
Below is a list of foods which you can feed your tadpoles:
- Algae Wafers
- Aphids
- Bloodworms
- Boiled Eggs
- Crickets
- Fish Food Flakes
- Fish Food Pellets
- Frozen Foods
- Fruit
- Fruit Flies
- Green Vegetables
- Homemade Fish Food
- Insect Larvae
- Meal Worms
- Small Fish
What kind of fish will eat tadpoles?
What Will Eat Tadpoles In A Pond? Taddypoles are eaten by many species of predatory fish, including bass, trout, sunfish, and egrets and kingfishers, as well as many types of birds. Tadpoles are also eaten by many water insects, which are young larvae.
What kind of fish food can you feed tadpoles?
- Fish food – You can sprinkle a small amount of fish flakes (preferable to pellets) to go with vegetables during each feeding time. ...
- Small mealworms – This can be provided in live form and should be purchased from a reputable breeder or pet shop. ...
- Egg yolk – Rich in protein and calcium, egg yolk can be provided in hard-boiled form. ...
What foods do tadpoles eat?
What Do Tadpoles Eat?
- Aquatic Plants and Algae. Aquatic plants are considered as the primary meal of the Tadpoles, but you need to be selective at the time of choosing the aquatic plants.
- Leafy Vegetables. ...
- Fruits and Vegetables. ...
- Various Herbivorous Meals. ...
- Calcium Elements. ...
- Fish Flakes. ...
- Omnivorous Meals. ...
- High Protein Foods. ...
What do tadpoles eat in the wild and as pets?
What Do Tadpoles Eat?
- Wild Tadpoles. Wild tadpoles will eat whatever is available. ...
- Pond Species. The diet of a pond species will not be much different from tadpoles born in other water sources, such as the shallow ends of streams or creeks with ...
- Pet Tadpoles. ...
- Hatchlings. ...

What else do tadpoles eat?
What Do Tadpoles Like to Eat?Algae.Aquatic Plants.Vegetables.Larvae.Worms.Insects.Other tadpoles.Carrion.More items...•
How do you keep a pet tadpole?
0:481:39How to Take Care of Tadpoles - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipWhen you get home play some small rocks on the bottom of the aquarium. Step 3 feed the tadpolesMoreWhen you get home play some small rocks on the bottom of the aquarium. Step 3 feed the tadpoles pieces of boiled lettuce or cabbage to supplement the algae they feed on remove. Any leftover lettuce.
Can I feed tadpoles fish food?
As tadpoles get bigger they will eat anything they can! You can feed them with flakes of fish fry food from a pet shop.
What do you feed a tadpole that just turned into a frog?
Make sure the lettuce is soft and cut up into tiny pieces so the tadpoles can eat it. You can also give your tadpoles a couple pinches of fish flakes per week, but don't feed them too much or they could get sick. Once your tadpoles sprout arms, stop feeding them until they're finished transforming into frogs.
How long can tadpoles live without food?
Tadpoles Can Only Survive 1 to 2 Days Without Food Tadpoles cannot survive long without food, as they need a lot of nourishment during this life cycle stage. Tadpoles need far more energy than adult frogs since their bodies are still undergoing metamorphic changes, demanding more resources and food intake (CTNF).
Can tadpoles survive in tap water?
Don't use tap water because it contains chemicals that can harm tadpoles. Additionally, water from a natural water source generally contains mosquito larva which can serve as another food source for tadpoles.
Can you feed tadpoles lettuce?
Tadpoles will eat greens including lettuce (not cos or iceberg), broccoli, or baby spinach. It is best to rinse and freeze these before feeding. Be careful that the water does not become fouled from overfeeding, so only add food once the previous meal has vanished – usually twice daily is good.
Can you keep tadpoles as pets?
Tadpoles are very easy to raise: they do not require much space and they only eat very little food. This means that looking after tadpoles is really simple and cheap, and this is just one key reason why keeping them as pets is a great idea.
Can you feed tadpoles carrots?
That is carrot - the favorite vegetable of Bugs Bunny! Just like rabbits, tadpoles enjoy the orange treat. Carrots have a variety of vitamins in them, but they really shine in Vitamin A. That's important for eyesight - and tadpoles absolutely need excellent eyesight.
What do tadpoles need to survive?
What Do Tadpoles Need to Survive?Water. The one thing tadpoles need above all else is water. ... Food. Tadpoles are basically teenage frogs, which means they need to eat a lot. ... Warmth. In general, warmer water causes eggs to hatch sooner and tadpoles to develop into full-grown frogs faster. ... Raising Tadpoles at Home.
How do you keep tadpoles alive in a tank?
Take the spawn home in a plastic bag of pond water and float the whole thing in your tank. The tank water will be warmer than the pond and the eggs need to acclimatise gradually. They do not like sudden temperature changes. Keep the tank in a light place but out of direct sunlight.
Do tadpoles eat cucumber?
Cucumbers require a little more preparation than other food but will be readily accepted by your tadpoles! It is important to blanch them like any other fruit or vegetable, remove the seeds, and chop them into very small pieces that are easy to eat.
What do tadpoles need to survive?
What Do Tadpoles Need to Survive?Water. The one thing tadpoles need above all else is water. ... Food. Tadpoles are basically teenage frogs, which means they need to eat a lot. ... Warmth. In general, warmer water causes eggs to hatch sooner and tadpoles to develop into full-grown frogs faster. ... Raising Tadpoles at Home.
Can you keep tadpoles in a jar?
Short, wide plastic containers, trays, aquariums are suitable to house tadpoles and it is recommended to have soil on the bottom (about 15mm deep), water plants and protruding rocks to allow the developing frogs to emerge from the water.
Can you keep tadpoles in a plastic container?
Raising tadpoles requires research, commitment and preparation, but the payoff can be worth the effort. Find a suitable container. Containers should be plastic, glass or foam. They should be clean, and they should never have held any chemicals or cleaners.
How do you take care of a tadpole in a kiddie pool?
How to Get Rid of Tadpoles in Your Pool Without Killing ThemPrepare a Bucket of Water. Fill about one-half of a bucket with the swimming pool's water. ... Remove the Tadpoles With a Net. Catch the swimming pool's tadpoles with a net, and transfer them to the bucket containing swimming pool water. ... Release the Tadpoles Nearby.
What Tadpoles Eat
As a general rule, tadpoles are herbivores from 0 to 6 weeks and are omnivores after 6 weeks until they become froglets (or once they have legs). Wild tadpoles generally eat algae, moss, and phytoplankton, but they can eat boiled lettuce, spinach, and broccoli in captivity.
What Tadpoles Should Not Eat And Why
Tadpoles should not be fed bread, bread crumbs, strawberries, apples, bananas, tomatoes, iceberg lettuce, romaine lettuce, grass, processed foods, or canned vegetables due to the lack of nutrients, or high concentrations of preservatives, sugar, or salt.
How to Feed Tadpoles
Tadpole food should be prepared by breaking it down so they can easily ingest and digest the food. This is easily done by boiling or freezing the food prior to making it available to the tadpoles. The food should be slowly provided to them over a 30 minute period of time.
How Much Should You Feed Tadpoles
As a general rule, each captive tadpole should be fed ¼ teaspoon of food at the “young tadpole” stage, and ½ teaspoon of food once they have two or four legs 1x per day. Adjust how much food they need based on how many tadpoles you have.
Tadpole Feeding Schedule Example
Feed tadpoles a balanced diet over a 30 minute period containing a variety of vegetables and greens. Adapt their food intake based on their growth stage: 100 tadpoles aged 0 to 6 weeks generally eat ½ cup of food, and 100 tadpoles aged 6 weeks to the froglet stage eat 1 cup per day.
More About What Tadpoles Eat
This entire blog is dedicated to frogs and we have many fascinating articles about what they eat. Be sure to check them out by clicking on the links below:
Common Questions About What Tadpoles Eat
What do tadpoles eat? Tadpoles can eat algae, boiled broccoli, cucumber skins, lettuce, leeks, cabbage, watercress, spinach, kale, zucchini, duckweed, phytoplankton, detritus, frog eggs, fish eggs, tadpoles, dragonfly eggs, egg yolk, dragonfly larvae, mosquito larvae, redworms, aphids, and ants.
What to feed tadpoles?
You may occasionally feed your tadpoles with small pieces of banana, strawberry, apple, and green grapes to supplement their diet with vitamins. Do make sure that the fruits and vegetables you use were not treated with pesticides as even a small concentration of toxins can be detrimental to tadpole survival.
How long should I feed a tadpole?
Feeding sessions should ideally not last for more than 10 – 30 minutes, depending on the size of your tank and on how much time you can spare.
How long does it take for a tadpole to turn into an adult?
Given appropriate food, most species of tadpoles will turn into their adult forms in just 3-4 months! Reader favorites from Pond Informer. Report this Ad.
What size egg should I feed my tadpoles?
Try to acquire sizes that are manageable for tadpoles to eat. Those that measure around 1 – 3 cm would be best. Egg yolk – Rich in protein and calcium, egg yolk can be provided in hard-boiled form. Make sure not to drop too much at once as particles can cloud the water.
When to introduce tadpoles to egg yolk?
You can start to introduce your tadpoles to protein-rich foods, like egg yolk, once they have reached the later stage of growth (6 weeks and up). Smastronardo, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons. Once your tadpoles have reached the later stage of growth (6 weeks and up), they are ready to ease into a more protein-rich diet.
Do tadpoles eat frogs?
Tadpole s don’t eat the same food as frogs or toads and tend to have different preferences depending on their stage of growth. Upon hatching, tadpoles won’t readily consume any food. They can live off of the remaining yolk for the first week of their lives.
Can you boil vegetables before putting them in a tadpole tank?
Pro-tip: to aid in digestion, you can boil some of the vegetables prior to dropping them into your tadpole tank. Cucumbers – These are a great source of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. Remove the skin and cut into small slices.
What type of water do tadpoles like?
Tadpoles do best with reverse osmosis water , commonly called "RO water.". You can purchase it by the bottle or buy a reverse osmosis filter. Depending on the species, you may need to manipulate the pH and temperature. Some species, such as dart frogs, can benefit from tannin-rich, low pH water from the addition of different leaves.
How to keep tadpoles from blowing?
It is best if you use a low-flow filter to keep from blowing the tadpoles about. A simple sponge filter is best for this stage. Some very small tadpoles may be too small to keep with any filter, so they will rely on you doing water changes. Keep an eye on your water quality and perform regular water changes.
What is frog husbandry?
ian35mm / Getty Images. Frog husbandry is a combination of a terrestrial and aquatic care. Depending on the species you keep, a frog may only need a little water, or live only in water.
How are tadpoles classified?
This stage persists until the tail has been absorbed in the body. Tadpoles can be classified by hind and forelimb emergence. As your tadpoles age, they can be separated by metamorphosis stage, based on which sets of legs have emerged. Their feeding will change based upon these stages.
Can you move tadpoles?
Tadpoles should be separated from their parents and can be kept in individual containers. You can move the tadpoles once they emerge using a baster or small cup. Depending on the species, you may only have a few tadpoles or dozens. Tadpoles do best with reverse osmosis water, commonly called "RO water.".
Do frogs need terrestrial space?
You do not need to transition them to a terrestrial environment. African Clawed Frog: Like the Dwarf Frog, these frogs are all-aquatic and do not need any terrestrial space in their environment. Oriental Fire Bellied Toads: Despite their name, these frogs require a semi-terrestrial environment.
Can you keep wild frogs as pets?
If you are raising wild tadpoles, such as bullfrog tadpoles, they need to be returned to the exact same spot they were found after developing into frogs. It is not recommended to keep any wild frogs as pets.
What is the best food for a tadpole?
A mostly herbivorous diet is the healthiest option for your pet. Tadpoles only eat meat in the wild if they must. Some people like to feed their tadpoles a bloodworm as a treat, but if your pet is under six weeks old, do not do this.
What to feed tadpoles in pond?
If you have wild tadpoles in a pond then you really will not need to feed them. If your pond is small, clear of algae, or manmade, you can feed algae wafers from a pet store. You should also add plants such as duckweed and lily pads. These aquatic plants provide both food and shelter.
How long does it take for a tadpole to eat algae?
Algae is soft and easy for them to find. During a tadpoles first 24 to 48 hours their egg yolk provides them with enough nutrition. After that, they will begin eating algae and other soft plant matter. Hatchlings will also eat any organic matter ( e.g. detritus, gravel and silt ).
Why do tadpoles eat algae?
This is because they can only survive in water. When they hatch, they have gills and cannot survive out of the water.
Why are baby tadpoles less interested in meat than later stage individuals?
Baby tadpoles are less interested in meat than later-stage individuals. Hatchlings have long, coiled intestines, which helps them to digest plant matter. Plants contain cellulose, a compound that is very hard to digest. Because of this , plant matter needs to spend more time in the digestive system.
Why do tadpoles have long intestines?
Because of this, plant matter needs to spend more time in the digestive system . This long intestine gives a herbivore more time to break down the plant and absorb as many nutrients as possible. Now that you know the basics of what tadpoles eat, let’s discuss how and when to feed them.
Do ducks eat algae?
If plant matter such as algae or duckweed is readily available, they will eat this before hunting. Younger individuals prefer to eat anything and everything near them. If they need to hunt, they will do so by quickly snatching anything small enough to fit in their mouths as it swims near them.
What do tadpoles eat?
What you should feed your tadpoles 1 Frozen and then thawed lettuce or spinach (the process makes it mushy) 2 Tadpole food (available at some pet stores) 3 Cat food chunks
Why do tadpoles die in pond water?
The other reason you should have rain or pond water is so that algae can form, as this is the main food source for your tadpoles during their first week of life.
How long does it take for a frog to grow?
They will start getting arms and legs before their tail shrinks and they turn into little frogs. The whole process takes around 12 weeks, and by 16 weeks, the frog has finished growing completely. You may find that you see tadpoles as well as froglets, and this is perfectly normal.
Can you put too much food in a tadpole's tank?
Ensure you don't put too much food in the tadpole's tank because the excess will cause the water to go bad, potentially killing the developing tadpoles. Tadpoles will appreciate greens being put into their tank: most people report that lettuce goes down well, along with other leafy greens.
Do you need to move frogspawn?
First and foremost, you will need a place to put your frogspawn. If the spawn was laid naturally in an outside pond, it is unlikely you will need to move it. If you attempt to move it, you could end up sinking the spawn, which would cause the eggs to stop developing. If you have been given frogspawn or ordered some online, ...
How to get tadpoles to eat?
1. Find a suitable container to house the tadpoles. Tadpoles can be raised in most containers, though it's best for them to be housed outside so that you attract more mosquitos to lay their larva for the tadpoles to eat, nature provides a cleaner and more oxygenated atmosphere and because it's more natural.
What do you need for a tadpole?
Things You'll Need. Suitable container (fish bowl, aquarium, large canning jars with no lids, etc.) Water. Tadpoles. Food for the tadpoles (Romaine lettuce, spinach, flake fish food, etc. You can also buy premade tadpole food at your pet store.) Things for them to hang off of (grass, leaves, etc.)
How to raise tadpoles?
Article Summary X. To raise tadpoles, feed them a pinch of boiled romaine lettuce every day. Make sure the lettuce is soft and cut up into tiny pieces so the tadpoles can eat it. You can also give your tadpoles a couple pinches of fish flakes per week, but don't feed them too much or they could get sick.
How to make a tadpole house?
2. Lay a suitable base on the bottom of the housing. Use gravel to cover well. Add a big rock or two for shelter and land when the tadpoles transform. Put small weeds and grass with the roots attached to the water so the tadpoles can hang onto them, and they eat the roots.
How long does it take for a tadpole to grow?
Be patient. They usually develop from egg to tadpole in 6 to 12 weeks. Keep that in mind and don't panic when it gets cold; in winter the tadpoles will grow more slowly. The ideal temperature is between 65-75 degrees Fahrenheit, or around 20-25 degrees Celsius.
How to keep tadpoles in water?
Keep the water clean. Tadpoles need clean, dechlorinated water. Rainwater is one of the best waters to keep your tadpoles in since it contains mosquito larva and doesn't contain any chemicals. Some advise using water from where you found the tadpoles.
Do tadpoles need to be fed?
When your tadpoles develop legs you will need a container with dirt for them to crawl up onto, or they will drown. Do not feed the tadpoles when they have sprouted arms. At this time the tadpole will be using its tail as food and it will become an adult frog. Provide more food after metamorphosis.