Day 43
Fun Fact: I realized a few days ago that at the current rate of about 300 words/day, I'll have typed over 18,000 words by the end of day 60 for this project alone (keep in mind that, at the current rate of development for the smallest tadpoles, this series likely wont be ending until at least day 90 - making the total 27,000 words). Regardless of whether the Raising Tadpoles series ends at 60 or 90 or even 120 days, it will be firmly in the range for novella length by word count (9,000 to 40,000 words) and will dwarf any other writing project or series in sheer length. In fact, it already does, the longest project I completed prior to this was 6,000 words, though I have another that could surpass that one depended upon editing prior to completion. I may make an official final word count at the end out of curiosity.
As to why I decided to dedicate so much time and energy to this project in both writing and rearing the tadpoles themselves? I decided to raise these tadpoles after I began rough planning for my comprehensive African Clawed Frog care guide for some time. I hadn't necessarily counted on eggs appearing, my female hasn't laid eggs in two years, however, once the eggs were there, it just didn't feel right to get rid of them. Out of the 82 eggs that developed, I've yet to lose a single one so far.
I've had 16 years of experience in keeping them but have never actually raised tadpoles on my own until now. I'll fully admit to being apprehensive as the eggs began to develop, if I failed, there would be only one possible outcome - over 80 little lives would be lost. I'm sure some would guffaw at the notion and write them off as "just frogs" (as many sit at home with their furry friend who'll live half to one third as long.) But for me, I see 80 potential little ones who could be as much joy to someone's life as my frogs have in mine over the past 16 years.
