bull, hence its name. It has a low rumbling ‘rrruumm’ or ‘jug-o-rum’ call.

Unlike other frog species, the bullfrog males will overlap each other’s calls.

When one starts up, the rest in the chorus join in until it’s a cacophony of noise.

This lasts for a while then dies down, only for one to start up again and everyone once again joins in after a few seconds.

This makes it difficult to distinguish how many males are calling in a chorus.

As well, there could be a few of these distinct choruses in a lake which makes it even more difficult to count them when everyone is overlapping calls.

It is best to try to count a chorus by keeping track of each frog as they join in, and, to listen for differences in the pitch of voices as older males have deeper voices.

How do Bullfrogs Breed? Where do they mate?

The bullfrog could be considered the ‘bully’ (no pun intended. well maybe) of the frog world in that it will take over the prime breeding areas of a lake or marsh, and if any other frog gets in its way…he has his ‘friend’ for lunch, literally.

Fact: They are cannibalistic in nature, including the tadpoles.

Not that the bullfrog is mean, he is just bigger and bolder than his counterparts.

Males will physically wrestle each other for territories, with the ‘best frog’ winning.

Larger males thus establish the best territories and mate with the most females.

Males don’t seem to live as long as the females though, probably due to their conspicuous calling and activity (birds spot them easily).

Some adults can reach enormous sizes though. One last tip, frogs like water, so the time to find them calling is when it is raining.

A humid or drizzly night is also a good night for finding frogs, especially if it is warm and calm. Remember, think like a frog if you want to find them!

Happy Frogging!

how do frogs protect themselves?

Self Defense and Protection in an inherent quality all living organism possess from small insects to even humans.

For most frogs, the best defense is to stay hidden. But when camouflage fails, How do frogs defend their self?

Playing dead is a frog their next defense option. While Most Other frogs and toads usually retreat from the scene.

Some Try to fight back and scare the predators with various physical traits that we will discuss in the article.

So, Without wasting more time lets quickly understand the facts

20 Defense Mechanism of Frogs and Toads.

By Using Slimy or Slippery Skin

Amphibians like Frogs and salamanders usually have moist skin that helps them in breathing and fluid circulation.

But Some Frogs have a mucus like substance on their skin that helps them slipping out of the enemy’s grip.

By Camouflage or changing Color

Ability to change color and blend surrounding by a pattern of irregular pigmentation and patches.

Biting with Jaws and Teeth

Some frogs such as Pac-man frogs have vomerine and maxillary teeth.

They can bite you when they feel threatened or catches your finger considering it as prey.

By Protruding and Enlarging eyes

The Tree-frog uses this technique pretty well.

Its Gives them a panoramic view in all directions. hence enhances their area visibility and alerts them from a predator or other potential threat.

By Using False-Eyes

Some frogs and Toads hunch over to show its two false eyespots at the back. The spots also ooze out the foul-smelling liquid.

Nattereri frog from savannah of Brazil, called as Physalaemus or Eupemphix nattereri, has eye-markings just over its hind legs

The eyespots are to scare the enemy away and if that does not work, it hopes to deter the enemy by the foul smell liquid.

By Hiding or Burrowing

Frogs protect themselves from their predators by diving, fast swimming, or simply remaining hidden at the bottom of the water for a long time.

Bad Skin Secretions

Some frogs secrete sour taste or foul-smelling fluids in their skin, which Predators do not like hence deter away.

Poisonous Parotoid glands

Some frogs and toads like the Bufo frog use external skin glands on their back, neck, and shoulder to excrete a poisonous substance called bufotoxin.

This poisonous and toxic substance kills small animals and causes severe allergic reactions in humans.

The glands make enough bufotoxin to cover their entire bodies, Thereby, making them almost untouchable for predators.

By Playing Dead

Playing dead is one of the predators favorite tricks that watch for movement in their prey.

This ability is not limited to frogs or toads but also seen in other animals like Possums.

As name “playing possum” suggests, pretending to be dead but not actually dead.

The Leopard Frog plays dead by keeping very still and holding its breathe to avoid being eaten.

Sticking with Foot Pads

Most Rainforest frogs have pads of sticky hair on their toes and fingers and loose sticky skin on bellies, which makes them great tree climbers and helps in quick escape from threats.

By Breaking Bones

How does a frog scare off a predator? “Trichobatrachus robustus” or “Horror Frog” when threatened does something unusual.

Horror Frog is one of the few species that breaks its own bones to produce claws puncturing all the way out through its toe pads.

By Screaming

Some frogs scream when they see a predator to scare the enemy away.

Namaqua Rain Frog Looks and Sounds Just Like a little Squeaky Toy that confuses predator.

By Changing colors

Some frogs use colors to confuse the enemy by mixing with surroundings or warn the predator that they either taste bad or are poisonous.

By Puffing or Bulging in Size

Some puff up to increase their size to trick the enemy to think that they are too big to swallow.

Tomato frog of Madagascar puffs up like a balloon convincing predators they can’t eat him.

By Urinating

Some frogs even urinate or pee to cover there smell/scent and prevent the predators from attracting towards them.

By Crawling to Safer Place

Most amphibians hop or crawl to the safety of the nearest water when danger threatens.

By Freezing their Body

The wood frog withstands cold winters, harsh weather and ensures survival by freezing up to 70 percent of its body.

They remain motionless and does not react even when you pick them in hands.

By Rolling Away

The Venezuelan pebble toad stops, drops and rolls, The tactic is an effective defense mechanism against most natual predators.

By Hibernating

Hibernation protects the common rain frogs from weather and low food supply.

During the dry weather, to prevent water loss from skin while deep in their burrows.They form cocoons like structure make of moucus around their bodies.

How to lure frogs and friendly Amphibians to Your Garden? How do you encourage toads in your garden?

Do you like Frogs, toads, amphibians? Thinking about creating a backyard pool for them, here is the guide for you.

Many of us likes exotic pets but avoid keeping them indoors in vivariums or enclosures.

Since I have successfully created a bio-diverse oasis in my backyard. I am going to answers all these questions in this post,

If you are a Pet enthusiast and have sufficient space in the backyard, you can create a simple and self-sustaining ecosystem for nearby amphibians like frogs, toads, newts, and salamanders.

Before we proceed let’s quickly understand what are amphibians?

Amphibian word originates from the Greek word Amphibios, meaning “To live a dual life“.

Amphibian (Amphibia) is composed of 2 words [ Amphi’ meaning ‘both’ + bios meaning ‘life’].

Besides the ease of caring and looks, what makes them interesting pets is their ability to live both on land and in water.

Is it good to have frogs in your garden?

frogs and toads are very useful to the garden because they feed on a variety of pests such as cutworms, grasshoppers, grubs, slugs, bugs, beetles, caterpillars and a list is quiet long

Fun fact: A single frog or toad can eat 100’s of insects and 1000’s of mosquitoes every night.

They are natural insect controllers and pest exterminators for our gardens and backyards, keeping them is usually harmless

IF invitation reaches some poisonous frogs and they are lure reptiles like snakes, That may be the reason for worry for domestic pets and children.

10 Humane ways to lure Frogs in the garden.

Creating a pool (Bio-diverse Oasis)

Adding a Small Artificial Pond or water resource will make them happy.

you can make mini ponds from old sinks or scrap containers.even you cannot afford a new one.

keep one side of the pool sloppy up to dry-land, It helps tadpoles to easily navigate once they move on to their next stage.

All frogs and toads are nocturnal in nature, which means they venture mostly during the night and prefer living near water bodies. providing a water ecosystem helps them to retain in your garden.

Avoiding Chemicals

Amphibians breathe through their skin, harmful chemicals can leech through their sensitive skin and sometimes kill them.

Eliminate the use of Chemicals such as pesticides, fungicides and herbicides from your gardening routine is a great thing to do.

Shelter for Camouflage

Create Shelter and Hiding Places for Amphibians to Hide and camouflage.

Providing cover around the pond edges with plants, stones, and vegetation.

Plenty of weeds, dead leaves, or tall grass helps them in providing an apt ecosystem for camouflaging.

Shed and Moisture.

Amphibians avoid direct contact with the Sunlight especially when the weather is really warm.

log piles, woods some plant pots where they can partially bury and hide them.

They need to keep their skin moist all the times as they breathe through it and save themselves from dehydration.

Garden Lights

Leaving garden lights on at night in your backyard attract insects and mosquitoes and toads and frogs’ prey on them.

Trimming garden grass

keep in mind that it is likely that frogs and toads will be lazing around on your lawn.

if you do not trim the garden grass regularly, it will be a mortal danger while mowing if they are lurking in the grass.

Plants Selection: Avoiding Poisonous Plants

Choosing Proper Aquatic Plants, Moss, and Grass Lure Toads and Frogs into Your Yard.

Many plants are poisonous to frogs and toads, if you have a flower garden avoid planting oleander honeysuckle, azalea daffodils, hyacinths nearby the shelter.

What plants attract amphibians?

Native plants work best Start off with grasses, clomping plants like ferns and water lily, and cover the ground with shrubs and vines around your frog pond.

Dense Gardening

Use complementary dense gardening techniques to create a diverse plant ecosystem for eggs, larvae and adult frogs to flourish.

Sounds Frequencies

Amphibians like frogs and toads do not like some pitches (frequency) of sounds and they avoid such places;

calm and moist environment imitates wild-like conditions and makes them comfortable.

peaceful surrounding helps them to communicate better and attract females through “mating calls”.

Water stagnation

Standing and non-draining water attract amphibians like frogs and toads. larvae and eggs develop fast in still water.

Amphibians needs to keep themselves hydrated and skin moist, they prefer to dip themselves most of the time.

Keeping predators away

Backyard Pond Ecosystem further attracts Poisonous reptiles like snakes and predatory birds like hawks and falcons.

They feed on frogs and toads and are dangerous to children and pets so, keeping an eye on them is necessary.

Hazards from pets & children

Kids are usually curious about their surroundings they may wreck the shelter for toads and frogs also if you own pets
they might treat them as they’re chasing toys and even like to have them as desserts

Household cats and dogs usually try to play and harm the amphibians, safety measures are a must.

Avoid Breeding Fish

Fishes usually feed on insects but they don’t hesitate to eat spawn, larvae and eggs of amphibians.

Keeping fish along with frogs and toads creates an unhealthy ecosystem as they prey on their offspring’s.

Winters Measures

Frogs and toads are cold-blooded amphibians and prefer hibernating in winters.

If you live in a cold climate, try to provide suitable hibernating shelters with ambient humidity and temperatures.

Compost and leaves

literally, keep in mind that even if frogs and toads reside in your garden.

they’re a population that can reduce drastically if you do not provide a proper food source.

one easy way to do that is by keeping a compost heap ready

For further reading

Do salamanders make good pets?

Why do frogs croak? (And how do frogs croak?)

First of all, I’m not a frog expert. There are numerous good web pages available with information about dart frogs; so make sure to refer them as well. My purpose here is to present information that I have encountered, but have not seen covered on other web pages.

Captive bred tadpoles are the best option to start with as a beginner. So, how to take care of tadpoles?

Further discussed in detail about every aspect of tadpoles care from breeding to caring and a comprehensive tadpole care sheet to help you out. let us begin with what exactly is a poison dart frog? and the safety measures while keeping them.

What is a Poison Dart Frog?

First, what is a “Poison Dart Frog”? This term is used to describe the colorful frogs of the family Dendrobatidae. These frogs, like many other amphibians, secrete toxins from their skin.

Are dart frogs dangerous pets?

The frog that gave this group of frogs its name is the Golden Poison Dart frog (Phyllobates terribilis).

The Choco’ Indians of Pacific river areas of Colombia use the secretion from the back of Phyllobates terribilis to coat their darts with poison. This is done by rubbing the tip of the dart along the back of the frog.

What is the most poisonous frog on earth?

Golden Poison Dart frog, When the frog is agitated it will secrete a poison from the pores on its back.

This toxin is non-protein-based (alkaloids) and one frog may have enough toxin to provide a lethal dose to 10 adult humans.

This makes Phyllobates terribilis the most toxic animal in the world that has a non-protein based toxin.

Now, why would any one want to keep an animal that could potentially kill them?

First, most of the frogs of this group are not poisonous enough to be a threat to humans. Only 3 species could cause a serious threat, and they are: Phyllobates terribilis, Phyllobates bicolor, and Phyllobates aurotaenia.

Are dart frogs poisonous in captivity?

Most of the frogs would only cause a serious health risk if ingested. When the frogs are kept in captivity, they lose their toxicity.

The reason for this is not completely understood, but it is believed that the frogs obtain the alkaloids from the insects they eat and the insects obtain them from the plants they eat.

Since frogs do not have a alkaloids source in captivity, they cannot generate the toxins. But still, why do people keep these frogs? These are some of the most colorful and interesting animals in the world.

Not only are they colorful, such as green and black, blue and black, and yellow and black just to name a few, but each species has its own personalities.

How to Care for Dart Frog Eggs & Tadpoles

What kind of water do tadpoles need?

In their natural habitats, the rain forest, Dendrobatid tadpoles develop in water that is soft, yet acidic. I duplicate this by using RO (reverse osmosis) water and green moss.

I allow the water to stand for at least 24 hours so that any chlorine it may contain can evaporate.

Once you add the green moss you will notice that the water turns slightly brown, like a week tea.

If you do not have green moss available, you can experiment with dried leaves (oak, holly, bamboo, etc.).

If possible allow the water to “steep” for at least a week so that it has fully stabilized before the tadpoles are added.

How to raise Dart frog tadpoles?

How often do you change tadpole water?

When you receive a tadpole, you should be very careful about changing the water that it arrived in, with the water you have at your home.

Although there may be less risk if you are already using RO and green moss, I still suggest taking it slow, adding a small amount of your water at hourly intervals. adding a couple ounces of water every few hours.

Give the tadpoles time to adjust to the slight changes of the mixing waters, at least an hour.

On days that I am home all day I will add water at various intervals (when ever I remember, but at least hour).

Another method that I have heard about, but not used myself, is to allow water to drip into the container (a couple drips a minute should be okay).

Once you have doubled the original amount of water remove two-thirds of it (mix it back into your water container) and repeat the process. After that you should have successfully acclimated your tadpoles, just remember:

What to feed your Tadpoles? What is a tadpoles favorite food?

The main staples of my tadpoles’ diet are Spirulina and Chlorella algae.

That doesn’t mean flaked fish food with Spirulina or any other fish food products with these ingredients in their names.

The amount of actual algae’s in commercial fish foods is minuscule compared, even in the Spirulina named ones, to the amounts of fillers that they use.

Is it ok to feed spirulina and chlorella together?

The short answer is YES, Spirulina and Chlorella are available in nearby health food store, and they are comparatively expensive compared to the same volume of commercial fish food,

but you need to have your priorities straight if you want big (mine average 4 cm), healthy, tadpoles. Don’t pinch pennies when it comes to their food.

Is algae good for tadpoles?

The cost for both bottles of algae (100 capsules each) is same as the value of one froglet, and will last you for months.

If you can only get tablets then I suggest that you invest in a mortar and pestle.

Can Tadpoles eat spirulina?

If anyone tells you that they have tried Spirulina and it didn’t give good results,

Ask them if they used “Spirulina” fish food (there is probably more Spirulina in the name than in the bottle), or the REAL stuff from a health food store. I bet it was the fish food

Yes, 2 to 3 ml of spirulina suspension per 30 tadpoles daily is sufficient for them.

Note for Beginners: sufficient food supply prevents tadpoles from attacking each other.

if they are hungry their carnivorous nature make them feed on themselves you know fittest will survive.

Read More : How many eggs do frogs lay? (And why lay so many?)

Group Rearing of Tadpoles

D. auratus D. leucomelas D. tinctorius And, I would not hesitate to raise any other dedrobates that are closely, even D. Azureus, in groups either.

For the first few days I will keep a clutch together in a deli cup (give them a small amount of food immediately).

This allows me to observe them and also to concentrate their feeding.

After that, all that tadpoles that look good go into a temporary container for around 2 weeks.

The container can be just about anything, depending on the size of the clutch; plastic shoe boxes, old glass jars, plastic containers, etc.

Why do tadpoles cluster together?

Grouping or clustering is a protection mechanism tadpoles opt at the center of the spawn.

So the remains of the spawn create a barrier and protect them from predators.

Why do tadpoles swim in circles?

while when it is warm out there, helps them to swim faster and sometimes in a pattern similar to circles.

What plants are good for tadpoles?

However, the container has generous amounts of live aquatic plants (Hornwort, Moneywort, Elodea (anachris), Java moss, etc.) and is the aged water described earlier.

Clutch-mates will grow at about the same rate, and if there are not any larger tadpoles already present, and they will reach a length of 3 cm in about two weeks.

How often should I feed my tadpoles?

You must feed them regularly (at least once a day), but they will also be snacking on some of the aquatic plants (especially Java moss), to achieve this growth rate.

The water temperature should be between 78 to 85 degrees (for the above mentioned species), lower temperatures will slow, and higher will accelerate (and may cause deformities), growth.

When should I release tadpoles?

After the tadpoles have reached a size of about 3 cm. I transfer them to a community ten gallon tank with a sponge filter and lots of plants, but no gravel.

When they pop their front legs and have absorbed about two-thirds of their tails, pull them out and put them in a plastic shoe box, with a little water, and tilt it.

Place them in a small tank when they are froglets (no tail). Or, you can set up a rearing tank that has a shallow water reservoir and just drop them in it and they will come out when they are ready.

They will not eat until they have completely absorbed their tail, but put food in the tank early.

Conclusion

Everything stated above is just my opinion and happens to be what I have found works best for me.

I consistently produce tadpoles that measure approximately 4 cm in length by the time that they sprout rear legs and I am very happy with the size and plumpness of the froglets that they morph into.

I am completely open to new ideas and I hope that something I have stated above will be useful to you.

Please let me know if you have any questions or any methods that work for you that you would like to share.

For further reading

If you found this article helpful and you enjoyed reading it, Check some other related articles below.

Do you want to know about frog eggs? Here’s an article What Do Frog Eggs Look like (And Where Do They Keep Them)?

Pacman frogs (also known as Horned Frogs) are one of the most popular types of pet frog.

The name ‘pacman frog’ comes from the frogs appearance, as it resembles the arcade game character Pac-Man.

Both the computer game character and the frogs have a round shape and a very large mouth!

If you have a pet pacman frog that you need to care for, or if you’re thinking of getting one, then you’ve come to the right place.

This is our Ultimate Guide to Pacman Frogs, where we share everything you need to know about these fascinating pets.

Are pacman frogs good pets?

Pacman frogs make excellent pets. They don’t need much space, are easy to feed, and they have beautiful colorful bodies.

Are Pacman Frogs good for beginners?

Pacman frogs can grow to a substantial size (between 4 and 6 inches on average) and they can live for many years. It’s not uncommon for pacman frogs to reach 15 years of age, or even older if the frog regularly aestivates (enters a period of dormant sleep, like hibernation).

You’ll therefore get to see your pet frog grow over time, get to know them and their individual habits, and learn a lot as you spend many years looking after your pacman frog friend.

Because they are easy to care for, and don’t take up much room, we think pacman frogs are an excellent choice of pet for beginners.

Of course, as with any pet, you should only get a pacman frog if you are prepared to provide the necessary care for the long term. A pacman frog is for life, not just for Christmas!

Pacman frog biology

Surinam horned frogs, Argentine horned frogs and Cranwell’s horned frogs,Fantasy horned frogs are the most popular pacman’s

There are 8 different species of pacman frog, though all have a similar appearance and are found in South America.

Scientific Name	Common Name
Ceratophrys aurita	Brazilian horned frog
Ceratophrys calcarata Boulenger	Venezuelan horned frog
Ceratophrys cornuta	Surinam horned frog
Ceratophrys cranwelli Barrio	Cranwell’s horned frog
Ceratophrys joazeirensis	Caatinga horned frog
Ceratophrys ornata	Argentine horned frog
Ceratophrys stolzmanni Steindachner	Pacific horned frog
Ceratophrys testudo Andersson	Ecuadorian horned frog

What do pacman frogs eat?

They need a wide variety of animals and a calcium supplement to stay healthy. Young Pacman frogs should get crickets and cockroaches at first. When they grow older -and larger- they can also eat small rodents, but they shouldn’t get them every day due to their high-fat content.

You should give your pacman frog live prey. They are predatory animals and they won’t touch anything that’s already dead. Avoid giving him anything in the mouth, they are aggressive and may hurt you: place the prey inside their tank and wait for the frog to act.

Pacman frogs are not picky eaters and will eat many things you give them. This includes:

• crickets
• roaches
• small fish
• meal worms
• small mice

The amount of food to give them depends entirely on its size and the temperature of the terrarium. During cooler times of the day (or the year) you can provide your Pacman frog with a smaller prey once a week.

When it is warmer, you can feed your frogs more often, as in twice a week. Also, you should take into account that the frog needs to get the right amount of calcium with his food. 

You can give your frog calcium by giving them food that is mixed with a calcium powder once or twice a month. As for water, Give your frog a water bowl with non-chlorinated water in it.

And do not forget to mist the terrarium daily. Also, you can soak your Pacman frog in non-chlorinated water (once a week) to keep it from dehydrating.

Keep in mind that they don’t need a lot of fat. This is because frogs can’t consume fat really well and feeding him to much of it can cause disease. So even though your frogs like chicken and beef etc.. don’t do it too much.

Be sure that the animals you feed your frog are healthy. It is sad to say, but I heard several people talking about the fact that their frog died because they ate animals that were infected earlier. If you can’t know for sure that the food you’re giving is healthy, it is better to try other food instead.

How to feed a pacman frog

The safest way to feed your frog is with the help of tongs. However, it can take a lot of practice and patience to get a frog accustomed to taking food from tongs. If your frog eats meal-worms or waxworks, for example, you can just drop them on the substrate in front of him. else, you can try crickets.

If you have some crickets, I would start by dropping them in the tank right in front. Do this with the tongs already so that your frog can begin to associate the tongs with food!

Can they eat morio worms?

Yes, Pacman frogs are fairly easy to feed on such as mealworms, wax worms and Superworms.

Can they eat dubia roaches?

Dubia Roaches hold great nutrients and are one of the best foods for PacMan Frogs.

Will they eat dead crickets?

Pacman frogs can feed on variety of insets, crickets are no exception they can even feed on large bred crickets.

How long can a Pacman frog go without eating?

Usually its advised to feed a pacman at-least twice a week but they can go without food for almost 3 months.

Can you overfeed them?

You should avoid overfeeding them: adult Pacman frogs eat every few days or weekly, unlike their tadpole counterpart that needs a meal every day.

What do pacman frog tadpoles eat?

Tadpoles need a protein-rich diet. You can get little frog or tadpole bites at your local pet store. If you want to use a more “organic” strategy, you can use black-worms to feed your tadpoles.

Remember to give them plenty of food or they will start eating each other if they become really hungry.

Bear in mind losses to cannibalistic behavior are almost inevitable. You can only minimize the casualties when properly feeding your tadpoles.

Pacman Frog Pros and Cons:

Pacman frog care

Best terrarium material

It is always best to use glass or plastic for Pacman frog terrarium.

The most basic terrarium would be a simple plastic bin. This can be something like the 6-quart plastic storage container which I found on Amazon.

The benefits of this basic terrarium are that it is cheap, light and very easy to maintain regularly. This is also the favored method for breeders and enthusiast who are holding many Pacman frogs.

Best terrarium for pacman frogs

However, when you want to show off your Pacman frog (just like I want to do), it is best to go for a glass terrarium.

But keep in mind to go for a realistic and functional environment.

It always needs to be a terrarium where your Pacman frog can feel safe.

The Exo Terra 18″ x 18″x 18″terrarium would be a great choice to show off your frog to family, friends or other enthusiasts.

Keep in mind that you select materials that can endure humid and wet conditions. Also, be sure that you avoid using any material that could be toxic or otherwise harmful for your Pacman frog.

Recommended terrarium size

What is the recommended terrarium size for a Pacman frog?

 For small hatch-lings, you can generally use a 10-gallon sized tank, but if they get bigger, you should move to a 20-gallon terrarium.

The most recommended terrarium is the 20-gallon long starter tank. It is an all-around glass terrarium which is a good and secure setup.

Accessibility

As you may know, it is very important to have easy access to the terrarium for your frog. Not only is it key for feeding your frog, but it is also highly recommended for cleaning and easy maintenance of the terrarium.

You can think of things like changing the water bowl, provide the frog with new plants or other maintenance that needs to be done such as changing the substrate when this is needed.

If you use a plastic container or The Aqueon Tank Black (mentioned earlier), the only way to access the terrarium is from the top. This can be a bad thing if you want your maintenance to be easy and fast.

If you want to make it easy for yourself, you can go for the Exo Terra All-Glass terrarium. This terrarium has swing-out doors, and this makes the accessibility for maintenance very easy.

How to set up your pacman frog terrarium

So, the first thing I did was go to Amazon, and I found what I think is an excellent terrarium for the price. The Aqueon Tank Black is a medium-sized terrarium and can be found here.

The tank has some great reviews, and it is competitively priced. In addition to that, it is focused more on the length rather than on the height, and I love that. You can build a great landscape in here for your Pacman frog.

Eventually, it doesn’t matter which style tank you choose. You will always need the following setup in your terrarium:

• Proper heat
• The right humidity
• Good lighting

Frogs are cold-blooded, they depend on a heat source such as a heat lamp to keep their circulatory system working effectively. Pacman frogs tend to live buried down in the floor and are not very active.

Pacman Vivarium Substrate Setup

A suitable substrate with a place to bury down and wait for passing by food is ideal for the frog. Because of their lifestyle, Pacman frogs don’t need a very fancy terrarium.

You can make your substrate as deep as you like, but there are some things to consider:

The ideal substrate depth would be 2 to 3 inches, but this varies when your frog gets bigger.

Thinking from a frog’s perspective, I would make the substrate deeper when the frog gets bigger.

Say you have a 1-year old Pacman frog, I think it would be best to make the substrate about 4 inches deep so that the frog can bury down easily.

Making the substrate like this can be ideal for a Pacman frog to hide and feel safe. Just like a blanket can help a scared kid to sleep at night, hiding spots in your vivarium will help your frog to feel secure.

You can make such hiding places of anything, but one of the best ways is to use live plants with broadleafs. An example of such plants is the Pothos ivy or English ivy.

Other things to know about the substrate for a Pacman Frog

You can use ground coconut or potting soil to make the substrate, and the substrate needs to stay damp. This does not mean that it needs to be soaking wet. The damp should be fine.

Do pacman frogs need heat mat?

Let’s look at the right temperature and lighting. This should be very straightforward. Keep the temperature of the terrarium between 72 and 82 Fahrenheit. the heat mat is a great option to keep the pack frogs tempertaure under control

Do pacman frogs need light? Do they need UVB?

Give your Pacman frogs 10 to 12 hours of daylight. Do not give them much more than that.For lighting, you can use fluorescent lights. They do not need a heat lamp or special UVB-emitting light bulbs.

Can you hold pacman frogs?

Absolutely not; Pacman frogs have sensitive skin and do not enjoy being in grip. Pacman frogs have teeth, hence they can make you bleed even in a simple bite, if you mistakenly stick your fingers in their mouth. you should only hold them in case of medical emergency.

Can you house pacman frogs together?

No its impossible , Pacman Frogs are solitary amphibians. They’re ambush predators and don’t socialize even with other Pacman frogs.

Pacman frogs spend majority of their day in their burrows waiting for easy prey.They eat almost anything they can fit in their mouth; even other frogs.

Breeding pacman frogs

How to breed pacman frogs

The first thing you need is a male frog and a female frog — if you get this wrong, and place two same-sex frogs together, you risk injury and even death of your frogs.

Pacman frogs (also known as horned frog) ready for breeding, if you imitate the conditions that trigger their reproduction cycle in the wild. Usually, Pacman frogs hibernate in the winter and reproduce right after they come out of their hibernation process. Place both frogs in a tank with a deep layer of sphagnum moss.

Pacman Vivarium Temperature and Moisture

Make sure the container is at an average temperature of 13C (or 55F) and the humidity is a little lower than their average at their terrarium. You should place a lid on top of the container, to avoid any escapes.

Before you start your frogs’ reproduction cycle, give them plenty of food, as they’ll be in the container for 2 to 4 months. Once you place them there, they’ll dig themselves into the dirt.

Replace the lid and mist the moss every week. After at least two months, you can raise the temperature back to normal levels. The frogs will wake up and rise from their position by themselves.

If it doesn’t happen, you can remove them yourself. Either way, keep your frogs separated and feed them. Once they are fed, place them in the breeding tank.

Your breeding tank should be aquatic, but the water should be shallow enough to prevent drowning. You should place an aquatic plant for the female to plant her eggs in there, which she’ll do in less than a week.

Pacman frog Tadpoles Setup

After 2 days of planting eggs hatch. You’ll find yourself with hundreds of tadpoles. These tiny animals, just like their parents, are cannibalistic meat-eaters. If left together you may suffer tadpole loses, but they should be minimal if they are well fed.

You need to change the water regularly and keep a temperature of 24C (or 75F). In a month or so, you’ll have froglets. You need to make changes to the tanks when they turn into froglets, as they can drown easily. Add a little terrain for them to stand on.

Past this point -and before they turn into adult frogs- there’s an even bigger chance of cannibalism. You can let the froglets eat each other, or you can put them in separate containers.

The latter decision will prove most beneficial but it’s also the most time-consuming. If you go down this route, make sure to check the containers every day and change their water daily to prevent diseases.

Pacman frog behaviour

Do pacman frogs bite?

Do Pacman frogs bite? The answer to this is: Yes Pacman frogs do bite. Pacman frogs are one of the few species that actually bite when they feel threatened and use this bite as a defense mechanism.

Fortunately, they usually don’t bite the keeper. Once a Pacman frog get used to its keeper they will relatively not bite them.

There’s also a possibility that your frog will bite when hungry. This is because when you want to give food, he or she mistakes your finger for food. The safest way to feed your frog is to do it with tongs.

Are they aggressive?

Yes. Pacman frogs, like most other frogs, will typically bite you for two reasons: If they are hungry and when they mistake your hand for food.

What happens if a frog bites you? Does it hurt?

If you’re like me, you want to find out if such a bite hurts before it ever happens. I’ve personally never been bitten by a Pacman frog and hopefully never will.

This is precisely why I asked a couple friends of mine, who have them if they’ve ever been bitten by a Pacman frog, if the bite hurts and if it draws blood when they bite.

The answer that my friends gave to me were almost always the same. They said that they have been bitten but can’t say that it was very painful. It wasn’t fun either, but the shock of being bitten was greater than the pain. 

Also good to know is the fact that it sometimes draws some blood but nothing to worry over. Most of the time the frog let’s go immediately after the bit, but the problem is that sometimes they hold on.

The problem with that is that you want to get the frog of your finger without hurting the frog. You should always avoid shaking or trying to throw it off. 

What you can do however is putting the frog under running water.

CAUTION! Do not just use tap water but make sure that you use de-chlorinated water. That usually should, and the frog will come off.

If you’ve ever been bitten by a horned frog, you know that they have teeth and a pretty powerful bite. This bite plays an important role when they try to grab and defeat their prey.

In 2017 scientists did a study with small horned frogs and found that the bite force of such a frog with a head width of about 4.5 centimeters can bite with a massive force of 30 newtons! This is about 3 kilograms (6.6 pounds). 

When they scaled this experiment where they compared head to body size with bite force showed that large horned frogs that live in the tropical lowlands of South America would have a bite force off almost 500 newtons (with a head width of 10 centimeters). No wonder that it hurts a little when they do bite you.

Related Article: Why Do Frogs Scream? (Find The Answers Inside)

Are pacman frogs loud?

This is the sound of a pacman frog croaking

My pacman frog here is actually squeaking we don’t know if it is a male or female though.

Are pacman frogs poisonous?

Although a bite can be painful (or more likely shock you a little), it isn’t at all poisonous. The only thing that you get from a bite is the pain in your finger and maybe some blood.

If there is some blood, you will do well if you would clean the wound a little with water and apply an antibiotic or petroleum jelly. But know that there is nothing poisonous about the bite. A bite of a Pacman frog is not poisonous.

Do pacman frogs have teeth?

Yes they do. they have a both vomerine and maxillary teeth that can make you bleed like hell.

Pacman frogs are not the only frogs with teeth. Most of them have teeth.

What are the 2 types of frog teeth?

Some Frogs Have Two separate types of Teeth namely Maxillary and Vomerine

The upper jaw contains Primary Maxillary and Vomerine. while Maxillary teeth in the same location as we have..

If you ever have looked inside the mouth of a frog, you might have noticed that there are some little teeth.

This is not to chew on their food because frogs don’t do that. But the teeth do have an essential role in grabbing their prey.

But not only the teeth are important, but the tongue also helps to control the prey so that it can’t escape.

The vomerine teeth are as you may have seen in the mouth of the frog, very pointy and you find them in pairs on the roof of their mouths.

What is the function of Vomerine teeth?

Vomerine teeth are vestigial teeth found in amphibians, they are small projections on top of the mouth located in the palatine region between the internal nares. They help Pacman to hold and easily swallow its prey.

Then you also have maxillary teeth. These are the teeth that are located on the top part of their jaws. You can’t see these teeth from the outside of the mouth, but when you look in the mouth, you can see them clearly.

Differences between maxillary and Vomerine teeth?

The maxillary and vomerine teeth are very similar to each other when you look at the function of the teeth. Both serve to keep their prey under control until the frog is ready to eat the prey.

Do pacman frogs shed?

How often do pacman frogs shed?
Pacman frogs sometimes shed their skin in one go either every day to once in every few weeks, depends on many factors.

You may notice your frogs skin color turning cloudy pale looking this is a clear sign it is going to shed its skin.Like any other reptiles or amphibians;

Pacman frogs shed because of following reasons.

• They are growing faster or gaining adulthood.
• There isn’t sufficient moisture in their substrate.They are dehydrated.
• There isn’t enough food pacman is feeling malnutrition.

Do pacman frogs sleep? Are they nocturnal?

Pacman frogs are nocturnal amphibians (less active in daytime more at night). Males chirps and croak more at night than in the daytime.

They are basically hungry studs, and eat anything that comes their way and fits their mouth. they usually, close their eyes, but pupils are contracted in the daytime.

Pacman frog problems:

What to do if your pacman frog won’t eat?

Most of the time there is nothing wrong with its teeth. If you have a new Pacman frog, it could just be taking a few days for him to settle in. If he doesn’t take any crickets, you can try small roaches. Or another good thing to try is Earthworms. These are also a favorite, and besides that, it is very nutritious.

Why My pacman frog won’t move?

If your frog or toad hardly reacts to your touch he may be sick or hurt,low humidity, Improper temperatures, inadequate exposure of UVA/UVB can cause PacMan frog to become lethargic and lose its appetite.

My pacman frog is bloated?

Substrate eating is a serious issue with Pacman frogs when catching their prey they accidentally eat their substrate and get bloated.

How often does a Pacman frog poop?

It depends on the age and health of your frog. froglets usually poop every 24-48 hours while Adult pac-man droppings may delay for a week or two. there is nothing to worry about unless your frog is eating like he usually does.

if you find any other suspected symptions like frogs lying upside down, delay in movement, drooling, Lack of interest in food. Frog straining to poop in the water dish etc check him up properly for any infectious diseases.

Is my Pacman frog dying?

Packman frogs at the name suggests can easily die by literally poisoning themselves out.

• Pacman frog’s skin is very sensitive, improper or frequent handling may cause them to die.
• They breathe through their skin it should be kept moist all the time, lower humidity levels in vivarium may cause them to form a dry cocoon like skin around itself that is the usually cause of death.
• Damp substrate and chlorine-free water clean water is a must for pacman frogs.

A Complete Pacman Frog Care Guide Paperback

For further reading

Want to know more about Pacman Fogs? Breeding Pacman Frogs: Habitat, food & breeding cycles

Here’s an interesting article about Frogs poop? What Does Frog Poop Look Like (You May Be Surprised)

Breeding Pacman frogs is something I want to do sometime next year. But before I can begin, I needed information about how to do this. So as usual, I googled stuff and learned a ton. Then it hit me, this was not only good for me to know, but for everyone who wants to take a shot at breeding Pacman frogs. So, with that in mind, I started writing this guide.

I hope that you’ll enjoy the article and please send me an email with pictures of your new Pacman frogs!

Breeding Pacman frogs

The first thing you need is a male frog and a female frog — if you get this wrong, and place two same-sex frogs together, you risk injury and even death of your frogs.

To get your Pacman frogs (also known as horned frog) ready for breeding, you need to imitate the conditions that trigger their reproduction cycle in the wild. Usually, Pacman frogs hibernate in the winter and reproduce right after they come out of their hibernation process. Place both frogs in a tank with a deep layer of sphagnum moss.

Make sure the container is at an average temperature of 13C (or 55F) and the humidity is a little lower than their average at their terrarium. You should place a lid on top of the container, to avoid any escapes. Before you start your frogs’ reproduction cycle, give them plenty of food, as they’ll be in the container for 2 to 4 months. Once you place them there, they’ll dig themselves into the dirt.

Replace the lid and mist the moss every week. After at least two months, you can raise the temperature back to normal levels. The frogs will wake up and rise from their position by themselves. If it doesn’t happen, you can remove them yourself. Either way, keep your frogs separated and feed them. Once they are fed, place them in the breeding tank.

Your breeding tank should be aquatic, but the water should be shallow enough to prevent drowning. You should place an aquatic plant for the female to plant her eggs in there, which she’ll do in less than a week.

Making sure your tadpoles frogs grow up properly

Two days after the eggs are planted, they will hatch. You’ll find yourself with hundreds of tadpoles. These tiny animals, just like their parents, are cannibalistic meat-eaters. If left together you may suffer tadpole loses, but they should be minimal if they are well fed.

You need to change the water regularly and keep a temperature of 24C (or 75F). In a month or so, you’ll have froglets. You need to make changes to the tanks when they turn into froglets, as they can drown easily. Add a little terrain for them to stand on.

Past this point -and before they turn into adult frogs- there’s an even bigger chance of cannibalism. You can let the froglets eat each other, or you can put them in separate containers. The latter decision will prove most beneficial but it’s also the most time-consuming. If you go down this route, make sure to check the containers every day and change their water daily to prevent diseases.

Taking care of an adult Pacman frog

By the time your Pacman frogs become adults, you need to separate them. Pacman frogs are extremely solitaire and territorial. Leaving more than two frogs together -if you do not intend to breed them- will result in injury and even death of your frogs. Place each one of your new frogs in their tank and let them thrive alone, the way they like it.

What is the best food for Pacman frogs?

Do they eat the same thing in all stages of life? How can I feed them?

Even though Pacman frogs are carnivore throughout their entire life, they do not feed off the same things at different stages. It’s best to understand what is best for each moment of their life to make sure they grow up healthy and let them be at their best. The only rule of thumb you can use to feed your frogs throughout their life is to avoid anything caught in the wild. You can kill your frog if you feed him a pesticide-ridden insect or a sick rodent.

Tadpoles

Tadpoles need a protein-rich diet. You can get little frog or tadpole bites at your local pet store. If you want to use a more “organic” strategy, you can use black worms to feed your tadpoles.

Remember to give them plenty of food or they will start eating each other if they become really hungry. Bear in mind losses to cannibalistic behavior are almost inevitable. You can only minimize the casualties when properly feeding your tadpoles.

Adult Pac-Man Food

Eventually, you’ll have to feed an adult Pacman frog, and that’s an entirely different beast. They can become pretty large and will need plenty of food to be satisfied.

Luckily for you, adult Pacman frogs will eat anything you throw at them. This doesn’t mean you should be reckless with their diet.

They need a wide variety of animals and a calcium supplement to stay healthy. Young Pacman frogs should get crickets and cockroaches at first.

When they grow older -and larger- they can also eat small rodents, but they shouldn’t get them every day due to their high-fat content.

There’s a key giveaway on how to feed your Pacman frog: you need to give him live prey. They are predatory animals and they won’t touch anything that’s already dead.

Avoid giving him anything in the mouth, they are aggressive and may hurt you: place the prey inside their tank and wait for the frog to act.

You should avoid overfeeding them: adult Pacman frogs eat every few days or weekly, unlike their tadpole counterpart that needs a meal every day.

Drinking habits

Like any other amphibian, the Pacman frogs need constant access to water. Provide a shallow container filled with water to satisfy your frog’s thirst.

Bear in mind Pacman frogs tend to defecate in the water. They also like to soak themselves in it to get a little extra humidity. You need to change the water daily to avoid any health-related issues.

What is the best terrarium for breeding Pacman frogs?

If you are looking to breed Pacman frogs, you need a tank with plenty of water and a few aquatic plants. Once the eggs hatch and the tadpoles start swimming around, you can use the same aquatic tank for them.

By the time the tadpoles become froglets, you need to add a little bit of land into the mix. You don’t need to overcomplicate things getting expensive or big terrariums before your frogs reach adulthood. Simple containers will do just fine.

Eventually, when they become full-fledged adults, Pacman frogs need their own space -never house more than one per tank- but they do not need a complicated terrarium.

Pacman frogs need a space ten times as big as they are. A 10-gallon tank will probably do the job right, but it’s best to get a 20-gallon tank just to be sure your Pacman frog can fit nicely inside.

The most important thing about your Pacman frog terrarium is the substrate. Pacman frogs do not need toys or anything else to spend their time, as they love to dig themselves into the dirt and wait patiently in it.

You should also keep in mind Pacman frogs, like most amphibians, like to soak themselves in water and stay humid, but they do not like to be constantly wet. You should keep the terrarium moist, but leave a few areas without much water so your frog can choose where to stay.

What is the best substrate for Pacman frogs?

The right substrate could be the difference between a happy frog and a harmed frog. There are no right choices when it comes to the substrate, but there are wrong choices. Any kind of substrate that the frog might choke on is a no go: things like gravel or bark should never be used in your Pacman frog terrarium.

The usual choice for most Pacman frog owners is a loose substrate with a coconut fiber base and a sphagnum peat moss blend. Using fine orchid ark as compost is a fine choice as well.

You definitely need compost in your terrarium to neutralize bad smells. Your substrate depth should be anywhere between 4 to 6 inches. Check it regularly to get rid of feces and other discharges.

What is the best temperature and humidity for breeding Pacman frogs?

Tadpoles need a slightly lower temperature than adult Pacman frogs, as they thrive living under an average of 24C (75F). Humidity is not much of an issue with tadpoles, as they are constantly underwater.

Adult Pacman frogs need to live under 27C (80F) during the day and expect a slight temperature drop to 24C (75F) during the night. Humidity needs to be over 60%, but most Pacman frogs are better at 80%.

If you want to breed two Pacman frogs, you need to get the temperature levels down to 13C (55F) to simulate winter and force the reproduction cycle to begin, after they hibernate.

What are the best decorations to use for Pacman frogs vivarium?

Should I keep it simple or use plenty of decorations?

Pacman frogs don’t care about or need any additional things you may place in their terrarium. They only need the right substrate to hide in and live prey to feed off. You can add a few branches to help your Pacman frog hide and ambush their prey. Small plants are also a great tool to keep the humidity levels high. The only thing that is a must is a little recipient filled with water for your frog to drink and soak in, but that doesn’t mean you need to keep their terrarium completely basic and minimal!

Further Reading

If you found this article helpful, I might have some other articles that you find interesting! Below are 3 articles that I think you might like!

There aren’t many differences between a Leopard frog and a Pickerel frog are at first sight. But I think you don’t know about the differences I found! I wrote about them in this article: Leopard frog vs Pickerel frog.

Always wanted to know if frogs can breathe underwater or if they can drown? Find out more about this with the following article: Can frogs breathe underwater?

Want to know more about pacman frogs? Find out more in following article Breeding Pacman Frogs: Habitat, food & breeding cycles

Enjoy reading!

Frog enthusiasts know that the Leopard frog and pickerel frog look much alike and are both grass frogs. However, when someone asked me about the differences, I couldn’t give a clear and precise answer to her question.

That is why I jumped on the computer the first chance I got to figure it out so that I could give her an answer to her questions!

So, I did research to find the differences between the Leopard frog and the Pickerel frog and in this article, you’ll find out what they are!

So, without further ado… Here’s the article and I hope you enjoy it!

How can you tell the difference between Leopard frogs and Pickerel frogs?

The leopard frog and the pickerel frog are the two species of grass frogs that look almost similar. They can be located on woods and wet meadows and returns to the water for laying eggs, avoid predation, and thermo-regulate.

Do you spot a leopard or pickerel frog? (3 Visible Differences)

They are so much identical that you have to take a closer look to figure out some differences. 

Spots : On the back

The main distinguishing feature of Leopard frog vs Pickerel frog in their spots, that run parallel down their back.

The pickerel frog will have square-shaped spots, generally in rows, whereas the leopard frog will have rounded spots in some random pattern.

Calling: Croaking pattern

The call of a pickerel frog is like a nasal snore of a lower pitch which can be compared to the call of a cow.

Whereas the call of a leopard frog is almost similar to the pickerel frog but has a short and very low husky sound. 

Undersides:

If you dare to pick any one of these to identify its kind, you should check its undersides.

When you observe carefully, you will find that pickerel frogs will have patches of yellow skin much brighter on the inside thighs, whereas in leopard frogs you won’t find anything like that.

Other major differences Between Leopard And Pickerel Frogs

You can find a leopard frog near ponds, lakes, fields, meadows, marshy lands, and rivers.

They often live in places that has slow-moving water and the coverage area should have lots of vegetation.

During the summer season, they prey in the wide grassy meadows, fields, or pastures, which are located far from the water. 

Pickerel frogs often lives in woodland areas that have moisture all around and near water bodies.

You can also spot them near the edges of ponds and lakes, wet pastures, streams, and wet fields.

During the summer, they stay away from water and live in damp places, whereas during winters they shift to the bottom of water bodies. 

Where do leopard frogs live?

The leopard frogs prefer living in stretches from southern Canada to the northern United States and New Hampshire.

In some scattered areas of the Pacific Northwest, and the southernmost part throughout New Mexico and Arizona. 

Where do pickerel frogs live?

Pickerel lives in North America, Canadian Provinces to the south of Carolina, all the way to Texas from Minnesota.

You can also find them scattered through the mountains In Georgia

The pickerel frogs tend to stay in dense vegetation with cooler temperatures rather than the leopard frogs. 

What do leopard frog eggs look like? (and how many they lay)

The breeding season of leopard frogs starts in March and ends in June. On warm sunny days, the males used to gather in pools floats on the water surface and calls out with low grunts of sound for attracting the females.

The female lays a mass that comprises around 5000 eggs in warm, shallow, and still water. They attach the eggs to the vegetation and take about 9 days to hatch. 

What do pickerel frog eggs look like? (and how many they lay)

On the other hand, the breeding period for pickerel frogs starts in late March and continues until early May. By emitting a low snore call, the male frog attracts the female frogs.

The females lay egg masses that are attached to small branches in temporary water bodies.

The egg masses contain around 3000 eggs. The eggs then hatch into tadpoles and they stay in the water for another 95 days before they transform into a frog. 

What do pickerel frogs eat? what do pickerel tadpoles eat?

The tadpoles of leopard frogs eat rotting plants and algae. As they grow bigger in size, they eat insects, ants, beetles, leafhoppers, and slugs, pillbugs, snails, and even small-sized frogs.

It waits in the grassy meadows, or near the water and snatches its prey with a long sticky tongue. 

When they are tadpoles, the pickerel frogs are herbivorous and at once they become adults, they become carnivorous and mostly eat invertebrates.

Which of these two frogs is poisonous?

Between the two types of frogs, the pickerel frog has earned the title of being poisonous in entire North America. Some fish, or green frogs, or even bullfrogs can eat pickerel frogs without causing them much harm.

Although both of these species don’t bite when they feel threatened, the pickerel frogs secrete a toxin from their skin that may be toxic for would-be predators, and sometimes may irritate human skin. 

Can leopard or pickerel frogs be harmful to humans?

Both the leopard and the pickerel frogs cannot affect humans to a great extent.

These frogs aren’t harmful to humans, although threatening, tends to release a mild toxin through their skin.

What happens if you touch a poisonous frog?

However, skin secretions may sometimes cause skin irritation, but they are not fatal. 

The skin secretions can irritate when they come in contact with broken skin, mucous membranes, or eyes. If by accident you ingest the toxins, it can cause discomfort and vomit.

Such a scenario can happen when you are handling the frog which has secreted toxins, and then you rub your mouth or eyes without washing thoroughly with soap and water. Consult your physician if the irritation persists.

Can one of these frogs be harmful to other animals?

Pickerel frogs are among the few frogs found in the US to produce poisonous skin secretions.

These secretions can be distasteful to the predators and they will feel this creature is not worthy of eating, hence stay away.

But sometimes the secretion can prove fatal to potential predators like mammals, birds, snakes, and other amphibians. 

There are many snakes that avoid the pickerel frogs because of their toxic skin secretions. However, predators such as bullfrog, green frog, and some species of snakes have developed their immunity to absorb the toxin, and the secretion from the pickerel frog does not affect them.

When threatened very much, they jump and dive to the depths of water to escape from them. 

If by any chance the poisonous secretion comes in to contact with the eyes or mouth of your pet or domestic animals, take them immediately to a vet physician.

Conclusion

By now you should have learned about the differences between the Leopard and Pickerel frog. You which species is poisonous and if they are poisonous to other animals. I truly hope that you have enjoyed the article and if you did, below are some topics that might interest you.

Further Reading

Do you want to know more about the eating habits of frogs and toads? You can find the articles about that here:

Or, do you want to know What Birds, Reptiles, Amphibians And Fish All Have In Common? That you can learn in this article

Frogs can hear, but do not quite have ears as we do. Find out how the ears of a frog work in this article: Do frogs have ears (and how do they hear)?

A couple of days ago I was trying to sleep but couldn’t because some frogs were screaming. At that moment I thought “why for heaven’s sake are they screaming all night long!?”

Around 5 am I finally decided to find out why frogs scream and to make an article about it.

Not only to inform you, but also to help you get rid of it if you want that (you find the answer to this at the bottom of this article).

Even though I was awake all night and felt miserable… I really hope you will enjoy this article! Here it is!

Nearly five thousand frog species live on every one of the world’s continents except Antarctica. Tropical zones receive the highest concentration of frogs. Frogs are amphibians which means they can live on both water and land.

The water is where they begin living life as a tadpole. In different ecosystems, species of frogs vary but every frog has vocal abilities attracting mates, indicating danger or declaring their territory. Frogs yodel, click, rasp, thump, trill, honk, saw, tap, croak, hammer, peep and scream.

For example, you can hear the arrival of spring when frogs emit a high-pitched peep that sounds like a high note. When frogs live around swamps, ponds and in the woods, you can hear them simultaneously peeping and screaming just before spring arrives. But this isn’t the primary reason for screaming. 

You may also want to know Why do frogs croak? (And how do frogs croak?)

Why do frogs scream?

Frogs scream when they are terrified. Believe it or not, most species of frogs certainly scream. Some frogs may sound funny when they scream but the truth is they are terrified.

The usual cause of their piercing, shrill shrike is due to alarm at predators such as dogs or cats. The shriek resembles a startled baby’s scream and lasts for over 5 seconds. 

Crocodiles and juvenile birds sometimes emit similar calls to attract their parents’ attention.

However, very little is known about distressed frog calls. Most agree that this shriek was a mechanism that evolved to scare off possible attacks.

It also may be a way to attract other predators. For example, if birds attack a frog, the scream of the frog could then lure in a cat. Currently, the jury is out for the true reasons of this evolutionary trait.

Newts also emit distressed calls in the form of muffled, short groans. Such tactics are reported about toads, however. Maybe being able to fill up your body with air and having poisonous glands is sufficient. 

Why do frogs scream at night?

Frogs scream at night when they are stressed out or feel threatened. While other animals scream as a mating call, the same cannot be said for frogs.

They might feel there is danger lurking around the corner. Perhaps they were cornered by a larger animal such as a cat, which scares the frog, causing it to scream.

Frogs only scream when they feel threatened and terrified of something they perceive as danger. If you have seen videos gone viral of frogs screaming at night, the reason is not that they are trying to be funny, but because they are in fact, feeling quite scared.
 

Why do frogs scream when you touch them?

Frogs scream when you touch them out of fright. Frogs scream when they perceive danger and are not trying to attract a mate, as some believe.

When you touch a frog, it no longer feels safe. Thus, it emits a high pitched screech that sounds like the high scream of a very small child.

Can we harm frogs or can they die when we touch them?

Kissing a frog might seem like a good idea in fairy tales but not in real life. As a matter of fact, kissing or touching a frog to try and turn them into a prince could kill them.

In real life, kissing frogs could harm both the kisser and the frog. In fact, touching or kissing a frog could kill them and cause health problems for the human beings that did.

While most folks know that touching a toad or a frog won’t give you warts, they do transmit disease. For example, frogs can give humans salmonella poisoning and tapeworm cysts. If not treated immediately, these diseases could cause serious complications. 

There are natural oils and salts in the hands of humans that irritate the skin of frogs. Thus, touching frogs with dry hands cause severe health issues for the frog, sometimes even death. Salt from your hand can injure or kill frogs.

The reason is that frogs have moist skin so when you touch them, the saltwater or salt in your skin causes a burning effect. Excess salt gets rid of their cells’ water and disrupts their body equilibrium, so this could cause them to become dehydrated to the point of death. 

For the right kind of person, however, frogs can also be good pets. You won’t get the same interactions and enjoyment the way you would from a cat or dog, but you will like toads and frogs if you have an aquarium. 

The most interaction you will most likely be able to get from a pet frog is when he eats crickets from your hands. They are the kinds of pets that you can look at but not touch.

When you keep frogs or toads captive, you get a glimpse into their behavior and life that you would otherwise never really know about. Many frog species rival the average tropical fish in aquariums and are quite colorful. However, they are strictly a hands-off kind of pet. 

Do frogs do other things when they feel threatened?

It’s a tough world out there and since they can’t carry weapons, frogs need other ways to keep themselves protected. Most frogs scream when they feel threatened.

However, they also do other things that they use as defense mechanisms for when they sense danger. Here are a few things that frogs do when they feel threatened:

• Mimicry

To protect themselves, some frogs fake it till they make it. Frogs like pretending they are things they aren’t just to survive. Pretending to be leaves or part of the soil is the way frogs become invisible to predators.

Other than leaves and soil, frogs also mimic logs and other poisonous frogs. The ones that mimic poisonous frogs turn a bright color to look poisonous but actually don’t have any poison at all. 

• Poison

Frogs protect themselves by making sure no one wants to eat them. Being poisonous for other animals helps protect the frog. They acquire toxicity from their diet. Other frogs generate their toxins. Other than screaming, poison is another way that frogs defend themselves. 

• Color

Frogs protect themselves using color. When it comes to color, frogs can become bright or they can blend into their surroundings.

When frogs become bright, this is called aposematism.

Bright colors warn predators of the frog’s toxicity. Bright colors also alert other animals to danger.

On the other hand, there is a reason that frogs are green. This is to remain protected as they blend into their surrounding vegetation. Gray and brown are also common frog colors that enable them to become camouflaged and almost invisible to the naked eye. 

In their fight against predators, frogs can also use their size. Small frogs are hard to find. Smaller frogs are experts at hiding to avoid danger. Other frogs do the opposite.

They can fill their bodies up with air to look fat and scary. Others stand on their toes to look taller. These are the defense mechanisms that frogs use to scare off what they perceive as danger. 

• The horror of Horrors!

One frog has a defense mechanism in which the frog breaks its arm bones to use claws for defense. The frog that does this is aptly named the Horror Frog.

• Belly Up

Some frogs have a defence mechanism called unkenreflex. This is when they arch their back to show off their bellies which have warning colors on them to scare off other animals. 

• Urination

Another defense mechanism frogs use to ward off their enemies is urination.

That’s right, some frogs urinate while hopping away in order for their enemies to be repelled and their tracks to be covered. 

What to do if I want to get rid of screaming frogs?

 Amphibians including frogs love moist areas like piles of leaves and brush. Keeping your house surroundings dry deters screaming frogs from hanging around. Keeping your lawn trimmed and mowed reduced populations of insects and encourages a dry area, thus discouraging a frog from living there.

Preventing water Stagnation

If your area has a pond, you can scoop out frog eggs before they hatch. For garden pond owners, you might want to drain your pond once a month for this purpose. Keep your pond water moving decreases mosquito and frog populations. 

Controlling the frog population

To get rid of screaming frogs once and for all, you must begin controlling the variables of their habitat. Get rid of hiding places and other structures that attract frogs, like a pile of leaves, brush, and piles of wood.

For homes with larger lawns consider regularly mowing it short. This keeps frog food like mosquitoes under control. If you find habitats or locations around your area where frogs seem to be breeding, scoop out their eggs each time you are in the area. 

Using Bleach to repel frogs.

Frog infestations can be warded off with bleach. Use a third cup of bleach to three gallons of water and the smell seems to repel frogs and they move away before you know it! Saltwater is also something that frogs hate as it burns their skin.

Using Citric acid to repel frogs?

If you can find citric acid at the garden store, you can put a solution of 1.3 lbs citric acid to a gallon of water into a spray bottle and spray this directly on the frogs. This helps reduce damage as it gets rid of the frogs without getting rid of the other more helpful garden bugs. 

For Further Reading

If you found this article helpful, I have some more articles about frogs, their behavior and stuff like that, that you might find interesting. Below are a few links to these articles and I hope you really enjoy reading them!

Do you want to know if frogs can breathe underwater and if they can drown? You can find the answer in this article.

Do you prefer an article about the eating habits of a frog? You can find out if frogs eat fish and other animals right here.

Rather find out what frog poop looks like? Click here for an interesting article about the poop of frogs.