How to Take Care of Tadpoles

When my kids discovered some tadpoles thriving on our pool cover and pleaded with me to keep just a few, my first instinct was to tell them no. After giving it a little thought, however, I realized that the metamorphosis from tadpole to frog would be amazing for them to see up close. In other words, a perfect educational opportunity! I did a little research on the topic and learned a few interesting things about tadpole care that I'm happy to share with you, should you ever find yourself in this position!

Things You'll Need

• tadpoles
• an appropriate container
• dechlorinated water
• food (lettuce or spinach initially, then small crickets, fruit flies, bloodworms later)
• gravel, small rocks
• a source of land for when they get their legs (such as a partially submerged rock)

Instructions

1. Container. It is necessary to have an appropriate container for your tadpoles. Some examples would be an aquarium, fish bowl, wading pool, or plastic tub. You may line the bottom with gravel or small rocks, and the water level should be fairly low. Natural conditions can be mimicked by keeping them outdoors. It is important though, to make sure that approximately 3/4 of the container is shaded. They need some sunlight, but too much could raise the water temperature and harm the tadpoles.

2. Water. One must be very careful with the water for tadpoles. It should be both fresh and dechlorinated. Tap water can be dechlorinated by the addition of dechlorinating drops, available at pet shops, or by leaving a container of water out in the sunlight for 5 to 7 days, which allows the chlorine to dissipate. Chlorine, even in small amounts, is harmful to tadpoles. Having extra dechlorinated water on hand is a good idea for water changes which are necessary to maintain water quality. You can do a partial water change by scooping out about 1/3 of the old water, and replacing it with fresh water. Smaller containers will need more frequent water changes than larger ones. Use your best judgment and develop a water changing schedule.

3. Feeding. Most tadpoles are herbivorous and love lettuce and spinach! If you freeze it first, it will soften as it thaws, making it easier for them to eat. They can be fed small amounts twice a day. Over feeding will only pollute the water, and you'll just need to change it more often.

4. Metamorphosis. The amount of time it takes for a tadpole to transform into a frog or toad varies from species to species. It could be a few weeks or a few months! Therefore, it is always a good idea to try and identify which species you've got (the US Geological Survey site has a tadpole identification guide). When you notice that your tadpole is developing its back legs, it is time to lower the water level even further, and be sure to provide easy access to land. This may be done by adding sloping rocks and or sticks large and stable enough for them to climb on. If their lungs are fully developed and they can not get out of the water, they may drown. In addition, their digestive tracts are now ready for a carnivorous diet, and you can begin to feed them tiny insects such as fruit flies, aphids, small crickets, or bloodworms (available at pet shops).

5. Once metamorphosis is complete, you may consider releasing your frogs/toads into the wild. Only do this if the species is native to the area and it is not illegal. Releasing them as close as possible to the area from which they were found will help to increase their chance of survival.

Tips & Warnings

• In many locations it is illegal to collect tadpoles from the wild. Please check with your local government or wildlife agency before doing so.

• Careful consideration of your ability to care for these creatures should be taken into account beforehand. They are relatively low maintenance, but there is some work involved.

• It is highly recommended that you try to determine what species of tadpole/frog/toad you've got. You should also to try and learn as much as you can about that species and the stages of metamorphosis. The US Geological Survey site has a useful guide to tadpole identification.

Resources

• US Geological Survey
• How to Raise Tadpoles
• Raising Tadpoles