What are they?

[Youkai]

Hey guys,

These tadpoles came in a shipment of feeder goldfish. I'm assuming the feeders came from florida originally, though I don't know if our suppliers keep their goldfish/koi outside in Calgary. I'd assume not.

Anyway, I took them home and they're growing in a tank that's bursting with Java fern. I'd like some idea of what they are. I'm sure these being imported by accident is pretty common.
I thought bullfrogs at first, but I'm certain these tadpoles are too small for that. They are about 3-4" in length, with the business end (head) being about 1.5".

I know identification from tadpoles can be difficult, but I'd appreciated any help identifying these that you guys can offer. Here are some pictures:

<img src="http://www.ssnakess.com/photopost/data/503/133tad3.jpg">

<img src="http://www.ssnakess.com/photopost/data/503/133tad.jpg">

<img src="http://www.ssnakess.com/photopost/data/503/133tad2.jpg">

[XxRachxX]

at first glance i thought they were baby axolotls! but they have frilly gill things......so its obviously not!! those are crazy!! i want some! how many do you have??

[Dozer]

American Bullfrog. My buddy works in a fish store and feeder fish that reach up from FLorida and Penn. and places around there, all contain AB Tads. I get tadpoles from my bud when shipments come from places like Asia and Africa, this is the time right now to get the tads, but I dont gots any yet :'(

[Youkai]

Well, I guess I'll see how they develop! I didn't think they'd be bullfrogs, but I guess I was wrong. For some reason I was thinking maybe green frogs...
Either way, it'll be fun to hang onto these guys. I need some frogs around here anyway. :D

[Youkai]

Rach, I only have the two that came in with a few hundred fish. They come in periodically though, as 'contaminants' I'm sure.

[DragnDrop]

Check out the Tadpole Identification Table (http://www.trentu.ca/biology/berrill/IdentificationTable.htm)

Your picture doesn't show the entire tail clearly, but it could be the American Bullfrog (Rana catesbeiana) or even the similar Green Frog (Rana clamitans) tadpoles. One big difference is the Green Frog tads have a more curved "top edge" over the back. The ID Table shows pictures so you can compare.

[CyberGhost]

Does anyone know where I could actually but tadpoles to raise?

[Youkai]

Thank you SO much for that link. They are either leopard frogs, green frogs, or bullfrogs...lol. I'm going to look at more pictures I think. :D

[raebug2000]

if they came from florida, watch out. these might be BUFO TOADS....which are illegal transplants just like fire ants. toxic to humans and animals if bothered.......here is a link....

http://www.xso.com/news/morgue/0610bufo.htm

[Dozer]

...not BUFO... either American Bullfrog or Green Frog... need a better picture :)

[reverendsterlin]

definitely not bufo

[CyberGhost]

Bufo toads couldt hurt a human anymore then a bee only animals I have two of them.

[CyberGhost]

Okay well I lied, I was told they couldt hurt anyone eveidently I was wrong.

[Herpkingdom]

They look like bullfrog tads to me. They can get as big as 5' long and take several months to the next spring to transform.

You can buy tadpoles from many petstores. Most of them are bullfrogs as they are the biggest tadpoles and are easily raised to transformation. Or if you have a wooded area around your house, go to any standing pond or very slow moving stream with an aquarium net and go to town. Down the street from my old house in Philly, I could catch 1000's of toads tadpoles daily and still not put a dent in the numbers! Nowadays, you cannot even find them at that site due to new home construction :(