First tadpole of year

[galanthus]

While gazing lovingly into my pond this afternoon and dreaming of newts yeah, never gonna happen !! I saw a tadpole from last year It was the same size as the last few left in the pond after most had frogged it. It was a bit sluggish but v much alive. How on earth can it have remained the same size for 8 months or more ?

[stripee]

Originally Posted by galanthus

While gazing lovingly into my pond this afternoon and dreaming of newts yeah, never gonna happen !! I saw a tadpole from last year It was the same size as the last few left in the pond after most had frogged it. It was a bit sluggish but v much alive. How on earth can it have remained the same size for 8 months or more ?

Well this was what I wondering about these things that looked like newtpoles (sorry to mention them) they looked like they were left over from last year, so maybe this happen to tadpoles as well, and they carry on growing the following year???

[Ukwildlifeo]

I think its quite common. In fact in some places in scotland I think the tadpole always overwinter due to the shorter summer/colder overall temperatures

[Kayleigh]

This is amazing I have never seen anything like it..Can you get any pics, G

[Susie]

I have heard of this happening before too. If the tadpoles aren't big enough to change successfully into froglets in time for winter then they overwinter and change the next year. I don't think it is too uncommon but still a great thing to see.

[Dogghound]

Its quite common. If food supply of temperature is not quite rite or even water quality. It can take a tadpole longer to complete metamorphosis, these would have been the smaller individuals last year which were out competed by their siblings. So they stay as a tadpole all summer and winter and feed up. They should turn into adults in the spring all being well. The tadpoles go dormant in the colder months.

[galanthus]

Originally Posted by Dogghound

Its quite common. If food supply of temperature is not quite rite or even water quality. It can take a tadpole longer to complete metamorphosis, these would have been the smaller individuals last year which were out competed by their siblings. So they stay as a tadpole all summer and winter and feed up. They should turn into adults in the spring all being well. The tadpoles go dormant in the colder months.

Yeah I knew we had quite a few left over and that the fittest left as frogs. I can't believe they can postpone their growth for so long HOw fab is that !!

[Dogghound]

Yes neoteny as it is know is quite a diverse subject. With lots of reasons, its possibly that some of the tadpoles may never become adult's and stay in this form perminantly although this is extremely rare in frogs/toads in this country. Some Amphibians particularly some species of salamander can breed in their neotenous form. It is very interesting

[coasty]

Originally Posted by Dogghound

Yes neoteny as it is know is quite a diverse subject. With lots of reasons, its possibly that some of the tadpoles may never become adult's and stay in this form perminantly although this is extremely rare in frogs/toads in this country. Some Amphibians particularly some species of salamander can breed in their neotenous form. It is very interesting

Interesting,,, I get a few overwintering in my pond most years. Do they always change after one year?

Andy

[Dogghound]

Originally Posted by coasty

Interesting,,, I get a few overwintering in my pond most years. Do they always change after one year?

Andy

Factors such as water nutrient levels, food and temperature are all key to how long the development takes. If they normally dont develop in their first year then they should develop in there second year. A very small portion never develop past tadpoles. But this isnt common, on very rare occasions it can takes several years in the UK but this is usually associated with upland areas or very poor water quality. Tadpoles in the neotenous form are risking it a little, as tadpole predation is quite high compared to life as adults.

[wildflower]

Think i will have to go look in my pond see if anything is stirring..I had loads of frogs last year so hope to see more this year.

[dragonfly]

hya Iam not completly sure but I remember watching a wildlife programme about scotland and there is a tadpole that does over winter so if you in the north or scotlland it will be from last year and complete the cycle this year

[cc]

hi just looking for a bit of advice. I am a teacher and had been given frog spawn to show class. Was taking it home in a plastic bottle but it was so cold am afraid they might have died, or would very cold conditions have an effect on them??

[Dogghound]

As long as the water is A) Pond water and B) Hasnt froze it shouldnt be a problem. Colder water simply just slows down the processes of metamorphosis.

[sheiladrums]

Hi y'all!
don't do much posting, I'm afraid, but have a query, so if you don't mind I'll pick your brains, especially you, Dogghound, as you appear to be the fount of all wildlife wisdom
I've taken some of the many, many tadpoles from my small pond and put them, with a little clean gravel and some of the weed, into a large spherical bowl indoors, so I can watch them develop. They are currently quite small with external gills; I've only half-filled the bowl and I used rainwater; I've put it on a windowsill and fairly near a radiator. Got several dozen, I guess, hard to count them as they keep wriggling! My question is, what do I feed them on? I understand they're cannibalistic and I would expect a fairly high attrition rate, but guess that if I feed them then they'll have a greater chance of maturing; I intend releasing them back into the pond at some time - presumably before they jump out of the pond and across the living room!
Have I done the right thing? Any advice would be welcome!
Enjoy the Easter weekend, tho the forecast isn't great
regards
Sheila

[sheiladrums]

ooo, have just searched the site here and found lots of suggestions on feeding taddies - will head for the salad container and raid daughter's tropical fish food flakes

[Dogghound]

Originally Posted by sheiladrums

Hi y'all!
don't do much posting, I'm afraid, but have a query, so if you don't mind I'll pick your brains, especially you, Dogghound, as you appear to be the fount of all wildlife wisdom
I've taken some of the many, many tadpoles from my small pond and put them, with a little clean gravel and some of the weed, into a large spherical bowl indoors, so I can watch them develop. They are currently quite small with external gills; I've only half-filled the bowl and I used rainwater; I've put it on a windowsill and fairly near a radiator. Got several dozen, I guess, hard to count them as they keep wriggling! My question is, what do I feed them on? I understand they're cannibalistic and I would expect a fairly high attrition rate, but guess that if I feed them then they'll have a greater chance of maturing; I intend releasing them back into the pond at some time - presumably before they jump out of the pond and across the living room!
Have I done the right thing? Any advice would be welcome!
Enjoy the Easter weekend, tho the forecast isn't great
regards
Sheila

Hi Sheila.

First Use pond water in future not rainwater, they are similar but pond water is far richer in microscopic life/food. It also is less polluted, some rainwater can be quite acidic, also the container could contain chemicals if plastic. These arnt likely to have massive effects but tadpoles are very sensitive.

Secondly dont put them to close to the radiator you dont want them to develop quicker than the temperature outside rising. If they are warm they will develop faster and when they are released their wont be enough food and it will be to cold for them to hunt and to sustain a acceptable body temp.

They are cannibalistic but if well fed wont be a problem, Fish food is good but two points 1) dont overfeed them just a little, if it doesn't get eaten it will cause problems and likely result in death. 2) Be careful how much you feed it is high in protein and will result in your indoor taddys developing alot quicker
then the ones outside (similar concept to the temperature). Other good foods are daphnia, bloodworm, chopped worm, liver, bacon rind and beef mince.

Dont do massive water changes but instead a scoop out and a fresh scoop of pond water each day.

NOTE. Until around the time tadpoles develop legs they are infact herbivores and lettuce is as good a food as any or pond weed or algae you can supplement this with fish food.

[sheiladrums]

Hi Dogghound
thanks verymuch for reply, sorry for delay, we got a new computer this week so hubbie and son had to reinstall everything.
thanks so much for the info, I've moved the taddies further away from the radiator and have introduced some pond water. Will take your advice on board and will search the site for other posts. It's very exciting to watch the little fellas and all seem in fine fettle at the moment. I feel like I'm actually making a difference, tho I guess setting up the pond a few years ago was the start.
regards

[toadpole]

last yr was the first time i had 2 tadpoles that did not turn with the others ...they were allways smaller than them ....and one of them finally turned into a froglet in november 2007!!!!the other one i dont know ..it seemed really weird but i did not hold out much chance for his survival as he was sooo very tiny ...but nature is amazing and the only reason i could keep such a check on what was going on was that all my tadpoles were kept and grown in a belfast sink ..so i could see them more easily ...now i have a pond so ..if and when i get some more tads it will be harder to know whats going on so will keep some still in my sink as its the first thing i do each morning -go out with a cup of tea and just sit and watch them and smile as if i was 8yrs old again marion

[paddy]

Originally Posted by dragonfly

hya Iam not completly sure but I remember watching a wildlife programme about scotland and there is a tadpole that does over winter so if you in the north or scotlland it will be from last year and complete the cycle this year

I seem to remember Mr Titchmarsh being involved - was it the Wild Britain series? The summer was too short to complete metamorphosis, so the taddies went into a kind of torpor until the following spring. Biennial frogs!!

[galanthus]

Just as an update to my original thread there are around 8 taddies left from last year so far. They've become far more active and are happily swimming around the pond now.

They range from very small normal taddies, through to one having back legs and his front ones just about to emerge, all stages of taddie present cept spawn obviously

Looks like the latter tad will be a frog in around 3 weeks, isn't that amazing I just hope he survives, think the odds are stacked against him being a lone teeny frog

[Dogghound]

Originally Posted by galanthus

I just hope he survives, think the odds are stacked against him being a lone teeny frog

That why they produce so much offspring, it stands just as much chance as anyother frog the extra year wont make much difference although it may mean its slightly larger than a normal tadpole (dont no if this is the case with yours though), and due to its earlier development will have plenty of time to grow on land before next winter. So in a way maybe has a better chance than most, thats why it saved up until this year to emerge.