Newt Spawn, Tadpoles and more!

[fordie]

Hi, Can anyone help me. Whilst out walking the dog at the weekend he discovered a pile of what we thought was frogspawn, it was near a puddle which had been fuller but was drying out and was out of water. Thinking it was frogspawn we put it in a bag and took it home and put in a tank so the kids could watch it hatch. and once they had grown we would put them in my father in laws pond. Quite a few have now hatched and we think it must have been newts spawn as the tadpoles have smaller heads then frog tadpoles and have bits growing out of their heads like fins. I've read that newts are protected and want to care for them in every way possible. Does anyone know what would be best to feed them on and when they will need a rock or something to get out of the water onto. Also when would be best to release them into or near to the pond.
Any help or advise would be greatly apprieciated!

[galanthus]

Young tadpoles do have feather-like things protruding from the side of their head, they disappear after a while. Tadpoles are vegetarian for quite some time, eating algae etc, however, (they also eat lettuce apparently), becoming carniverous when older. They need a shallow side with rocks when they are mostly frogs. Maybe someone you know has a pond you could use ?

here's a link to a good page, at least it'll help you id your taddies.

Frog Metamorphosis Index Page

Oh and welcome to WAB :-)

[Dogghound]

Newts dont produce spawn but lay individual eggs in rolled up water weeds. All amphibian larvae have the "bits sticking out" which are external gills. They will feed on vegetable matter until they grow legs then they become carnivorous. Foods include soft lettuce, pond weed, algae, fish food (flakes), then when their legs develop beef mince, bacon rind, blood worms, daphnia, fish food (flakes) still, they also eat each other. Keep them in pond water, tap water will kill them, if you carnt get pond water rain water is next best. when they start to develop into young frogs either put a stone in the tank to stop them drowning, or release them into the pond but slowly floating them in a bag over a period of 30-45mins. Anything else you need to know just ask .

[Words]

Sounds frog spawn. I've been photographing our spawn since day 1 (four weeks ago), and have a series of shots that will help you i.d. yours.

[Digifrog]

Originally Posted by Words

Sounds frog spawn. I've been photographing our spawn since day 1 (four weeks ago), and have a series of shots that will help you i.d. yours.

Nice pictures. I like the one with mum & dad

Can you tell me what camera/(macro) lens you used?

[toadpole]

words ...what fantastic pictures wow i have never seen the detail of the first development like that before .....thank you for sharing that marion

[ron1863]

Originally Posted by galanthus

Young tadpoles do have feather-like things protruding from the side of their head, they disappear after a while. :-)

I think the feather like protrusions are gills, which disappear when they develop lungs.

[hanroc]

Anybody near North Kent has spare tadpoles/frogs that I can pick up to trandfer to my new pond? It has NO fish, got some established weed and is of good size (60 x 35ft)

[hanroc]

Anybody near North Kent has spare tadpoles/frogs that I can pick up to transfer to my new pond? It has NO fish, got some established weed and is of good size (60 x 35ft)

[cat72uk]

Brill pics