Surf Frogs
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Instruction Booklet

Questions, Concerns and Solutions
 - Going On Vacation
 - General Frog Questions
 - Care & Maintenance
 - Metamorphosis
 - General Surf Frogs Habitat Questions
 - General Planet Frog Habitat Questions

Instruction Booklet
Replacement Instruction Booklet:
Q: I lost my instruction booklet. How can I get another one?
A: Instruction booklets are available for download here.
You can also contact us to have a replacement instruction manual mailed to you.

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Questions, Concerns and Solutions
Going on Vacation:
Q: We are going on vacation and I am afraid my tadpole(s) will arrive while we are gone. What can be done?
A: Please call us at least 2-3 weeks in advance and let us know when you will be out of town. We will be glad to coordinate the delivery of your tadpoles.

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General Frog Questions:
Q: Will two leopard frogs breed in the habitat?
A: No. Leopard frogs don't breed until they are three years old. When they do, they require particular environmental cues, which are not made available in the habitat.
Q: How long will my frog live?
A: Captive-bred leopard frogs can live up to five years if given proper care.
Q: How large will my leopard frog grow?
A: Your froglet will remain about an inch in length for up to a year. It can eventually grow to about three inches.
Q: How can I tell a male frog from a female?
A: It's difficult to tell the difference. Generally, female frogs are slightly larger and their skin color is a little lighter than males.
Q: Why does the frog spend so much time in the water?
A: Frogs are amphibious creatures. They spend part of their time in the water absorbing moisture through their skin, and part of the time on dry land feeding or resting. Leopard frogs often sit in the water for long periods of time.
Q: What's so special about captive-bred tadpoles?
A: Captive-bred tadpoles are disease-free and as adult frogs, tend to be smaller and less excitable than their counterparts in the wild. Breeding our own tadpoles means we don't remove wild tadpoles from their natural habitats and upset the ecological balance.

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Care & Maintenance:
Q: How important is it to follow the initial set up instructions when I receive my tadpoles?
A: It is very important to follow these instructions carefully. The tadpole(s) must be acclimated slowly to their new environment to lessen the shock. The water in which they have been traveling is acidic from the trip. Bottled spring water is alkaline. You must slowly blend the two to achieve the proper pH level. The same principle is true when cleaning the habitats. You need to leave some of the older acidic water to blend with the fresh alkaline water.
Q: Why must I use bottled spring water for my tadpoles?
A: Tap water contains chlorine and other chemicals that aren't suitable for the tadpoles. Distilled water has had all the salts removed, such as magnesium sulfate and potassium chloride. These salts help regulate the osmotic processes which are necessary to the tadpole's metabolism. Well water generally contains living organisms. Filtered water, such as that made through "reverse osmosis" or brands such as Brita©, perform an ion and carbon exchange that only removes contaminates such as chlorine.
Q: How often do I need to feed my tadpoles?
A: Feed your tadpoles one pellet per day. If they finish the first pellet quickly, you can feed them a second pellet.
Q: Waht temperature should my tadpole's water be?
A: Keep your tadpole's water betweek 76-80 degrees Fahrenheit at all times (even at night).
Q: How often should I change my tadpole's water?

A: Change about half of the water in your habitat once every 7-10 days. It is important to leave about half the water in the habitat to maintain the pH balance your tadpole is used to. This lessens the shock to your tadpole by maintaining the environment he is used to.

Make sure to leave you tadpole in the habitata while you clean it. You can use a turkey baster to suction out the waste which should not disturb your tadpole very much.

Q: My tadpole just developed arms and has stopped eating. Is something wrong with him?
A: If your tadpole's back legs and front arms have developed he has probably begun the process of absorbing his tail. During this time your tadpole will be getting nutrition through his tail and will eat very little food, if any.
Q: What do I feed my tadpoles when they turn into frogs ?
A: Frogs need to be fed live insects such as crickets, wingless fruit flies, and waxworms. Be sure to feed your frog the smallest insects you can find (no more than 1/2") when he first turns into a frog. Your newly developed frog will not be able to digest larger insects.

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Metamorphosis:
Q: How long will it take my leopard frog tadpole to complete its metamorphosis?
A: It usually takes about 90 days for a tadpole to change from embryo to froglet. The tadpole you receive will have been nurtured for about 60 to 75 days at the Frog Farm. That means you have about 15 to 30 days to watch your tadpole complete the amazing process of metamorphosis. However, each tadpole is unique and some tadpoles may take longer than others.

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General Surf Frogs Habitat Questions:
Q: How many tadpoles can I put in the Surf Schools?
A: The Surf Schools are designed to accommodate one tadpole each.
Q: When do I transfer my tadpole(s) to the Surf Frogs habitat?
A: Transfer when the tadpole's front legs are fully developed, its tail is beginning to shrink, and it is starting to come partially out of the water in the Surf School.

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General Planet Frog Habitat Questions:
Q: How many tadpoles can I put in the Planet Frog?
A: The Planet Frog is designed to accommodate two tadpoles.
Q: How high should the water level be?
A: The water level in your planet frog should be about 1/8" below the highest ledge.

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