Raising Tadpoles

From what I have read and what I have experienced, raising frogs from eggs can be a very tricky task to accomplish successfully. If you're frogs are mating, it's up to you whether you want leave the eggs in the tank or try to raise them separately. If left in the tank, they will most likely be eaten or sucked up by the filter. However, in some cases, in a very well-planted aquarium without fish (besides bottom feeders) and a low-power filter it isn't uncommon for a few tadpoles to make it to adulthood. If you want to try and raise tadpoles, read on, but know it is a tricky task!

Separating Eggs

The first step in trying to raise tadpoles is getting the tiny adhesive eggs out of the home tank without damaging them or exposing them to air. There are a few ways to do this successfully. The first is is by filling a container in the tank and using Java Moss to get all the scattered eggs into the container without squishing them or bringing them out of the water. Have the container under water and once the eggs are stuck in the moss, move it into the container. If there are eggs stuck to plants/decorations in the tank, it is best to just move the whole thing into the container. You can also use a piece of sterile cotton or a net to get the eggs stuck to, but be very careful not to expose the eggs to air. 


Setting-up a Tadpole Tank

You will need to set up a separate tank to move the eggs to. This tank should be big enough so that the tadpoles aren't crowded. They need a consistent temperature between 71-80 F, so a heater and thermometer are a good idea. The pH should be kept consistently just over 7, any sudden changes in pH will kill the tads as. The tadpole tank should be well planted with java Moss and other such plants, and the water from your "home tank" is the best water to start it with. A filter is not recommended as even low-current filters can suck up eggs and tadpoles, but you will need to keep it clean by scooping out waste with a small fine net and carefully doing frequent water changes, only add about 1 cup of water at a time and wait a day. A great idea is to purchase algae tablets and add enough to turn the water in the tank green. This will help provide a healthy bacteria for your tadpoles. Apple Snails are also a great thing to have with your tadpoles, but make sure that you get them from someone that you trust to give you healthy, illness-free snails. Do not add them until your eggs have hatched.


Feeding Tadpoles

Many people chose to feed their tads a pet store diet such as Liquifry or make a blend called infusoria. To make this blend, start by pouring about two and a half cups of water from your tank into a sterile pot. Thoroughly wash a little bit of spinach and turnip in hot water, add two hard-boiled egg yolks, a spoon of plain yogurt and blend it all up into mush in a nice clean blender. Pour the mixture into the pot of water from your tank and boil for 2-4 minutes. Let cool the mixture cool in an open container by an open window and when it starts to look cloudy (and gross!) pour it into the tank. You should add a little infusoria every time you do a water change. When they are older, add blended blood-worms to the recipe above, and when you think that they are big enough to eat pieces or whole blood-worms, just try offering them some!

Many decide to feed live brine shrimp larvae but I find setting up a third tank for a hatchery to be too much of a hassle. However, many larger pet shops do sell live brine shrimp larvae for such purposes.

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