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Early on...years ago, I lost some tadpoles due to what I now believe was lack of oxygen transfer from sealing up the container. I now raise all tadpoles in small condiment cups and place these in a drawer - but always unsealed. In fact, no top at all. Do some people worry about water evaporation, and that's why they put lids on their tadpole containers ?
Thoughts ?
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I use vented lids so I can stack my containers on top of each other.
"He that is slow to believe anything and everything is of great understanding, for belief in one false principle is the beginning of all unwisdom" LaVey
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Observation has lead us to believe that tads need air,so far all of our tads come up to the surface and seem to grab air. So all are in uncovered cups,which also means they get to occasionally snaffle a rogue ff  ,Im for uncovered cups!
Stu
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Don't seal up your tadpole cups....they need to breathe.
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A few years back I was speaking to Pat Nabors about this. According to Pat leaving them uncovered causes evaporation which then causes at least a 5 degree temperature drop in the water
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jeffr Wrote:A few years back I was speaking to Pat Nabors about this. According to Pat leaving them uncovered causes evaporation which then causes at least a 5 degree temperature drop in the water
Temperature swings would be a good thing I would think. If the frogs sex is based off of temperature like reptiles are this would help with evenly distributed sexes out of the froglets. Has anyone notice this out of theirs? I keep mine open with no temperature control and my frogs seem to come out 50/50 or 60/40
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Wouldn't the CO2/O2 exchange be aided by having the top unsealed?
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zachk Wrote:Wouldn't the CO2/O2 exchange be aided by having the top unsealed?
Yes, it does help.
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The majority of frogs, including all Dendrobatids, are genetically sex determined. Temperatures can affect expression of proteins that aid in sex determination and can ultimately affect the sex, usually high temps means more males and vice versa. In other words, a genetic female raised at higher than typical temps can become "male". It can call and breed with another genetic female that acts as a female and produce offspring. A good example of this in the hobby is H. azureiventris. The lack of females is believed to be related to raising tads at higher than natural temps.
I think a reasonable night drop is good for all tads but probably most beneficial for highland and mid-elevation species.
ZG
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rcteem Wrote:jeffr Wrote:A few years back I was speaking to Pat Nabors about this. According to Pat leaving them uncovered causes evaporation which then causes at least a 5 degree temperature drop in the water
Temperature swings would be a good thing I would think. If the frogs sex is based off of temperature like reptiles are this would help with evenly distributed sexes out of the froglets. Has anyone notice this out of theirs? I keep mine open with no temperature control and my frogs seem to come out 50/50 or 60/40
My observations to date yield about 50/50
Scott - North Dallas
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Philsuma Wrote:Early on...years ago, I lost some tadpoles due to what I now believe was lack of oxygen transfer from sealing up the container. I now raise all tadpoles in small condiment cups and place these in a drawer - but always unsealed. In fact, no top at all. Do some people worry about water evaporation, and that's why they put lids on their tadpole containers ?
Thoughts ?
Phil
To help others compare notes - I raise tads individually in FF deli cups and do not use lids. I have not tried using a lid yet. Currently, every tad gets same conditions, food etc. (except Pums, which are parent raised). I use Ozarka bottled spring water w minerals and toss in a few live oak leaves and a small piece of almond leaf. I generally do not change out water. It gets more crummy as time goes on... FFs diver bodies et al
Scott - North Dallas
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I always vacuum the detritus in the tad cups every few days. I feel that is important.
Turkey Baster.
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Good water and good air! I do not cover my containers. I have a water line on the jars and when i notice evaporation i add spring water that is the same room temp as the tad containers. I feel fluctuation in temps is a good thing. As with anything a prolonged exposure has the potential to do harm. I think you need the fluctuation in temps and as mentioned above open containers for C02/o2 exchange.
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Bumping this for a question. My tadpole cups are open inside a Sterilite drawer (each one fits 6 16oz cups nicely). I open the drawers up once a day to check on them if it isn't a tad bite or spirulina day.
Today I cleaned the cups of some very good-looking, energetic tadpoles. I added fresh spring water to compensate for evaporation and the water I removed. The cups contain a piece of Indian almond and some strands of NEHERP's tadpole moss.
Is there any reason to be concerned about one of the healthy tads, whom I earlier watched eat half a tadpole bite in just a minute or so, hanging out with its head near the top of the water? Could it just be sucking down spirulina that got stirred up when I added water? Or is it possible there's an oxygen problem despite everything I mentioned above?
Yeah, I realize this is a total newbie question. I saw this through the drawer so I wasn't able to look closely at what it was doing, since it hides on approach or when the drawer is opened. (Then sneaks back out to see what's going on.)
A girl named Joey.
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Sometimes a tad may seem to 'float' or be in an unusual position. Nothing abnormal.
As long as the lid to the cup isn't on - you should be fine in a drawer type system and opening it every couple days.
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The natural state of the Dart frog tadpole deposition site is a small body of water. This evolution helps to avoid predators like fish and water insects that occupy niches in larger permanent bodies of water. As such, it is unnatural and potentially deadly to house dart frog tadpoles in deep aquariums.
The are far easier and naturally individually reared in small condiment or deli cups of under 20 ounces.
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So does everyone use spring water for tads? Anyone use distilled for tads? Typically how long does it take everyone's tinctorius to morph out?
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Morph time depends on temp, species, diet ect. Completely variable.
Do NOT use RO or Distilled water unless you 'cut' it with blackwater additive or some Indian Almond leaves, rocks, plants ect.
FAR easier and safer to use 'Grocery store' spring water or even de-gassed tap water or well water. City water for MANY urban areas is fine and safe.
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I use distilled with almond leaves but wonder if it will speed up growth if I use spring...
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Dendrokurt Wrote:I use distilled with almond leaves but wonder if it will speed up growth if I use spring...
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I doubt it would speed up anything. Temperature increase would speed things up the fastest, then more food.
Sometimes you get a few 'tadpoles that don't want to be in a rush to grow up and join the workforce. Seriously.
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