How to Raise a Tadpole

Raising a tadpole to a frog is great lesson in metamorphosis. Although this is not a task to be taken lightly, since it requires maintaining a home for the tadpoles and caring for them frequently, it can be a very rewarding experience.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Things You’ll Need:

• Garden pond, child’s swimming pool or large container
• Small rocks or gravel
• Water
• Aquatic plants
• Sticks and large rock
• Tadpole(s)
• Lettuce or spinach
• Storage bags
• Small crickets and fruit flies

Preparing the Environment

1. Set aside an outdoor area with partial sun and partial shade for your tadpoles to be raised.
2. Use a garden pond, a child’s swimming pool or a large container for your tadpoles’ future home.
3. Lay a layer of small rocks or gravel along the bottom of the container.
4. Fill 2 to 3 inches of water in the container.
5. Allow water to sit in the sun for 5 to 7 days. This allows the chlorine to evaporate out and adjusts the temperature of the water to the air.
6. Situate a few aquatic plants in your container to help oxygenate the water.
7. Position sticks and a large rock in the container so that after the metamorphosis, the adult frog will have a way of getting out of the water.

Raising a Tadpole

8. Purchase the tadpole(s) from a reputable, local pet store. This will guarantee that the species of frog is native to your area and can be legally owned in your state.
9. Break lettuce or spinach into tiny pieces and freeze in storage bags.
10. Thaw small amounts of lettuce or spinach for each feeding. The freezing and thawing process makes the food mushier but allows it to keep all of its nutrients.
11. Feed tadpoles small amounts of lettuce or spinach twice daily.
12. Watch the tadpoles regularly to see signs of the metamorphosis to frog. These will include seeing back legs and then front legs grow, followed by seeing the tail begin to disappear.
13. Switch to feeding the tadpole small crickets and fruit flies when you notice that it is breathing out of the water and beginning to climb on the sticks and rock out of the water. The metamorphosis can take from 8 weeks to over a year, depending on the species of tadpole you are raising.

Tips & Warnings

• Find specific information about the species of tadpole you are raising.
• Do not handle tadpoles or frogs. Their skin is very sensitive.
• Wash and rinse your hands very well before and after working with the tadpoles’ food and home.
• Remember, tadpoles grow into frogs, and you must plan on keeping and caring for the adult frogs.
• Before adding new water to the container, be sure to allow it to sit out in the sun for 5 to 7 days.