Salamander Larvae & Frog Tadpole rate of growth

[Woodfrog888]

Hi all. I have had some spotted salamander larvae and woodfrog tadpoles for a couple of weeks now. Each are in a large container (large for them I think)
TPs are in a 10 gallon glass tank and Salamanders in a slightly smaller plastic tank.
They have an abundance of food which is various life forms from a very healthy pond.
The life includes daphnia, nematodes, copepods, scuds etc. along with some fresh algae.
I see them eating their food regularly. No one is eating one another. Their rate of growth seems quite slow compared to what I see in a vernal pool a visit regularly.
How fast do salamander larvae and woodfrog tadpoles grow? Is there a good growth chart anywhere?

Thanks

 

[Blackbun]

Hello woodfrog. Hmmm a growth chart? Maybe there are some under the scientific publications. For me, there are far too many variables involved here and as long as my animals are growing (slowly is preferential to rapidly in my experience) and healthy, I don't worry. So, factors that impact on growth rates might include density of tadpoles, volume of water, temperature of water, dissolved oxygen, feeding live bought in food or live wild caught food, hours of day light, disease prevalence....the list is endless. Although water quality of natural ponds can, and do change, they are likely to be far more stable than a 10 litre container especially re ammonia concentration etc. Be happy your tadpoles are feeding and growing. Plus, I'm thinking the tadpoles you are likely to seein natural ponds are the most successful. They are likely to be the healthiest, most successful predators etc.

Plenty of literature if you Google "factors affecting growth rate in larval spotted salamander"

 

[Woodfrog888]

Thank you for your reply and thank you so much for the tip re terms to google. Very helpful! Cannot wait to read those papers.

I am very grateful all the tadpoles and larvae are eating and doing well. I guess I am mostly curious as to why their growth is on the slow side. I will surely go through the papers and try and find answers.

Re stability of pond vs tank. So I researched how others maintain their tanks and so forth. What I decided to do is use some of our spring fed water (comes from a spring in the same area as the VP the critters came from) and some pond water. I completely change the water in this manner twice a week and add some of the "fresh" pond water every other day. It is a fun task ... as I change the water it seems as though I see that life multiplies quite a bit (even with everyone eating often).
Anyway, is there something I should or should not be doing re stabilization?

RE temp, the vernal pools they came from, I think are probably quite a bit warmer than the tanks they are in now as they get more direct sunlight. (the larvae came from an egg mass that was in a dried up portion of the pool)

 

[Blackbun]

Woodfrog, tadpoles tend to develop faster in warmer water.
Don't get bogged down with all the things you read and hear. You'll end up creating more trouble than you want. It sounds like you're doing the right thing else your animals would have died long ago. Ask a hundred people for advice you'll get a hundred and one different suggestions all based on individual experiences, levels of expertise and what is physically possible.