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Living Materials
Information
Dwarf African frog
(Hymenochirus
boulengeri)
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Materials |
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3
plastic holding pails (2 with lids) |
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1 bottle of tap water conditioner |
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2 aquarium dip nets |
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1 aquarium thermometer |
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1 plastic cup, 270
mL (9 oz) |
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Food |
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Elodea |
Procedure
Before the frogs arrive, fill 2 plastic holding pails about ¾ full of
water. Add a drop of the tap water
conditioner to each pail. Store the pails at room temperature, 22°
C (72° F), which is ideal for the frogs.
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Dwarf African frog |
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When the frogs arrive, open the box immediately. The frogs will be
in a plastic
bag inside the box. Open the top of the bag and allow the contents about 20 minutes to reach room temperature
before beginning the transfer. This will prevent injury to the frogs, which are especially sensitive to sudden temperature changes.
Note: If the weather is cold, the frogs may be moving slowly (or not
at all). Allow time for the frogs to warm up before assuming they are dead.
Use the aquarium thermometer to monitor the water temperature.
Elodea, a water plant, is shipped with the frogs. Put half the plants into each holding pail.
Now carefully pour all the frogs and the shipping water into the empty pail.
To help the frogs adjust to the pH in the holding pails, you need to gradually replace some of the shipping water with some water from the
pails. Scoop out a cupful of the shipping water and discard it. Replace it with a cupful of the
water from one of the holding pails. After 15 minutes or so, repeat the
procedure, wait 15 minutes, and repeat the procedure once again.
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| Netting
frogs |
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Then, with an aquarium net, transfer the frogs gently from the shipping water to the holding pails, placing half of the frogs into each pail (see the illustration). Always hold your hand over the netted frog
so it can't jump free. Discard the shipping water. Punch air holes in the pail lids and
place them over the holding pails.
Until you are ready to use the frogs, store the holding pails in a safe place
at room temperature, in indirect light, and out of the children's view.
Feed the frogs once each day by putting a pinch of brine shrimp flake food in each pail. Try to remove any uneaten food when possible.
If you must hold the frogs for more than a week before using them in Lesson 3, use a clean cup to scoop off ¼ of the water a couple of times during the week. Replace it with an equal amount of
room temperature conditioned water.
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