My Picks: Best Tadpole Foods for Various Species - What are Your Thoughts?

Hi All,
[FONT=&quot]Breeding frogs and rearing tadpoles is one of the most enjoyable aspects of our hobby, and becoming ever more important to the survival of many species. In the course of working with numerous species at home and in zoos, I’ve compiled a list of commercial foods that have proven especially useful as tadpole foods. The variety of new food items that have appeared and the many frog species that have been recently bred by hobbyists have convinced me that it’s time to reach out see what new “wonder products” or ideas folks have tried. I have, therefore, highlighted some of the foods I’ve come to rely on, and would greatly appreciate hearing of your experiences with them and others. Thank you. [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]The Amazing Specialists[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]While the tadpoles of many commonly bred frogs (i.e. White’s Treefrog, Litoria caerulea) are omnivorous and take a variety of foods, others are specialists and will not survive unless their exacting requirements are met. The tadpoles of African Clawed Frogs, Xenopus laevis and Malayan Leaf Frogs, Megophrys nasuta, for example, are filter feeders, while those of the African Bullfrog, Pyxicephalus adspersus, are as carnivorous as their pugnacious parents. Poison Frog tadpoles of several species feed upon unfertilized eggs deposited by their mother, Goliath Frog, Conraua goliath, tadpoles consume a single species of algae, Fringe-Limbed Treefrog (Ecnomiohyla rabborum) tadpoles eat their father’s skin, Brown Leaping Frog (Indirana semipalmata) tadpoles gnaw on wood (high up in trees!)…the list is fascinating. Please post below if you would like information on these or other species.[/FONT]
Read more here Best Tadpole Foods (Based on my Experiences) - Seeking Additional Suggestions
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Thanks, Frank
My Bio, with photos of animals I’ve been lucky enough to work with That Pet Place welcomes Zoologist/Herpetologist Frank Indiviglio to That Reptile Blog | That Reptile Blog
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Dear Mr. Indiviglio,
Thanks for another fine posting - as I will be rearing some tads this year myself, I will read through the article carefully. One question though: did you ever work with E. rabborum? Ever since I found pictures of them in Köhlers book on central american amphibians I've been in loce - especially with theit enormous feet webbing. I seem to recall they are extinct by now?

Best greetings
Jakob

methodik said:

Dear Mr. Indiviglio,
Thanks for another fine posting - as I will be rearing some tads this year myself, I will read through the article carefully. One question though: did you ever work with E. rabborum? Ever since I found pictures of them in Köhlers book on central american amphibians I've been in loce - especially with theit enormous feet webbing. I seem to recall they are extinct by now?

Best greetings
Jakob

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Hi Jakob,

Thanks for the kind words...what tads will you be raising?

Unfortunately, I've never seen E. rabborum. First collected in 2005, described in 2008 I believe. Some believe it to be extinct but given their size, habitat, lack of money for in depth surveys, that may, I hope, be a bit premature. Here's an article on their skin-feeding tadpoles, etc. Strange but True - Fringe-Limbed Treefrog Tadpoles Consume Father

Enjoy, best, Frank

Dear Mr Indiviglio.
I have raised my frogs (Litoria aurea and L. raniformis) from tadpoles and I used lettuce, zucchini and fish flakes when they were a bit bigger and they have grown into gorgeous frogs. I read that you used kale to great success.

Anyway, I am curious to know if you have encountered one of New Zealand's endemic frogs and what information you know about them. The frogs are Archey's frog, Hamilton's frog, Hochstetter's frog and Maud Island frog.

Thanks, Kim

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archey's_frog

FireStar said:

Dear Mr Indiviglio.
I have raised my frogs (Litoria aurea and L. raniformis) from tadpoles and I used lettuce, zucchini and fish flakes when they were a bit bigger and they have grown into gorgeous frogs. I read that you used kale to great success.

Anyway, I am curious to know if you have encountered one of New Zealand's endemic frogs and what information you know about them. The frogs are Archey's frog, Hamilton's frog, Hochstetter's frog and Maud Island frog.

Thanks, Kim

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Thanks very much for that info Kim; I recall that L. aurea consumed all types of softened vegetables.. Good to know that zuccini is useful; have used often for some fishes with good results. Not sure how we came to focus on kale at the zoo, but yes, has worked well as a large part of many diets.

You have such amazing frogs there...unfortunately, they are not well represented in zoos here in the USA. Amphibia Web comes to mind as a useful online resource for natural history info,

Enjoy, Best, Frank