Catching Tadpoles?

[RedSidedSPR]

Sigh, I get that. I was offered $100 worth of snakes if I could catch 100 tadpoles, so he could get his non'eaters to eat. It's for a good cause!

I'd like to leave them, but I'd also like that snake(s).

[Sonya610]

Take the high road; do not do something you know is not right because of a tempting offer. You have a garter, you do not "need more" so do not do something you know isn't right for a monetary/equivalent gain. : )

[d_virginiana]

Agreed.. That's a lot of tads to be taking out of the ecosystem. Also with worries about spreading chytrid and bacterial infection between populations; if any of those tads or any of the water they come into contact with end up getting dumped anywhere else, it could easily spread harmful diseases to new areas.

I understand the allure of getting free snakes, but it's not worth the potential harm that could cause

[ConcinusMan]

if I could catch 100 tadpoles, so he could get his non'eaters to eat. It's for a good cause!

Seems to me that if tadpoles would make a difference and get them to eat, so would anything resembling them, such as guppies.

[PINJOHN]

thought long and hard about making a comment on this thread, not completely sure if an English man should be pontificating on a American eco question, but its been so onesided i thought why not,
i personally don't think in most cases taking a hundred tadpoles out of a large lake would do any lasting damage, i cannot remember the statistic but i know that frogs/toads lay so many eggs/spawn because only one makes it to adult hood from x hundred tadpoles, nature has to some degree made tadpoles disposable,
on this side of the pond [excuse the pun] i have watched a heron have difficulty taking to the air because his crop was so full of tadpoles
and if the lake in question has a healthy population the fact that the Cuban twelve eyed frog and the Peruvian pie eating toad are down to one and a half individuals each is irrelevant i would think .
now for the nasty bit,and try not to take it personally anyone
just this week i replied to Shannons thread thanking her for the report and photos [as did lots of others] on her herping trip, mention was made of the little toads on hatching being so numerous that it would be impossible not to stand on them when she returns, you will notice on her thread that not one of us pointed out the damage to the ecosystem or cruelty to toads or indeed any of the objections that were put forward on this thread, is it perhaps because we all enjoy other members herping adventures so much that we can look the other way when it suits us, i am waiting with baited breath for
Shannons next herping report which means i suppose that i find the death of some creatures acceptable when it suits me, and it looks like i am not the only member to hold this view.

[infernalis]

If I thought you were going to start playing this angle, I NEVER would have told you how to get your snake eating.

Secondly I gave you that info in a pm with confidentiality, then you turn around and publicly post it..

I give up.

[Sonya610]

Shannons next herping report which means i suppose that i find the death of some creatures acceptable when it suits me, and it looks like i am not the only member to hold this view.

John keep in mind it sounds like this could be a professional breeder that wants to harvest hundreds of wild animals to feed his captive bred stock.

If they are a professional breeder they should have lots of experience and plenty of ways to get their animals eating without having to resort to a new/faster method that harms the ecosystem.

[RedSidedSPR]

I decided against it! BEFORE you said all this crap!! No worries, I'm not gonna do it!!

I had NO IDEA about the whole ecosystem threats, If I had I wouldn't have done it!! I love frogs and nature too, when I grow up I'm going to be a herpetologist! I never would have done this!! Sorry.

It was a 1/8 of all the tadpoles there, I didn't think it would do any harm.

I understand your concern, but you could have just told me! I would have understood, and not done it (like i did)

Please forgive me, please understand that I had no intention of destroying the whole freakin' continents frog population.

I understand the allure of getting free snakes, but it's not worth the potential harm that could cause

I agree. SORRY.

I'll just buy the "damn snake"

Seems to me that if tadpoles would make a difference and get them to eat, so would anything resembling them, such as guppies.

Didn't you read my thread?? After weeks of trying guppies, i offered my snake a tadpole, and within 2 seconds, no hesitation, he grabbed it out of my hand. He will eat tadpole-scented guppies now, but no unscented. Make sense? Of course, snakes rely on eyesight and resemblance, not scent.

you will notice on her thread that not one of us pointed out the damage to the ecosystem or cruelty to toads or indeed any of the objections that were put forward on this thread, is it perhaps because we all enjoy other members herping adventures so much that we can look the other way when it suits us, i am waiting with baited breath for
Shannons next herping report which means i suppose that i find the death of some creatures acceptable when it suits me, and it looks like i am not the only member to hold this view.

And I doubt if Shannon (or Steve, or Richard, or god forbid Wayne) had posted this, if anyone would care. They'd just give 'em some advice, and wish 'em good luck.

If I thought you were going to start playing this angle, I NEVER would have told you how to get your snake eating.

Secondly I gave you that info in a pm with confidentiality, then you turn around and publicly post it..

I give up.

I had no idea "this angle" had anything wrong with it.

I had no idea you were trying to hide your suggestion that worked so well. Maybe you should have told me. And I did not publicly post your PM, I simply asked for some advice, and I have never regretted anything more.

I don't need your advice. I (with the help of willing people) can take care of my "damn snake".

[kibakiba]

You asked for advice and you got it. Don't say you don't need advice if you specifically asked for it. Everyone was just trying to help you realize that it wouldn't be the best decision. You don't need to be disrespectful to everyone.

[Sonya610]

And I doubt if Shannon (or Steve, or Richard, or god forbid Wayne) had posted this, if anyone would care. They'd just give 'em some advice, and wish 'em good luck.

No, I don't think that is true. Grant it the condemnation might not have been so blatant, but no one would encourage it and others would likely offer suggestions to avoid doing it.

When people suggested it was not a good idea and you explained your reasons for doing it (profit) that pretty much opened the floodgates.

Don't get all upset. You made the right decision.