Catching Tadpoles?

[d_virginiana]

I'm glad you decided not to do it.
When you post something asking for advice people are going to give you advice to the best of their knowledge. Even if it disagrees with what you mentioned, it wasn't a personal attack.

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,

That's correct, but taking large numbers of tads out of an ecosystem isn't the primary concern with frogs at the moment, it's transporting frogs from one area to another. Many species (especially some of the tougher American ones) can act as carriers for some pretty nasty diseases for quite awhile without showing symptoms themselves.
In some of the forums I participate in I've seen people get verbally flayed alive for saying they caught a toad in one area and released it in their yard. I think that particular reaction is a bit extreme, but the concern is definitely there.

[aSnakeLovinBabe]

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.

Myself, Steve, Richard and Wayne would not post a thread like this because we already know how damaging removing a large number of specimens from the wild can be. You didn't know, you were caught up in the moment and you couldn't see the bigger picture. But now you know! No harm done. No one is ganging up on you, everyone just happens to already know better and is now trying to get you to join the ranks. If there are not a zillion tadpoles available, it's not really justifiable to take 100. Where I was, ONE scoop of a net could have easily netted 1,000+ tadpoles. Although, I didn't touch them at all.

In my recent thread, the number of toad-poles was so overwhelming... and yes it will be inevitable that babies will be stepped on. I go through it every year when I go to that place late summer. But at this lake there is an over-abundance. Not even enough predators to eat the toads. I think the yearling toads feast on the babies and that's the only thing that keeps them in check!

[RedSidedSPR]

First, I never asked for advice. I asked for tips.

Everyone was just trying to help you realize that it wouldn't be the best decision.

No, everybody's telling me I'm an A-hole for thinking it.

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

Because you all told me it was wrong. But you could (not u, others) have just told me, not hammering me at being an idiot.

I'm glad you decided not to do it.
When you post something asking for advice people are going to give you advice to the best of their knowledge. Even if it disagrees with what you mentioned, it wasn't a personal attack.

I didn't ask for advice. And with a lot of people, it was a personal attack. You didn't see my PMs.

Myself, Steve, Richard and Wayne would not post a thread like this because we already know how damaging removing a large number of specimens from the wild can be. You didn't know, you were caught up in the moment and you couldn't see the bigger picture. But now you know! No harm done. No one is ganging up on you, everyone just happens to already know better and is now trying to get you to join the ranks. If there are not a zillion tadpoles available, it's not really justifiable to take 100. Where I was, ONE scoop of a net could have easily netted 1,000+ tadpoles. Although, I didn't touch them at all.

In my recent thread, the number of toad-poles was so overwhelming... and yes it will be inevitable that babies will be stepped on. I go through it every year when I go to that place late summer. But at this lake there is an over-abundance. Not even enough predators to eat the toads. I think the yearling toads feast on the babies and that's the only thing that keeps them in check!

Thank you, that's what I'm saying. I didn't know, you told me, I didn't do it. My bad for thinking the thought.
I have never regretted anything more than the posting of this thread.

Also for those of you said this, THERE WAS A LOT MORE TADS THAN I THOUGHT. I could have easily caught 200. And the place wouldn't miss them. It's just harder to find them because of the stuff on the surface. Leaves, moss, cans, bottles.

But I only caught 2, for myself, so I could scent guppies with it, and get my snake to eat. Anyone who doesn't like that, can hit me all they want.

[ConcinusMan]

If it were a case like I see around my area frequently, where there are temporary pools drying up and filled with invasive bullfrog tadpoles, now that would be different. Also, my brother had a neighbor that moved out recently. The neighbor's swimming pool has tens of thousands of chorus frog tadpoles in it right now. The Realtor wants to drain the pool. Again, this would be a situation where I feel it would be OK to collect the tadpoles and use them for whatever purpose I see fit. There is still the issue of whether or not it would be wise to feed them to my snakes and being how I (and the snakes) went through quite a bit to get them parasite-free, I feel like it's just not worth the risk.

Bullfrog tadpoles are easy to identify particularly when they get some size to them. If they are not native to your state, then by all means, take them. You would be doing the ecosystem and native amphibians a favor. I just think you should be careful about it and try not to mess with any native amphibians.

I really don't think anyone is attacking you or telling you your an a-hole. We're just stating our concerns about what you intend to do and maybe make you think about some things you might not have thought of.

But seriously, unless you find an overabundance of non-native amphibians, I'm just saying this isn't a good idea and in some cases, it could get you in trouble with the law. So, there's really nothing else we can tell you except to find some body of water that has an overabundance. Then the only "tip" we can give you is "get a net". There's really nothing else I can say to help you find enough tadpoles. You're pretty much on your own since I have no idea where to find enough of them in your area.

[RedSidedSPR]

Again, I'm sorry I even posted this thread. I've never regretted anything more.

I didn't know, I didn't do it, and I never will.

What really annoys me is, everybody instantly jumped on me, called me names, said they'd gladly just let my "damn snake" die, and really nailed me for it. They could have just told me. I would have listened.

I'm not saying everybody did. Lot of you were much nicer (u included Rich).
Thanks

And what I mean by "TIPS" was stuff like, where to find them, where they go to hide, how far out they go, etc. Not "get a net". Thanks a lot guys.

I really don't think anyone is attacking you or telling you your an a-hole.

You didn't see my PMs.

[RdubSnider]

I wouldn't worry to much about the whole thing. But I know that nobody likes feeling like there being attacked. There are some states that let you catch an unlimited amount of frogs with just a fishing license. The state I live in has a excessive amount of bull frogs so until the #,s go down we can have as many as we want. However my advice would be to do what Your doing as far as 1 or 2 to scent with. But I wouldn't recommend them as a regular food source due to possible parisites. And even states that let you collect them have laws against selling or trading them and some times the penalties for that is pretty big. I wouldn't want to see anyone get in trouble for simply not knowing. Anyways I'm glad to hear Your snake did eat for you. Good luck with him

[d_virginiana]

I didn't ask for advice. And with a lot of people, it was a personal attack. You didn't see my PMs.

Sorry, I thought you were looking for others' perspectives when you posted this thread. If 'tips' rather than 'advice' was what you were looking for, then I don't know what you expected other than basic frog knowledge like 'tadpoles live in still bodies of water and hide under detritus'. Not trying to be sarcastic, but that's really the only tips I think anyone could've given.

Even if you got angry messages, taking it out on people who didn't send them and were only trying to be helpful really doesn't serve any purpose...

Regardless, you didn't know when you posted the thread, now you do, ect. No hard feelings??

[ConcinusMan]

Forgive us? You gotta understand when you start discussing things that people are passionate about, people's reactions and words are going to be passionate too.

[Jeff B]

I have thousands of toad tadpoles in my koi pond right now, do every year. I could close my eyes and make one swipe with a 6inch aquarium net and get 100 tadpoles. Wouldn't blink about using 100 to feed if I needed to, or worry about the inviromental impact since it's my manmad pond in my yard, usually worms or fish starts up babie garters just fine.

[RedSidedSPR]

If 'tips' rather than 'advice' was what you were looking for, then I don't know what you expected other than basic frog knowledge like 'tadpoles live in still bodies of water and hide under detritus'. Not trying to be sarcastic, but that's really the only tips I think anyone could've given.

I meant like techniques. You all are herpers, and I thought you might know some good techniques. My bad.

Even if you got angry messages, taking it out on people who didn't send them and were only trying to be helpful really doesn't serve any purpose...

I'm not. Like I said, a lot of you were nice about it. Thanks for those who were (including you).

Regardless, you didn't know when you posted the thread, now you do, ect. No hard feelings??

None to you. Never were any to you. Or most of the people. Just certain ones...

usually worms or fish starts up babie garters just fine.

Not in this case.