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I havent been on the site in awhile, ive been enjoying summer, but now, as its coming to an end, im facing a dilemma. As some of you know, i have an outdoor pond i put in this summer. Its mostly just has feeder goldfish that got pretty big, a crayfish, and some hyacinth. Also one of my tadpoles, is now a frog, im told he is a bullfrog, but right now hes no bigger than a quarter. From what im told, frogs hybernate underwater in mud. My pond is a preformed liner, so there is no mud. Would it be ok to bring the fish, frog, and hyacinth indoors for the winter and keep them in a 50 gallon rubbermaid container? Im pretty sure the fish would be fine, im worried about the frog, since it is kind of wild, will it screw it up if it comes inside instead of hybernating? Give me some feedback please, its getting kinda chilly in Michigan and before i know it ill have to move them inside.

The thing about frogs hibernation in the mud is a myth. If they buried themselves in mud they would actually suffocate. They do like a muddy/leafy surface to lay on while hibernating. A good way to provide this would be to not clean out the bottom of you pond and let the "gunk" accumulate. Or you could maybe throw some dirt in there, enough to cover the bottom, then clean it out in the spring. Is your pond deep enough for hibernation?

I would say don't bring the frog inside. American Bullfrogs are not recommended to be kept as pets. They need HUGE enclosures and have very specific needs. Putting him/her in a 50g with fish and a crayfish is not a good idea. I say just let nature take it's course.

My pond is probably only about 2 feet deep at most, and i havent cleaned it out, all that stringy hairy looking algea is all over it, i plan on putting him back out in the spring, i just dont want him to die, and like i said if you held a quarter over him you would be able to see him from the top, he is quite small. Right now, he sits on top of the creeping jenny, and sits all day, he only jumps in the water if someone comes near the pond. Im not sure if the crayfish is still alive, doe they shed their claws, yesterday, i was pulling some leaves out of the bottom, and i found a claw with like half the arm attatched, is it dead or do they shed them?

Would it be possible to make a ledge on the pond or a box that you can fill with mud and leaves and things? This would give the frog somewhere to stay during the winter and you wouldn't have to bring him inside. I think he would be too stressed out from being inside. It sounds like he doesn't like being around people, so the noises of the house would probably scare him. Also, if the frog is native to the area, then his instincts will keep him alive during the winter. I would do what I could for him outside, but I wouldn't bring him indoors.

i could probably fashion a box, but do i put it underwater or above, plus i know the pond will freeze in the winter, probably a few inches down.

Perhaps I should clarify... they hibernate IN the water but they like a muddy/leafy area at the bottom of a pond. They don't totally bury themselves in the mud/leaves but they use it like a bed of sorts. I don't think 2 feet deep will cut it though, but I'm not sure. Where do you live and how cold does it get?

At any rate, I think that the frog will be OK on his own if you just let him figure things out.

I live in Michigan, and if its 32 degrees in the winter, we open our jackets and enjoy it!!! Last winter it was not uncommon for 8-15 degrees days!

My first pond was only 200 gal. I put a bunch of tadpoles in there Anyway, I put a big plant pot on the bottom in the winter filled with aqua soil for them to hibernate. Now I have 1,000 gal pond and I do the same thing. It is loaded with bull frogs and they lay eggs every Spring. I have a few big pots filled with the aqua soil....bought in Home depot. If you can't find it just fill the pot with leaf litter and put some small stones on top of it. They usually hibernat in the pots.