Its oh so quiet Shh Shh

[guidofatherof5]

Very nice, Rhea.
Thanks for posting.
Good to see you Mikhaila.

[RedSidedSPR]

Nevermind. It's like talking to walls.

Freakin' brick walls. Shame too, cause now I don't know who to believe. I was on your side, Richard.

Nice video, Rhea. Enjoyed it.

[ConcinnusMan]

If you really want to make a decision as to what you should do just ask yourself if you would be comfortable living in a closet.

Richard, I think you're saying they're not cannibals

No, that's not what I'm saying. I'm saying they don't eat meat period. It's only when that flesh becomes detritus will they eat it. Doesn't really matter if it's their own kind or not.

[RedSidedSPR]

Totally believe you. But I kinda believe everybody else too

[ConcinnusMan]

It's not about beliefs. One can believe or perceive something that is not fact. While it may appear that the tadpoles are eating flesh, they are not. They only eat particles being shed from the carcass of dead animals by decomposition (detritus) and plant material.

[infernalis]

I will certainly be posting more pics on this subject, I only have a billion tadpoles a year I can photograph.. so next time I see them tearing one apart alive, I'll be sure to capture it.

then of course there will be rejoinder of some sort.

[RedSidedSPR]

It's not about beliefs. One can believe or perceive something that is not fact. While it may appear that the tadpoles are eating flesh, they are not. They only eat particles being shed from the carcass of dead animals by decomposition (detritus) and plant material.

And I believe you when you say that, whether it's true or not. Cause I have no other means of knowing... except that your explanation makes perfect sense to me. What do you want me to say? That I "agree" with you?

I will certainly be posting more pics on this subject, I only have a billion tadpoles a year I can photograph.. so next time I see them tearing one apart alive, I'll be sure to capture it.

then of course there will be rejoinder of some sort.

I'd like to see that proof. Not that I don't think you know what you're talking about. I kind of believe youtoo.... I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO THINK!

[ConcinnusMan]

I will certainly be posting more pics on this subject, I only have a billion tadpoles a year I can photograph.. so next time I see them tearing one apart alive, I'll be sure to capture it.

then of course there will be rejoinder of some sort.

We are talking about bullfrog tadpoles just be clear. Tearing anything apart is a neat trick being how they don't have the necessary equipment. That I would have to see. I have raised them and they couldn't even tear up a goldfish flake. They just sort of sucked at it until it falls apart into small enough pieces to swallow.

You guys know I just like to argue anyway even if I'm full of spit. Don't take it personally.

[Stefan-A]

No, that's not what I'm saying. I'm saying they don't eat meat period. It's only when that flesh becomes detritus will they eat it. Doesn't really matter if it's their own kind or not.

Are you just confusing predation with carnivory, is that it? Or have you misunderstood what detritus is?

Tadpoles do actively remove pieces from carcasses in order to consume them, some species are even known to actively take bites out of living members of their own and other species. They don't sit and wait for that carcass to turn into actual detritus before they dig in. Their mouths are more than capable of doing that job, by the way. Plant matter is tougher to deal with, than flesh, especially decomposing flesh.

Here are a few links worth reading. Found references to a lot more than this, but finding anything in a useful format was more difficult.

http://digital.library.okstate.edu/o...v46/p25_26.pdf
https://ojs.lib.byu.edu/ojs/index.ph...File/1282/1139
A comparison of cane toad and native tadpoles as predators of native anuran eggs, hatchlings and larvae « Feral.org.au
http://fwf.ag.utk.edu/mgray/wfs493/P...a_Tadpoles.pdf
JSTOR: An Error Occurred Setting Your User Cookie
http://strangeresourcemanagement.com...rEtAl.1999.pdf
http://fwf.ag.utk.edu/mgray/wfs493/Altig_Tadpoles.pdf
http://www.biosci.missouri.edu/semli...0Semlitsch.pdf
http://muhammadskhan.wildlifeofpakis...%20tadpole.pdf
http://www.mvences.de/p/p1/Vences_A64.pdf
http://www.biolbull.org/cgi/reprint/218/2/160.pdf


Having just now read your latest post before posting this, there are a few links specifically mentioning bullfrog tadpoles as predators.

[ConcinnusMan]

I've personally never observed bullfrog tadpoles specifically, prey on anything. When I say detritus I mean "In biology, detritus is non-living particulate organic material (as opposed to dissolved organic material). It typically includes the bodies or fragments of dead organisms as well as fecal material"

"particulate" being the key word here. You'll typically see them feeding on bodies only after they begin to decompose and shed particles. You guys talk like they're gnawing off chunks and even preying on live items. And when I say plant material, I am also referring to particulates and single celled plants. You won't see a bullfrog tadpole take a bite out of anything. Like I said, I've raised them many times and they just aren't capable of it. They really have to work at it to even break up a goldfish food flake. They never tried preying on each other and wouldn't even touch the bodies of their dead until they began to rot and fall apart.