My husband Bob and I have had four African Dwarf frogs for almost three years, one male and three females, which we used to keep in a 2-gallon brandy snifter type tank with rocks and shells and a plastic vine. But those amorous froggies have now created a THIRD batch of tadpoles. This third batch started at approximately 30 tadpoles, and we are now down to FOUR tads.

We now have the four original adult frogs in a "starter" aquarium with a filter and lights that keep that water nice and toasty for them. They seem to be very happy and are feeding well (and back to that amorous clutching too!).

The last two batches of tadpoles didn't make it, so I read up on what I could find on the Internet about helping them survive and found the tads love the water temperature to be between 74 and 85 degrees Fahrenheit, and the water should be aerated. I purchased a heater and set it at 75 degrees and have tried different aeraters, but that swirling water seems to send the poor tads on a needless wild ride through their environment, with some getting caught in bubbles on the side and drying up. *sigh*

I have pulverized some freeze-dried worms and sprinkle that on top for the tads, and they look like they have eaten some (it's hard to tell).

I then unplugged the hose from the aerater "block" that sits at the bottom of a tank and secured it to the side of the tads' tank, let it run for about three hours, and after I shut it off, the tadpoles seem to be very happy, swimming about with extra vigor. I cannot filter the water for fear of the tads getting stuck in the filter, so the water is a bit murky after about three weeks of not cleaning it.

Does anyone know what I can do to keep these tadpoles alive to maturity, which I think they will metamorphose in six to eight weeks? I hear it's a difficult if not impossible task, but any help would be greatly appreciated!

Cecilia

My ADF's haven't produced young (that I've found) but I have some links to web sites on rearing their tadpoles at http://www.fishpondinfo.com/frog4.htm

"I purchased a heater and set it at 75 degrees and have tried different aeraters, but that swirling water seems to send the poor tads on a needless wild ride through their environment, with some getting caught in bubbles on the side and drying up. *sigh*"

They need some water movement but it sounds like what you had was just way too strong. Attach a gang valve to your air pump and open one of the valves out to the air to release the pressure enough so that the air bubbles are very gentle and don't bounce the poor guys around.

"I cannot filter the water for fear of the tads getting stuck in the filter, so the water is a bit murky after about three weeks of not cleaning it."

There are aeration-driven sponge and corner filters that you can use. Tadpoles can't get sucked into sponge filters. You can put a piece of pantyhose over the intake of a corner filter to keep them from getting sucked into it. Both are run by the air stones/aeration so you can regulate how strong they are. I've used such setups for salamander larvae and minute fish fry without problems.

"I hear it's a difficult if not impossible task, but any help would be greatly appreciated!"

I've read it's hard. I've yet to have a chance myself as I said though. I hope some of the links on my site still work and are of help to you. Good luck!