Day 9
I'm now referring to the malformed tadpole as squiggly since 'malformed tadpole' is a bit long, still somehow alive, despite literally being in the shape of the letter 'U' and only being able to swim in seemingly random circles. I've considered euthansia but I'm more comfortable with having nature take it's course for the time being. If it somehow makes it to the froglet stage, then I'll reevaluate the situation.
Apparently, I don't see as well as I think because yesterday I went to dump the water I was changing out of the tank and looked down only to realize there was a tadpole was in waste water! Had I not looked one more time before dumping the water, the poor thing would have been flushed. Thankfully, they're now back in the tank and suffered no ill effects.
Also put in my air conditioner to keep the room in the 70s (21 - 26 C), with the recent weather, the room's been spiking into the 80s (F). For adult African Clawed Frogs, the ideal range is 68 - 72 (20 - 22 C). I try to keep the temperature between 65 - 78 (18 - 26 C) year-round for them. Too hot and you risk creating the right conditions for a bacterial bloom; too cold and you risk depressing their immune systems. Tadpole thankfully prefer slightly higher temperatures, temporarily popping into the low 80s shouldn't have any long term ill effects.