Care of Frogspawn and Tadpoles

The common frog, in spite of its name, is not common in many areas of Britain these days. In the intensively farmed countryside the frog has almost completely disappeared. Agricultural sprays, draining wetland habitats and filling-in small ponds that the frogs use as breeding sites, are the main reasons for the frogs’ decline.

It is great fun to collect frog spawn in the spring, if you can find it, but don’t be tempted to collect too much and make sure you look after it.

The following points are a guide on how to care for frog spawn and tadpoles.

1. Unpolluted pond water or rain water are ideal for frog spawn. Do not put frog spawn into tap water unless it has been allowed to stand for about three days. The water should be changed at least twice a week to avoid contamination.

2. Water temperature is very important, between 15 degrees Celsius and 20 degrees Celsius is the best temperature for tadpole development. Pollution can be a problem if the temperature rises above 20 degrees Celsius.

3. Do not put frog spawn or tadpoles from water at one temperature straight into water at a different temperature. Death is likely to result! If you want to transfer frog spawn from a small container into a larger container, an aquarium for example, then stand the small container complete with frog spawn inside the large container, When both water temperatures are the same, which may take a few hours, then at last you can release the frog spawn into the aquarium. It is most important that the frog spawn or tadpoles do not over-crowd the containers at any stage.

4. When the tadpoles first hatch they can be given lettuce leaves to eat. A quantity of fresh pond weed in the aquarium at this stage is very important; partly as food and partly as support for young tadpoles. Nettle powder, made from dried stinging nettle leaves, can also be fed to the young tadpoles.

5. Feed lettuce leaves, etc. until the tadpoles reach the leg stage of their lives. Supply fresh pond weed if necessary when the water is changed.

6. When tadpoles reach the leg stage they become carnivorous (meat eaters). They will eat each other unless you provide meat for them. Small pieces of liver should be carefully suspended on a piece of string into the water.
The meat should be changed every day to avoid polluting the water. Fish fry food for livebearers, available from aquarium and pet shops, can also be fed sparingly to the tadpoles at this stage.

7. When tadpoles reach the leg stage, make sure that stones are placed in the aquarium in such a way that the young frogs, when they develop, can climb clear if the water to breathe.

8. The whole process of change - from tadpole to young frog – takes about 12 weeks.

9. When the time comes to release the young frogs into the countryside, put them in as safe a place as you can. Don’t put them in a place where they will come into contact with poisonous agricultural sprays. Also make sure that the pond or stream where you release the young frogs is not polluted.

frogspawn tadpoles For further information contact:
Froglife
White Lodge
London Road
PETERBOROUGH
PE7 0LG
Tel:01733 558444
email@froglife.org

The Young Herpetologists Club
The British Herpetological Society
C/o The Zoological Society of London
Regents Park
LONDON
NW1 4RY
Tel: 020 84529578