Tadpoles!

Question
Hi. Today, while in a pet store(I was there to buy food for my guinea pigs), I passed by the "aquatic" department, as usual. However, today, there were five tadpoles in a tank. I saw those tadpoles who were motionless, and wondered what it would be like to own a tadpole. Then I remembered how much I wanted a frog as a kid (I'm 14 right now.). So, I asked an employee for a tadpole. While he was preparing the tadpole for me(goodness, those motionless things were FAST when the net came!), he told me a couple things, like "...these tadpoles will most likely be bullfrogs..." and "...expect about eight MONTHS for it to be a frog..." etc. So in short, I will get the tadpole a small multi purpose plastic tank tommorow. Right now, he is in a good big bowl.

Okay, so here are my questions.

1. Is there a way to tell what breed the future frog is by looking at the tadpole?

2. I fed him a couple of tadpole pellets. They just sunk to the bottom of the bowl, and about two hours later, I checked, but the food was still there. Am I feeding him wrong? Do I need to feed him something else? Is he sick? Why isn't he eating it? Is the food supposed to float on the water?

3. If I get him a decent tank, why do I need to get him a lamp? Is it necessary?

4. Are mature frogs safe to handle?

5. Is filtered water "okay" for tadpoles to be in?

6. I was on the internet researching African Bullfrogs, and I read somewhere that I need a POND to raise him. Oh dear. Is that so?

7. Will just an average reptile tank fit a bullfrog?

8. Is the bullfrog a specie that is able to be "handled?" I mean like held in the hand for 10 minutes, put on the floor, etc.

9. Will I get warts if I touch a bullfrog?

10. If I am to prepare a new tank for him (when he is mature), and he is a bullfrog, I understand that I need to make a decent water source (a mini lake that isn't too deep). How do I make a land part then? I mean, if I make a hill of grave/soil/etc, and I pour water next to it, won't the whole hill collapse into the water, and produce a swamp?

11. For the "land area" of a future tank, what material can I use? Does it have to be soil? Can it be a re-useable source, such as gravel?

12. I'm sorry for asking so much questions, but can you roughly describe to me how to care for a tadpole?

Thank you so much for being willing to answer these questions.

Answer
Dear Raymod,
thank you for your question.
1. It's difficult. With some species, it can be done, but a lot of tadpoles look very much alike.
2. try different foods, like dried brine shrimp, dried stinging nettles or dandelion or chickweed (the latter can be both dry and fresh), fish flakes or crushed silkworms. Different types of tadpoles eat different food, but it sounds like yours prefers floating food.
3. You will need a lamp or a heat mat to heat the tank, but since the majority of frogs are nocturnal, you won't need UV lighting. Mount the heat meat at the back or sides of the tank and not under it, frogs dig down to keep cool.
4/8/9. Frogs shouldn't be handled. It's stress for them, they may overheat and oils fom your skin can damage theirs, their skin is extremely sensitive. Bullfrogs are toxic and I wouldn't touch one with my bare hands. No frog or toad can give you warts, that's a myth, but you may get an allergic rfeations like a rash.
5. Yes, you just need to change the water frequently because the food and the tadpole's droppings will spoil it.
6/7. A good-sized tank with a big water part (deep enough to cover half the frog) is enough. I recommend getting a big tank, a long or breeder 40 gallon tank is a good size, but of course bigger is even better.
10/11. You can glue in a sheet of plexi glass or real glass with aquarium silicone to make a border between land wand water. The water part should have some gravel at the bottom to give the frog some grip and big stones or roots at the border to make it easy for the frog to climb out. For the land part, you can use coconut fibre substrate (Eco Earth or Forest Bedding). It's digestible, the frog can dig down in it and it keeps moisture very well.
12. Here's a very good website that has info on tadpole care and frog care in general:
http://www.allaboutfrogs.org/info/tadpoles/index.html

I hope I was of some help to you
Jennifer