Can I Put Tadpoles in My Fish Tank? Our Vet Provides Information & Answers
By Dr. Luqman Javed, DVM (Vet)
Updated on
Tadpoles or frogs may not be the first thing you think of keeping at home in a fish tank, but it is definitely a possibility. Removed sentences. Clarification is necessary for this situation, however. Tadpoles can absolutely be put in a fish tank, but they shouldn’t be housed in there with fish. Let’s go over other common tadpole tank questions and how you can care for them at home.
Can Tadpoles Live in a Fish Tank?
Yes, tadpoles can live in a fish tank or aquarium. They are relatively easy to care for with the proper setup, as they don’t require much space and are simple to feed because they readily eat just about anything that’s organic.
Many aquarists prefer utilizing natural sunlight for a few hours each day in a tadpole enclosure, as this promotes the growth of microorganisms and microscopic algae, which tadpoles can eat. However, this requires proper temperature control—too much sunlight can overheat an aquarium and lead to issues for your pets.
Tadpoles can also be raised in outdoor enclosures, but they are vulnerable to predators in this type of setup. For example, many birds will make snacks out of tadpoles. Even frogs will view tadpoles as meals, and larger tadpoles will view smaller tadpoles as potential prey.
In natural ecosystems, frogs tend to “solve” this issue by being extremely prolific. They lay many eggs, so at least a few tadpoles will mature into adult frogs, and the abundance of tadpoles offers a source of nutrition for other inhabitants of these ecosystems.
What Do Tadpoles Need in a Tank?
You will need to add fine gravel for substrate, plants (rooted, floating, etc.), and large rocks. These will be hiding places and help the tadpoles feel at home. The tadpoles should not be in direct sunlight for prolonged periods.
How Many Tadpoles Can I Have in My Tank?
For every liter of water, you can house 5–10 tadpoles, which works out to about 20–40 tadpoles in a gallon. These guidelines are for small tadpoles only. As your tadpoles grow, you’ll need to upgrade the size of their enclosure. Alternatively, you can place them in a large tank from the get-go; this will spare you the need to upgrade their space later.
Water Conditions
Tadpoles need water that is free of chlorine, so you will need to dechlorinate tap water. Products intended to dechlorinate water for pet fish are sufficient for this task, but the preference is to use a dechlorinator made specifically for amphibians and reptiles.
In addition to providing your tadpoles with dechlorinated water, you’ll need to ensure that the other water parameters are within acceptable limits.
- pH: 6–8
- Water temperature: 15–20oC (59–68oF)
- Water hardness: 5–20 dH
- Ammonia: 0 ppm
- Nitrite: 0 ppm
- Nitrates: Ideally 0 ppm, but any value under 10 ppm is acceptable
Regarding water pH, temperature, and hardness, remember that consistency is more important than looking for an “ideal” value. As long as your water is within the acceptable range for your tadpoles, you shouldn’t attempt to change its parameters. Tadpoles should be carefully acclimated to the water, as a sudden change in water parameters can shock them and lead to illnesses or death.
FAQ
What Should You Feed Your Tadpoles?
Tadpoles eat just about anything that’s organic. Commercial frog and tadpole pellets, crushed fish flakes, baby fish (fry) food, or sinking algae wafers can be used as food for your tadpoles. They can also eat live food if they are large enough to handle them; these include baby brine shrimp, microworms, etc.
Even a lettuce leaf submerged in water, left in the sun for a day, produces nutritious water that can be used to feed your tadpoles. It’s typically rich in microscopic algae and diatoms that can sustain your pets.
Can You Put Tadpoles in a Fish Tank With Goldfish?
No, your goldfish will likely view your tadpoles as snacks. Tadpoles may also naturally harbor pathogens that can harm your goldfish, and the filtration necessary for a goldfish tank is often too strong for tadpoles to tolerate.
How Long Does It Take for Tadpoles to Turn Into Frogs?
Tadpoles take an average of 12–14 weeks to undergo the metamorphosis process that transforms them into froglets. They can control the rate at which they undergo this metamorphosis, so if they feel that the conditions are not favorable to them, they will try to accelerate this process to become adults and “escape” from the unfavorable waters sooner rather than later.
Do Tadpoles Eat Guppies?
A tadpole that’s large enough to fit a guppy in their mouth (or even part of a guppy, such as their fins or tail), will definitely try to eat it.
When Should You Release Tadpoles?
If you’re rescuing tadpoles with the intention of releasing them back into the wild, you can do so when they metamorphose into froglets.
Make sure you don’t introduce invasive species to the ecosystem, and always ensure that the species that you’re releasing into the wild is, in fact, native to the area. Please note that there may be legal implications to capturing and/or releasing frogs in the wild where you reside. Barring extenuating circumstances, you should not capture tadpoles to raise and re-release, as their presence is also vital for ensuring the harmony of ecosystems.
Can Tadpoles Eat Fish Food?
Tadpoles can eat fish food, though food made specifically for them is always better. In an emergency, fish food can definitely be used as a meal replacement. Unlike most adult frogs, tadpoles aren’t carnivores and can eat both plant matter (such as algae) and animal matter.
Do Tadpoles Need a Bubbler?
No, you do not need to get a bubbler or airstone for tadpoles. If you have a half-decent filter running, it should be more than enough to oxygenate the water and supply the tadpoles with adequate amounts of oxygen.
That said, if you have many tadpoles in a confined space, you may want to add a bubbler to the tank to ensure that they all have enough air to breathe comfortably.
Do Tadpoles Need a Filter?
To give tadpoles their best shot at life and maturing into frogs, you should provide them with good filtration, especially if you have many of them in the same tank.
Sponge filters work best for tadpoles. Alternatively, you can get a filter with a sponge cover or something similar to ensure that the tadpoles do not get sucked in. Just like with fish, tadpoles do not do so well in really dirty water, especially if there is ammonia building up.
Conclusion
Tadpoles can be raised in a fish tank—in fact, this is the best way to raise them. However, they shouldn’t be housed with fish, as this risks both the tadpoles and the fish. It’s therefore recommended that you give your tadpoles their own setup. Fortunately, setting up a tadpole tank is relatively easy, and watching them mature into froglets can definitely be a rewarding experience for many amphibian enthusiasts.
Featured Image Credit: Dr Morley Read, Shutterstock
