I had the same problem when I first got into darts. I purchased them because they were beautiful and a challenge to reproduce. Well I got the knack down for reproducing them, I had over a hundred tadpoles but because it took so much time to raise the tadpoles it was hard to enjoy the hobby. I sold off all my frogs and just started getting back into keeping darts over the last few years. I've decided not to focus on breeding and just try and enjoy these gems.
Little work as Possible Tadpole Rearing?
G
How do people rear their tadpoles? I have found out quickly that one or two pair of frogs can produce an enormous number of tadpoles, very quickly.
I recently received as a gift from Tincs.com, a pair of ventrimaculatus. They have bred four times already, and I have over thrity good eggs. I have seen John's website, but that setup is not practical for me.
What do those with really large collections do with large numbers of tadpoles?
Please let's not let the subject tangent off to "well, if you are not willing to do the work..." I am a firm believer in "Necessity is the mother of invention", and so am looking for help in brainstorming ideas; I want to invent something that cleans and circulates the water, maybe an auto feeder, and maybe a heating system for the water to stay at a certain temp?
Mark
I recently received as a gift from Tincs.com, a pair of ventrimaculatus. They have bred four times already, and I have over thrity good eggs. I have seen John's website, but that setup is not practical for me.
What do those with really large collections do with large numbers of tadpoles?
Please let's not let the subject tangent off to "well, if you are not willing to do the work..." I am a firm believer in "Necessity is the mother of invention", and so am looking for help in brainstorming ideas; I want to invent something that cleans and circulates the water, maybe an auto feeder, and maybe a heating system for the water to stay at a certain temp?
Mark
1 - 20 of 39 Posts
Well, I've heard of people that do no water changes at all. They even claim they have better luck that way.
I'm pretty fond of having bright light on my tad tubs. I use 64oz. tub shaped containers, with an airstone and a good handfull of java moss in each one. I raise one clutch (up to six tads) of auratus in each one. I have a compact flourescent about 8 inches over the top of the tad shelf. With bright enough lighting, I would almost bet you could get away with not even feeding, with all the algae that grows in there, I haven't, and probably won't try that though. I only change water if it gets cloudy or starts to stink, which only happens on rare occasions.
When the front legs emerge, I dump the whole container into a planted ten gallon tank which is tilted to give a deeper water area, while still allowing good drainage for the land area. This is where I need to do something different! I sold some froglets recently, and it took a long time to catch the little buggers hopping around in the leaf litter, moss and plants.
Oh well, they probably like it that way!
I'm pretty fond of having bright light on my tad tubs. I use 64oz. tub shaped containers, with an airstone and a good handfull of java moss in each one. I raise one clutch (up to six tads) of auratus in each one. I have a compact flourescent about 8 inches over the top of the tad shelf. With bright enough lighting, I would almost bet you could get away with not even feeding, with all the algae that grows in there, I haven't, and probably won't try that though. I only change water if it gets cloudy or starts to stink, which only happens on rare occasions.
When the front legs emerge, I dump the whole container into a planted ten gallon tank which is tilted to give a deeper water area, while still allowing good drainage for the land area. This is where I need to do something different! I sold some froglets recently, and it took a long time to catch the little buggers hopping around in the leaf litter, moss and plants.
Oh well, they probably like it that way!
We usually have around 300 or so tadpoles at any given time. We raise them all individually. Believe it or not, we can change all of them in about an hour or two. We modify the lid of our tadpole cups so that it has an open part and a strainer part. We use the strainer to drain the cup and the open area to add water and food. The lid cuts tadpole change time exponentially.
One thing to keep in mind is that vents are highly cannibalistic. Put multiple ones in a single container and more than likely you'll end up with one per container.
One thing to keep in mind is that vents are highly cannibalistic. Put multiple ones in a single container and more than likely you'll end up with one per container.
I raise all of mine individually, feed Tetra Minitabs, and do no water changes. I use about 2 cups of water in each.
I raise all my tads in 8oz. deli cups, and it works well.I change water every week, but I have had good luck not changing the water at all, but they do come out slower.
Sinus infection, ear ache, 55 hour work week, tend frogs and salamanders. To tired. Flow through system, sponge filters, lots of water, lots of food, lots of tadpoles together.
LOL, now thats a classic post...
what is John's rearing tadpoles system?any web site?
G
I am very interested in Mikes setup - What does "flow through system" mean? Justin, if Mike is just too beat up from other stuff in life, and if Mike is okay with it, could you try and describe it?
Here is what I am trying to brainstorm. I saw a system in the second edition of the new dendrobatid books that hinted at something that was fully automated. With all due respect to Quality Captives, an hour or two is time I should be spenidng with my family. I work alot, and don't have that kindof time in the evenings.
I have seen automatic fish feeders, drippers on timers with overflows setup, and all that. Is there a way that anyone can think of to set up a system where the water is recycled, the food is automated (maybe a liquid food, comprised of things like earthworm and blood worm, and ground moistened fish flake...) and drop in trays that are able to flushed clean once a day on a timer, so they get their food again in the morning again or something like that.
I am interested to hear any good ideas, or even better, someone with intimate knowledge of that system pictured in the book.
Mark
Here is what I am trying to brainstorm. I saw a system in the second edition of the new dendrobatid books that hinted at something that was fully automated. With all due respect to Quality Captives, an hour or two is time I should be spenidng with my family. I work alot, and don't have that kindof time in the evenings.
I have seen automatic fish feeders, drippers on timers with overflows setup, and all that. Is there a way that anyone can think of to set up a system where the water is recycled, the food is automated (maybe a liquid food, comprised of things like earthworm and blood worm, and ground moistened fish flake...) and drop in trays that are able to flushed clean once a day on a timer, so they get their food again in the morning again or something like that.
I am interested to hear any good ideas, or even better, someone with intimate knowledge of that system pictured in the book.
Mark
G
I have a question about recirculating water. I read that some tadpoles secrete a chemical that stunts the growth of other tads. If you use an automated system that re-cirulates the water, aren't you cirulating that chemical to other tads? Is this even an issue?
An automated system would be nice, but tads don't really need alot of fresh water do they? I mean in the wild, tads are put anywhere there is standing water right? I remember reading somewhere that one sucessful breeder only does one water change the whole time that the tads are in the water. Wouldn't that make an automated system pointless?
An automated system would be nice, but tads don't really need alot of fresh water do they? I mean in the wild, tads are put anywhere there is standing water right? I remember reading somewhere that one sucessful breeder only does one water change the whole time that the tads are in the water. Wouldn't that make an automated system pointless?
A while back I imported from Europe and tadpole rearing, I don't what you'd call it, but it would hold about 50 tadpoles hooked up to a water source and would drip (or spray) new water into each small container constantly (if I turned the water was on) and had an outlet hole in the back of each little box to empty excess water and each tadpole was individually contained. You could change the water for all 50 tadpoles in under 5 minutes. It was only a foot or so wide and about as high. It was expensive, in excess of $300 10 years ago, plus shipping but because of differences in European plumbing (and because it came in broken) it never worked as well as I'd like. I sold it off at one of the early Frog Days to someone I haven't heard from in many years. If someone is interested in producing something like this and is handy with their hands contact me privately and we can work together to get someout out (and hopefully at a better price).
Best,
Chuck
Best,
Chuck
i don't know if anyone has done something like this, but if you were to make a multi cup-holder, of sorts, that woud more or less be a sheet of plastic with x number of holes cut into it which are just big enough to slide deli cups through. slice the bottom off each cup and replace it with screening or mesh. you could then glue the rim of each cup to the hole cut in the plastic (otherwise they would float ;-) ). then just lay this apparatus over a tank or deep tray large enough to accomodate the height of the deli cups (maybe one of those under-bed sterilite boxes?). keep two of these containers for each tray of cups, so you can get the new ater all set in one of them, and then now all you need to do to change water is pick up the tray of cups, and put it into the other container.
someone is probably doing something similar to this, but that's how i'd do it.
someone is probably doing something similar to this, but that's how i'd do it.
This method is not tried and true, but i just came up with it. I have about a dozen of these 2.5 gallon Ice mountain jugs. The kind with the built in spout or whatever. I cut the tops off and put mesh over the hole. Then in most i cover the bottom in gravel. Some there is no gravel. I have been putting groups of 2, 3, and 4 galacs in these. When i want to chage the water i just pull the plug and put in fresh water. So far so good. but its only been about a week and a half.
G
This is a very interesting subject that I have given some thought on before this post. If you are considering a mutli tad tank this would be a simple answer. I was thinking along the lines of having a 10 gal or possibly a 20 gal aquiriuam filled up with your tadpool tea leaves and other stuff you would want to put in there. You could have an under the gravel filter and or an over the side filter. Then all you you have to do would be add food and minerals as needed. It would be set up just like a fresh water fish tank and think it would be the easiest way to raise multi tads. The only problem with this type of set-up is you would have to remove the teds to a differnt tank when ready to morph.
Mike P.
Mike P.
I just remembered a contraption used to display bettas at the store where I worked. It is a commercial display with I think 15- 20 individual cups, but it had a central pump and water would be constantly trickling into the cups, giving constant filtration. It even had a light. I have no idea who made it though. Alot of pet store have cubicals for fish that can be centrally filtered and could be adapted for tadpoles possible.
1 - 20 of 39 Posts
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