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Taking care of tadpoles can be fun and educational. But be careful, because it is very easy to make mistakes. Tadpoles will not look like much of anything when they are young. They hatch from frog spawn, or tiny, clear eggs with little black dots in the middle. When tadpoles hatch, they are clear, with nothing more than a tail and a head. From this stage, careful observation will ensure that they become healthy frogs. Use the following steps to raise tadpoles carefully and safely.
Step One: Collecting Tadpoles
When collecting tadpoles, it is often better to hunt for frog spawn. This is easier to transport. Frog spawn will often be found near algae in creeks and ponds, slightly under the water to retain moisture. Use a small net to gather live tadpoles, and immediately place them in water from the creek or pond that they are taken from.
Step Two: A Container
A square aquarium is the best place to keep tadpoles and small frogs. If you don't have this, a bowl or plastic container will do. Use water from the creek or pond you took the tadpoles from, or treated water for fish. Make sure that you water does not contain chlorine, because this will kill them. Salt water will also greatly harm your catch. Place rocks in the bottom of your container for the tadpoles, and if you can, collect some algae from the pond they were taken from to feed them.
Step Three: Feeding
In addition to the algae, you may have to make some food for your tadpoles. A piece of boiled lettuce or cabbage contains the same proteins as algae, so this can be placed in the tank. It is good to clean your tank after feeding, but avoid using any chemicals or soaps.
Step Four: Watch Changes
Your tadpoles will refuse food after a while, and instead eat their own tails. This is completely normal. The tadpole will undergo some changes that will let you know that a frog is on the way. Small legs will appear on the tadpole as they eat their tail. They will grow a set of lungs, and begin to breath with these. At this stage in the process, it is very important to provide a rock so that the tadpoles can stand out of the water. Their gills will no longer work, and they will drown without this.
Step Five: Show and Tell
When your tadpoles become frogs, show them off! Friends will be excited to see what you have raised. Avoid handling tadpoles roughly, or letting friends play with them. They will be very fragile.
Step Six: Release Them
It is best to let your frogs go, once they have grown. To keep them will kill them. Release frogs near the pond of lake you took them from, or another similar area. Without the chance to mate, there will be no more tadpoles. Then congratulate yourself on a job well done, and prepare yourself to raise more tadpoles in the coming summer.
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