How to Transfer Tadpoles

Tadpoles are baby frogs. They are amphibians that live in the water. As a tadpole grows into adulthood, it grows legs and loses its tail through apoptosis. The tadpole breathes through gills until adulthood, when its lungs allow it to live on land and use water to keep itself hydrated. The last change the tadpole experiences before it transforms into a frog is in regard to mouth size.

Things You'll Need

  • Tank
  • pH test kit
  • Saline test kit
  • Water pitcher
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Instructions

    • 1

      Transfer tadpoles from one tank to another carefully. The transition is perilous since tadpoles don't like water-temperature changes.

    • 2

      Match the salinity and pH in the water of the new tank to that of the old tank. It needs to match so the tadpoles don't go into shock. Shock can kill tadpoles in minutes.

    • 3

      Dip the test strip into the water of the old tank and match the new tank to it. You can pour the older water into the new tank or you can add chemicals to try and match the pH and saline balance of the tank.

    • 4

      Introduce the tadpoles into their new environment slowly. Transfer water from the old tank with the tadpoles into the new tank. Water temperature is critical and must be the same.