About Tadpoles

A tadpole (or polliwig, as it is sometimes called) is the common name for a baby frog in its early larval stage. Tadpoles are wholly aquatic and breathe through internal or external gills. Legless at birth, they develop these limbs as they mature into adulthood. They resemble fish and swim by moving their bodies laterally back and forth. Tadpoles make popular pets that are both easy to look after and educational.

  1. Life Cycle

    • The exact length of a tadpole's life depends on what species of frog it is. A tadpole spends roughly four weeks as an egg attached to a floating plant, log or other piece of underwater debris. It feeds solely on the nutrients inside the egg yolk.

      Soon the tadpole hatches and begins swimming, though it is still barely distinguishable from a fish. At six weeks, the tadpole starts to develop tiny legs. His diet changes from algae and tiny matter to small insects and plants. After nine weeks, the tadpole looks more like a frog than a fish, though he retains a tail about half the length of his body. The tadpole soon develops lungs and is able to survive out of water. In about six weeks the tadpole gradually loses his tale and develops into an adult frog.

    Anatomy

    • Tadpoles have no legs for the first six to eight weeks of their lives; instead, they have a kind of dorsal fin appendage and a tail that helps them swim. Like fish, tadpoles have gills on the sides of their mouth that have a feathery appearance. They are sometimes difficult to see in pond water due to their translucent, camouflaged skin. A tadpole can regrow its tail if a predator bites it off.

    Habitat and Diet

    • Tadpoles live in freshwater, usually unpolluted ponds, creeks or streams with plenty of algae available and good hiding places to avoid predators. They prefer shady areas and spend most of the day under logs and other plant debris below the water surface. They feed on algae until they develop the digestive system of an adult frog. In captivity, tadpoles will also eat boiled lettuce.

    Predators and Threats

    • Tadpole eggs are often found in extraordinarily large clusters. Most tadpoles never make it to the adult stage, an evolutionary strategy developed by amphibians to ensure that only the strongest animals survive and propagate the species.

      Tadpoles' natural predators include grass snakes, blackbirds, diving beetles, larvae, water boatmen, ducks and newts. The creatures can also die off in a pond ecosystem if there is pollution in the water as a result of pesticides or other toxic runoff.

    Tadpoles as Pets

    • Tadpoles are popular pets as their owners can fully observe the amphibian life cycle up close. They require only basic care and are very economical. These animals must always have clean, chlorine-free water, enough feed to grow without dirtying the water, and a place to emerge from the water when they mature into adults. Keep in mind that a tadpole's diet changes as is it grows into a frog.