I have a very small pond in on my allotment which has about 40-50 tadpoles in it. As it is constructed with pond liner and they are getting through the pond weed at an alarming rate, I'm wondering if I should feed them regularly as there's not much mud to forage in I have tried flaked fish food which seems to disappear and cucumber which they swarm over. I read that there comes a point when they like a little meat - it seems a bit unkind to put in worms, slugs and snails that don't naturally find there way in to the pond - so is meat essential to tadpole's development or can they survive as veggies?
Hello JeffG
I am certainly not an expert but have raised many of my tadpoles in a tank for the last few years. I use boiled lettuce and they thrive on it. I never gave them anything else so they are obviously happy on a vegetarian diet.
I think I read somewhere that they enjoy a little dog or cat food put in the water (but don't try it until someone else confirms it is OK as I am not a hundred percent sure about this).
Once they develop into little froglets (this is when I release mine into the pond) they will find enough insects etc themselves, although I believe you can feed them meal worms when they are bigger.
I hope this is of some help.
Kind regards Jane.
Hi JeffWhen we had the pond out tadpoles thrived initially on pond weed lettuce and cabbage leaves, but they do
eventually turn carnivorous and if they are not getting enough food will start and eat each other. We used to
hang pieces of cooked chicken on a twig "fishing rod" and they loved that. They also loved marmite sandwiches cut up small - well somebody has to like marmite
Of all creatures, man is the most detestable, he is the only creature that inflicts pain for sport, knowing it to be pain. ~ Mark Twain
I'm afraid I know nothing about raising tadples, but Marmite? Poor things!
Cheers, Linda.
See my photos on Flickr
Thanks for your replies - I'll give the boiled lettuce a go. I'm not letting have my marmite!
Our tadpoles love spare catfood and any raw meat I give them. If it is dry, like sliced meat, they wait for it to start to disintegrate.
There are two types of dried tadpole food available from pet shops for both newly hatched and more mature tadpoles, much less messy ... I used to feed slices of cucumber too, gives a wonderful opportunity to see tadpoles close up as they devour it!
2013 photos & vids here
eff37 on Flickr