So you want to take care of the tadpoles you found in your garden. The first thing you need to know is what to feed them. There are many things that tadpoles will eat, but some are better for them than others. We will talk about what you can feed tadpoles and give you a list of some of the best foods for these little animals.
As an aquarium hobbyist, I often get asked if tadpoles can eat fish food. After all, tadpoles live in water like fish, so it seems reasonable they could eat similar diets, right? Well, the answer is more complicated than a simple yes or no Tadpoles go through a dramatic metamorphosis as they develop from eggs into baby frogs, and their nutritional needs change significantly along the way
In this article, I’ll walk through everything you need to know about feeding tadpoles, including:
- What tadpoles eat at each stage of development
- What fish foods are safe (or unsafe) for tadpoles
- How to supplement tadpole diets with fish food
- Best practices for feeding tadpoles as they grow
So let’s dive in (pun intended)!
What Do Tadpoles Eat?
Tadpoles are born as strict herbivores, only eating plant matter like algae or vegetables. Here’s an overview of tadpole diets by development stage:
Stage 1: Egg Sacs
When tadpoles first hatch out of the egg, they survive off the remaining egg yolk sack attached to their bellies. At this point they don’t need any additional food for around 2-7 days.
Stage 2: Herbivore
Once the egg sack is gone tadpoles will start munching on plant material in their environment. In outdoor ponds they graze naturally growing algae and aquatic plants. For aquarium tadpoles, you’ll need to add veggies like lettuce, spinach, and zucchini slices. Some specialty tadpole feeds are plant-based too.
Stage 3: Omnivore
When back legs start to develop, tadpoles will begin eating both plants and protein-rich meat. In the wild, they’ll consume insects and even each other! For pet tadpoles, start offering high-protein options like boiled egg yolk, blood worms, brine shrimp or bite-sized bits of earthworm.
Stage 4: Carnivore
In the final stages, tadpoles will stop eating vegetation altogether and become pure carnivores. Feed them as much protein-packed meat as they can eat several times a day. Their bodies need fuel for the intense metamorphosis into frogs.
Okay, now that we know what tadpoles eat…
Can Tadpoles Eat Fish Food?
Fish food can be fed to tadpoles, but only once they start developing legs and become omnivorous. Here are some dos and don’ts for feeding fish foods:
DO Feed:
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Flakes or pellets with high protein and low plant content. Aim for 45% protein or higher.
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Freeze dried options like brine shrimp, krill, blood worms or daphnia. Soak before feeding.
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Small crushed betta pellets or mini granules for bottom feeders.
DON’T Feed:
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Flakes or pellets with high veggie content. Algae-based foods won’t have enough protein.
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Large pellet sizes that tadpoles can’t fit in their mouths. Stick to tiny crushed bits.
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Any uneaten food that’s left to rot in the tank. Remove after 1-2 hours.
Supplementing Tadpole Diets with Fish Food
Once tadpoles gain those back legs, start mixing in a small amount of fish food with their usual veggie diet. Here are some tips:
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Alternate between plant and meat foods. For example, feed lettuce M/W/F and protein T/Th/Sat.
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Only offer a pinch or two of fish food at first. Their tiny bellies don’t need much.
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Remove any uneaten remnants within a couple hours to avoid fouling the water.
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Increase protein amounts as the tadpoles grow, up to 2-3 feedings per day for large froglets.
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If fish food gives them loose stool, cut back and stick to what they can digest comfortably.
Feeder Fish for Tadpoles
Adding feeder fish into a tadpole aquarium can work, but only if done carefully and temporarily.
Feeder fish like guppies, minnows or ghost shrimp can make nutritious snacks for older tadpoles. But most feeder fish also nibble on algae and plants, competing with younger tadpoles for resources.
Here are some tips for keeping feeder fish with tadpoles:
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Only add feeders when back legs pop out, as the tadpoles will attack anything that moves before then.
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Remove any uneaten feeder fish after a few hours to avoid contaminating the tank.
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Heavily plant the tank so feeder fish and small tadpoles have hiding spots.
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Move the feeders to a separate tank once most tadpoles have fully transitioned to frogs.
Best Practices for Feeding Tadpoles
To sum up, here are my top tips for successfully raising tadpoles:
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Research proper care for the specific tadpole species you have
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Start with mostly plants, then transition to mostly protein as they develop
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Supplement veggie diets with nutritious fish foods when legs form
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Use feeder fish occasionally for variety, but remove promptly
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Keep tank clean by removing uneaten food after 1-2 hours
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Increase feeding frequency and amounts as tadpoles grow
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Adjust diet based on appetite, energy levels and waste consistency
Some additional advice on typically asked questions:
This is a question that many people ask, especially those who are new to keeping tadpoles as pets. The short answer is yes, tadpoles can eat fish food, whether its goldfish food or tropical fish flakes. In fact, giving your tadpoles fish food is a great way to make sure they get all the nutrients they need to grow and do well. However, there are a few things you should keep in mind when feeding tadpoles fish food.
First, if you’re going to feed them fish pellets, make sure you break them up into smaller pieces so they can easily eat them. Secondly, you will need to supplement their diet with other foods such as algae and plants.
Tadpoles are omnivores, so they need a variety of foods to stay healthy. By giving them a variety of foods, you can be sure that your tadpoles will become strong, healthy frogs.
What do tadpoles eat naturally?
When most people think of tadpoles, they probably picture these tiny aquatic animals that eat different kinds of plants. However, tadpoles are actually opportunistic feeders and will consume just about anything they can fit in their mouths.
In the wild, tadpoles have been known to eat insects, crustaceans, molluscs, and even smaller tadpoles. This food helps them grow quickly and become adults, and it’s easy for them to find in the wild, like on and around pond plants.
Even though algae and other plant matter give tadpoles some nutrients they need, they aren’t always the best food for them.
Tadpole food – what do tadpoles eat?
Can tadpoles eat fish flakes?
Tadpoles should not eat tropical fish food, sea monkey food, fish flakes, goldfish pellets, turtle pellets or any other processed food made for other aquatic species. This food generally contains low-nutritional value ingredients for tadpole development, and ingredients they cannot digest.
Is it safe to eat talapia fish?
Tilapia fish is a low-calorie source of protein. In addition, tilapia fish contains vitamins and minerals such as folic acid and phosphorus. However, tilapia fish contains omega 6, which is relatively high, higher than omega 3. Ideally, omega 3 and 6 have a ratio close to 1:1. Excessive consumption of foods high in omega 6 is at risk of increasing inflammation. In addition, it is also essential to know the process of cultivating tilapia fish to avoid harmful bacteria such as Salmonella or other harmful substances that may arise during cultivation.
Can tadpoles eat cheap food?
The good news is, unlike many of our domesticated pets, tadpoles can eat a wide assortment of cheap grocery staples. Pet stores may carry food that is formulated just for them, but you need not stick to these options. In fact, a varied diet of freshly prepared or homemade food is more than sufficient for a tadpole’s nutritional needs.
What do tadpoles eat?
The smaller the tadpole, the more they need to rely on leafy greens and algae. As they develop, follow their cues to determine which snacks they’re ready for. However, you should stay away from some foods entirely because tadpoles can’t digest them. Never feed these amphibians commercial pet food made for another animal.