Feeding tadpoles?

[Billabong Karen]

Hi, another question from a new pond owner - I read somewhere that you can / should feed tadpoles in a new pond, because there might not be enough in there naturally to sustain them. Is this right, do you think? Quite a few of my tadpoles have become tiny little froglets, but there are also a lot left in there.

[jaelen]

I've been told that tadpoles like lettuce, but mine wouldn't touch it- they preferred thin slices of cucumber, and would eat the middles out.

Once they start to mature, they become carnivorous and stop eating cucumbers, so it will depend how far along yours are... I think I read somewhere that they'll eat koi or goldfish food, although hopefully someone with more experience will come along and confirm that!

[GCN lova]

ive seen them eating bread which was thrown in for the ducks. i dont feed them but in a new pond there may not be much food as you say so you could feed a bag of daphinia or fish food. my taddies left ages ago! its like your letting them go when youve worked so hard to keep them safe!

GCN lova

[Billabong Karen]

I know it's really bizarre how protective of them and the newts you become! My family think I am completely bonkers, the amount of time I spend gazing into the pond...

[Gill Catton]

feeding them can be tricky as it could upset the nutrient balance in the water. They'll eat each other though so I wouldn't worry too much - I know this sounds gruesome but it does at least ensure that the strongest and fittest survive.

And I think an obsession with a pond is perfectly normal, I can't wait to have a garden where I can have a pond!!

[Billabong Karen]

It's so nice to find other like-minded people! The whole focus of my garden has changed with the pond. It used to be a rather barren suburban garden (from a wildlife point of view), but I have slowly been changing it into a much more wildlife-friendly place - but since the pond has been there, the amount of wildlife has just exploded! Here is a photo.

[Billabong Karen]

... and I think on reflection I will not feed the tadpoles. Too afraid of messing up the balance.

[King Edward]

I agree that it's probably better not to feed the tadpoles at this stage. They can hardly be that short of food if many of them have already metamorphosized. Ours here are at a similar stage - lots of little froglets, but quite a few lagging behind and not even bothering to grow legs yet.

[GCN lova]

Originally Posted by Billabong Karen

I know it's really bizarre how protective of them and the newts you become! My family think I am completely bonkers, the amount of time I spend gazing into the pond...

even without the tadpoles im gazing into the pond or watching the frogs!

[Jessicajil]

Originally Posted by Billabong Karen

... and I think on reflection I will not feed the tadpoles. Too afraid of messing up the balance.

I used to tie wire round pieces of meat and suspend them in the pond for a few hours, discarding them before they could rot. The tadpoles loved them.