Our Tadpoles :-)

Pebbles82 · 06-10-2018, 01:23 AM

We recently caught some tadpoles in local river. They were in a bucket at first, with a few rocks from the river where we found them - then moved to a lock and lock box - which was a bit big. So I bought a little plastic fish tank and set it up yesterday

The tadpoles seem really happy in the little tank and are doing more. Just goes to show enrichment helps all little critters! In the bucket and box they just sort of sat there. Since being in the little tank they are having great fun. They really like the gravel and lie on it or occasionally stick their heads in it and kind of "dig" a bit. They are swimming around a lot more and doing acrobatics. And one of them seems to like to suction him (?) self to the fake rock with the holes on and hang off it.

It is a very long time since I had any tadpoles (as a child) and didn't have much success then. I have been feeding them small bits of boiled lettuce or spinach but read that they become carnivorous when they start to grow legs and can eat each other so that is the time to introduce additional food. I bought some Daphnia (mosquito eggs?) and they seem to like eating that. And some second stage tadpole food. Plus a weed and some grass with roots on for them to nibble at, which I change every few days.

It'll be nice to see them evolve into frogs

I think stepson will enjoy that in the moments he is not being tweeny

I think one has little legs forming already hence the added food. We've had them about 3 or 4 weeks and they were asolutely tiny at first. There are five of them so I'll keep checking there are still five!

Two of the river stones are still in there, making a step up to the fake rock - apparently they need to be able to sit on a rock and get out of the water as they start developing into frogs to breathe.

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Coco61 · 06-10-2018, 05:09 AM

Fascinating. Tadpoles takes me back to childhood too though none of us understood how to care for them properly. It should be a good nature project for stepson with visible progress each time he sees them.

Drago · 06-10-2018, 07:35 AM

How lovely Serendipity! Did you get my recommendations on what to feed them in the photo month thread? If so, let me add one more item you can offer them: lettuce. As they primarily feed on decaying plant and animal matter, a small piece of lettuce in the bottom often serves them well

Just be sure you’re monitoring water quality. Luckily, tadpoles aren’t too picky when it comes to water chemistry, but it pays to keep the water they’re kept in, similar to where they came from. This can be achieved by buying some test strips, and testing both the water in the pond/river/lake they are from, and comparing it to the water they’re in. Having owned several varieties of wild fish, it pays off to do this

Just a note- daphnia is another term for a microorganism known as a “water flea”. They are actually tiny crustaceans! I feed them to my bettas as they help condition them for breeding quite well!

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daphnia

Update this thread so we can watch them grow!

Pebbles82 · 06-10-2018, 08:19 AM

Thank you Drago �� Yes I saw your recommendations thank you and had also googled so been giving them softened boiled lettuce as well and part changing the water once a week. They were originally in river water but our water is ok as it’s filtered water from a spring. I took the cheats way and bought all in one tadpole food that contains algae and the daphnia �� Funny I thought they looked more like little crustaceans than eggs. Thank you for letting me know it’s water fleas and not mosquitos - in my ignorance I thought they were kind of the same. Anyway the taddies are keen on the daphnia and have eaten it. They are of a size now I can just see their little mouths.

Drago · 06-10-2018, 08:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Serendipity7000

Thank you Drago �� Yes I saw your recommendations thank you and had also googled so been giving them softened boiled lettuce as well and part changing the water once a week. They were originally in river water but our water is ok as it’s filtered water from a spring. I took the cheats way and bought all in one tadpole food that contains algae and the daphnia �� Funny I thought they looked more like little crustaceans than eggs. Thank you for letting me know it’s water fleas and not mosquitos - in my ignorance I thought they were kind of the same. Anyway the taddies are keen on the daphnia and have eaten it. They are of a size now I can just see their little mouths.

They are so small, it isn’t surprising you thought so lol! Lovely to see hear they’re settling in well. The tadpole food will keep them nice and happy. It’s been years since I’ve grown some tadpoles. I should grow more some time, I quite enjoyed it the times I did

dreamtree1234 · 06-10-2018, 09:32 AM

I am so happy that your tadpoles are thriving in their fish tank. I'm sure it will give your stepson lots of pleasure watching them as they change into frogs. My family and I did that when I was very young, and I remember it being lots of fun and quite a wonderful learning experience as well. I hope that they continue to do well. I look forward to checking out all of your updates.

Pebbles82 · 06-10-2018, 09:35 AM

Yes that was the idea for stepson but I absolutely love our little taddies! I keep watching them for ages. Three of them were all lined up hanging off a rock earlier

dreamtree1234 · 06-10-2018, 09:40 AM

Do you have names for them?

Pebbles82 · 06-10-2018, 10:30 AM

Ooh good idea! Not sure I could tell them apart though - although one is slightly bigger. I shall ask Stepson about naming.

Josie · 06-10-2018, 02:37 PM

Your Tadpoles are so fascinating, Serendipity, look forward to hearing more about them