What to Feed Tadpoles

Tadpoles are the beginning stages of a frog's life, usually for the first three months.Tadpoles grow into frogs by the process of metamorphosis, which takes a few weeks. While the frog is still in tadpole form, feeding it is very important.

  1. Fertilization States

    • For the first stages of a tadpole's life, it is not necessary to feed it. Tadpoles are still feeding off their own yolk. During these stages, the water should not contain chlorine or be near any plants that are toxic to tadpoles, such as the needles from pine trees.

    Swimming Tadpoles

    • Once you have swimming tadpoles, it is safe to start feeding them frozen lettuce. Boil the lettuce and drain it. Freeze the lettuce in either an ice cube tray, baggies, or flat on a tray. For an average-size tank, give one ice cube-sized piece of lettuce every couple of days. For a smaller tank, give a pinch every few days.

      Tadpole powder is also another feeding option. Find this powder in pond stores and feed it to your tadpole twice a week.

    Froglets

    • Once your little swimmers have absorbed their tails and developed legs, remove them from the other tadpoles; otherwise, they might eat their own little siblings. Tadpoles grow at different rates, so do not be alarmed if some develop faster than others.

      Froglets can be fed lettuce at this stage as well. As for tadpole powder, switch to pelleted food and begin cutting back on the powder. Find pelleted food in pond stores.

    Warning

    • Do not overfeed your tadpoles or froglets. Overfeeding will cause the water to cloud for more than two hours and could possibly suffocate the tadpoles.