How Long Does It Take For Frog Eggs To Hatch – (Different Species!)

Frogs are among the largest populations of amphibians in the world owing to their high reproduction rate. A frog can lay up to 30,000 eggs once or twice a year, depending on the prevailing conditions.

So, how long does it take for frog eggs to hatch? Frog eggs take between one day (24 hours) to 45 days to hatch from the day they are laid. The incubation period differs from one species to another. Their eggs hatch and develop faster in a warm climate with high humidity and a neutral water pH.

In this article, we shall discuss the various frog species and how it takes for their eggs to hatch on different grounds. In addition, we shall also review the factors that affect the incubation period for frog eggs.

How Long Does It Take For Frog Eggs To Hatch?

Frog eggs may take hours, days, or even months to hatch, depending on their species and the prevailing conditions in the breeding grounds. However, on average, it takes between 24 hours and 45 days for frog eggs to hatch.

Northern Sheep Frog eggs have the shortest incubation period and take between 12 and 24 hours to hatch. The Northern Red-legged frog and coastal-tailed frog eggs take up to 45 days to hatch.

With over 6500 frog species worldwide, we shall cover the most common frog species that hatch on trees or land and those that hatch in water.

How Long Does It Take For Frog Eggs To Hatch In Water?

Below is a table for frog species that lay eggs in water, their scientific names, and the duration their eggs take to hatch.

Frog Species	Scientific Name	The Duration Eggs Take To Hatch (Days)
American bullfrog	Lithobates catesbeianus	3 – 5
Green frog	Rana clamitans	3 – 7
Wood frog	Lithobates sylvaticus	9 – 30
Mink frog	Lithobates septentrionalis	5 – 14
Foothill yellow-legged frog	Rana boylii	5 – 37
Tomato frog	Dyscophus	1 – 2
Leopard Frog	Lithobates pipiens	7 – 17
Pig Frog	Rana grylio	2 – 3
Crawfish frog	Lithobates areolatus	3 – 12
Northern green frog	Lithobates clamitans melanota	3 – 5
Bronze frog	Lithobates clamitans clamitans	3 – 7
African bullfrog	Pyxicephalus adspersus	1 – 2
Pacman frog	Ceratophrys	2 – 3
River frog	Rana heckscheri	10 – 15
Coastal tailed frog	Ascaphus truei	28 – 45
Carpenter frog	Rana virgatipes	5 – 10
California red-legged frog	Rana draytonii	6 – 14
Tarahumara frog	Rana tarahumarae	6 – 12
Cascades frog	Rana cascadae	8 – 20
Columbia spotted frog	Rana luteiventris	5 – 21
Oregon spotted frog	Rana pretiosa	18 – 30
African clawed frog	Xenopus laevis	2 – 7
African dwarf frog	Hymenochirus	2 – 7
Gopher frog	Lithobates capito	4 – 5
Pickerel Frog	Lithobates palustris	10 – 21
European common frog	Rana temporaria	14 – 28
Northern red-legged frog	Rana aurora	21 – 45
Florida bog frog	Lithobates okaloosae	3 – 10
Northern sheep frog	Hypopachus variolosus	12 – 24 hours
Marsh frog	Pelophylax ridibundus	5 – 10

How Long Does It Take For Frog Eggs To Hatch On Land?

Below is a table for the common frog species that lay eggs on land and trees, their scientific names, and the duration their eggs take to hatch.

Frog Species	Scientific Name	The Duration Eggs Take To Hatch (Days)
American green tree frog	Hyla cinerea	4 – 14
Poison dart frog	Dendrobatidae	10 – 18
Amazon milk frog	Trachycephalus resinifictrix	1 – 2
European tree frog	Hyla arborea	10 – 14
Boreal chorus frog	Pseudacris maculata	10 – 18
Southern cricket Frog	Acris gryllus	4 – 6
Gray foam-nest tree frog	Chiromantis xerampelina	4 – 6
Mountain chorus frog	Pseudacris brachyphona	6 – 10
Gray tree frog	Hyla versicolor	3 – 7
New Jersey chorus frog	Pseudacris kalmi	1 – 2
Blanchard’s cricket frog	Acris blanchardi	6 – 21
Sierran tree frog	Pseudacris sierra	10 – 14
Cope’s gray tree frog	Hyla chrysoscelis	3 – 7
Spring peeper	Pseudacris crucifer	4 – 15
Cuban tree frog	Osteopilus septentrionalis	1 – 2
Pacific tree frog	Pseudacris regilla	14 – 35
Glass frog	Centrolenidae	9 – 30
Red-eyed tree frog	Agalychnis callidryas	4 – 8
Common Mexican tree frog	Smilisca baudinii	1 – 2
Pine woods tree frog	Hyla femoralis	1 – 3
Barking tree frog	Hyla gratiosa	5 – 10
Squirrel tree frog	Hyla squirella	1 – 2
Australian green tree frog	Litoria caerulea	1 – 2
Northern cricket frog	Acris crepitans	4 – 6
Pine Barrens tree frog	Dryophytes andersonii	3 – 4
Bird-voiced tree frog	Hyla avivoca	3 – 4
Little grass frog	Pseudacris ocularis	1 – 2
Mediterranean tree frog	Hyla meridionalis	8 – 10
Italian tree frog	Hyla intermedia	10 – 14
Iberian tree frog	Hyla molleri	8 – 15

The data above shows that most of the frog’s eggs take between 1 – 10 days to hatch, depending on the prevailing conditions.

Factors That Affect The Frogs Eggs’ Hatching And Development Duration

The duration for hatching and development of frogs’ eggs may be affected by some external conditions in the breeding grounds.

Frogs lay their eggs in or near water bodies, and a few on land. It’s, therefore, essential to check on the conditions of their breeding grounds.

Water Depth

Frogs prefer shallow water bodies for laying their eggs since shallow water is warmer than deep water. They are seen laying eggs on the water shores, attaching them to grass and river banks.

Deep water is colder since the sun’s radiation cannot penetrate easily to provide the optimal temperature for an egg to hatch. Therefore, eggs in shallow water hatch and develop faster than in deep cold waters.

Water pH Level

Frog eggs thrive well in a neutral pH. Too much acidity or alkalinity undermines the hatching and development of the eggs.

Acidic water kills the embryos and prevents the expansion of perivitelline membranes, causing the eggs to die. Extreme pH has little oxygen, affecting the eggs’ hatching.

Humidity

Frog eggs hatch faster in humid environments. This is not a challenge since most frogs lay their eggs in water.

However, eggs laid on land and tree branches and leaves take longer to hatch and develop due to insufficient moisture and humidity.

The mesmerizing journey of a frog, from its early stages as an egg to its transformation into a full-fledged amphibian, evokes wonder and curiosity. Once they’ve fully transitioned, ensuring they lead a healthy and comfortable life becomes crucial. To assist enthusiasts in providing the best environment for their aquatic companions, our guide on frog care is a treasure trove of essential information. Furthermore, if you’re curious about specific species and their growth patterns, you might find our article on how big African dwarf frogs get particularly enlightening. It offers an insight into the size and development of this popular pet frog.

FAQs

Read the questions below related to the period frog eggs take to hatch.

Conclusion

Frogs mate and lay their eggs in water and a few on land during the warm spring season. The eggs take an average of 30 days to hatch and develop into tadpoles. Some species’ eggs may hatch within 24 hours, while others will hatch up to 6 weeks.

The period the eggs take to hatch varies from one species to another, as well as the weather and the prevailing conditions in the breeding grounds. For faster hatching, ensure the breeding areas are warm and humid and use shallow water.