How to Catch Tadpoles in a Small Pond
Tadpoles are popular with children because they can be pets, or used in experiments to observe their metamorphosis into frogs. Tadpoles are often found in ponds in the spring, but catching them can be quite a difficult task because they are small and slippery. Keeping them alive until you get them home can be even harder. There are a few things you can do, however, to make catching tadpoles in small ponds easier.
Other People Are Reading
Instructions
-
Catching Tadpoles
-
1
Using the cup, fill the cooler with about 3 inches of water from the pond. The cooler should be big enough to carry all the tadpoles you're planning on catching. In general, tadpoles are very small, so a portable cooler with a handle should work just fine.
-
2
Connect one end of the rubber tube to the output of the air pump (where the air is expelled). A standard air pump can oxygenate about 10 gallons of water, so a basic one should be acceptable.
-
-
3
Connect the other end of the tube to the air stone and place the stone in the cooler water. An air stone is a porous stone, usually blue or green, that creates bubbles in water when air is pushed through it, oxygenating the water.
-
4
Turn on the pump. It should begin releasing air bubbles.
-
5
Using the net, scoop up pond water from near the shore or fronds or places where algae is plentiful.
-
6
Move the net onto the shore and lean down to carefully pick out any tadpoles, making sure to place them quickly into the cooler.
-
7
Close the lid on the cooler, as the darkness will serve to calm to the tadpoles, preventing stress. The rubber tubing may give a little as closing the lid will squeeze it, but sufficient air will still be provided to the tadpoles.
-
1
Tips & Warnings
Once tadpoles are in the cooler, move them to their new home as quickly as possible.
