Evening star., 1948-12-04
This and That
BIZ Charles E. Trdce1Dell
QUE STREET.

QUE STREET.
Dear Sir:
will you kindly tell me how I may keep
small frogs over the winter?
Il raised four from tadpoles this summer In
my |small gaxd&n pool and would like to keep
them Throughout the winter.
They are sturdy and amusing little creatures
and add interest and amusement to their sur
roundings. Throughout the summer l added
to their diet big juicy worms, which they de-
voured with alacrity.
Thank you so very much for all the valuable
information you supply us. Your daily column
Is great joy.
Gratefully yours, H. M. B."
Green frogs and bullfrogs the most usual
sorts, remain tadpoes for two years.
Toad tadpoles change in two or three
months.
The chances, therefore. are that our CORE
spondent has toads, not frogs.
Either. however, gets the same sort of winter
treatment.
In the first place, the keeper must have
terrarium.
This is combined wet and dry aquarium,
in a way of speaking; that is, there must be
a box for the creature to live in and this must
be of glass to enable it to be watched.
There also must be a lid, which is best made
of glass
This cover lid should be heavy, so that it
front corners about one-quarter inch.
One end of the tank should be made OF
earth and sand, about or inches thick COW
cred with moss, If possible, with some places
left bare.
The other end should be a pool of water
about 3 or inches deep. Since this pool must
be cleaned three times a week. on the average,
it should be so placed as to be reached easily.
One way is to use regular concrete, and make
the pool separated in this way from the land
portion. Another. and this perhaps is best is
to use q large bowl, which may be set in
earth or sand, and so easily be lifted out to
be cleaned.
In this land -and-water tank or terrarium,
properly, the creatures may live with every
chance of coming through the winter.
They will not need to be kept as warm as
tropical fishes.
The food consists of earthworms, when avail
able land today supplies can be purchased from
"earthworm farmsD, meal worms (also to be
purchased or may be grown in old -FOUR,
flies, beetles, moths, bugs of all sorts, cater
pillars, etc.
Scraps of raw meat may be pressed around
a piece OF string and dangled up and down in
front of the frog or toad.
Frogs like water, OF course, but toads must
have it when young.
You see they drink through their skins.
Both frogs and toads are nearer the fishes
than any other creatures, closer than they are
to nevis and salamanderS.
Tadpoles, both of frogs and toads, have gills,
Just like the fishes In their early stages they
have gills and tails, and upper and lower fin
like membranes.
Toads should not be feared. That is just old
country superstition, although some of them
do indeed, secrete an acrid substance from
their warty skins after they get older.
Toads spawn in pools and puddles in the
spring and the eggs are in chainlike strings
whereas the frog eggs are laid in irregular
masses Toad eggs are smaller and usually
laid later in the season.
Care must be taken in the terrarum not to
let the inmates hop out on the floor, as they
may easily become lost on the background OF
rugs and carpets, and trodden on, to the sorrow
of all concerned
Therefore. the cover lid must be kept on
tight. Wire screening may be substituted for
a glass lid. If desired.
Some sunshine should be accorded the crea-
lures, but not too much. They must have as
much live food as possible. Meal worms may
be purchased by the thousand at pet stores.
Earthworms are best, however and inquiry
should be made of earthworm FARMS of which
one is in nearby Arlington, Va
The role of the earthworm in agriculture is
becoming increasingly known. 1t is good
thing that this humble creature is being culti-
vated, even if it ends up as food for other
creatures.