Why Raising Tadpoles Is So Rewarding
If you’ve kept dart frogs long enough, sooner or later you’ll spot a clutch of eggs tucked under a leaf, inside a film canister, or cradled in a bromeliad. Congratulations — your frogs are thriving. But what now?
Raising tadpoles from egg to froglet is one of the most rewarding parts of dart frog keeping. With the right setup, food, and patience, you’ll see the full life cycle unfold — and possibly raise your next generation of frogs.
This UK-specific guide covers every stage: from collection and hatching to morphing and metamorph care.
What You’ll Need to Raise Dart Frog Tadpoles
Before you collect any eggs, make sure you’ve got your gear ready:
- Hatch containers: Film canisters, petri dishes, or small deli cups
- Grow-out tubs: Small containers or baby bins with aged water
- Indian almond leaves: Natural antibacterial water conditioner
- Tadpole food: Spirulina, fish flakes, or commercial tadpole diet
- Pipettes or turkey baster: For water changes and feeding
- Tweezers: To gently handle eggs or leaf nests
- Optional: Springtail Collection Riser to start microfauna once froglets morph
Step 1: Collecting the Eggs
Most dart frogs lay eggs on horizontal leaves, film canisters, or coconut hides. If you’re keeping Ranitomeya, eggs may be inside a bromeliad. Use tweezers or a damp spoon to collect the eggs and transfer them into a petri dish with a small amount of dechlorinated water.
💡 Tip: If you don’t see eggs, look for jelly-like clumps in the lower tank areas, especially after a misting.
Check the eggs daily. Healthy ones turn from clear to grey to black. Fungused eggs will go white and fuzzy — remove these immediately to protect the rest.
Step 2: Hatching into Free-Swimming Tadpoles
Eggs typically hatch after 10–14 days. You’ll know it’s close when the tail becomes visible and they start to wiggle inside the gel. Once hatched, gently transfer each tadpole into its own grow-out container filled with aged, room-temperature water.
We recommend:
- Aged tap water with Indian almond leaf or catappa extract
- Small containers (200–400 ml) cleaned weekly
You can also raise them communally in larger tubs, but this increases the risk of cannibalism with some species like D. tinctorius.
Step 3: Feeding Dart Frog Tadpoles
Tadpoles are omnivores and eat almost constantly. Feed small amounts of:
- Spirulina powder (just a pinch)
- Fish flakes
- Commercial tadpole food (like HBH Tadpole Bites or Repashy Soilent Green)
- Softened leaf litter or boiled spinach (occasionally)
Feed every 1–2 days, and do a partial water change weekly. Clean out waste with a pipette or baster.
⚠️ Avoid overfeeding — it causes water fouling, which is deadly.
Step 4: Watching for Front Legs
After 6–12 weeks (species-dependent), back legs will appear first, followed by front limbs. Reduce feeding at this stage and add a floating cork bark raft, moss clump, or small slope so they can leave the water.
Once front legs appear, metamorphosis accelerates rapidly. Most frogs leave the water within 1–3 days after front legs emerge.
Step 5: Morph Care – The “Froglet” Stage
This is the most sensitive time in their lives.
Housing Tips:
- Move froglets to a small plastic grow-out tub with a tight-fitting lid and vent holes
- Use damp sphagnum moss or paper towel
- Mist daily but avoid standing water
Feeding:
- Start springtails immediately
- At 5–7 days post-morph, offer melanogaster fruit flies dusted with Repashy Calcium Plus
Keep froglets warm (22–25°C), stable, and isolated for the first few weeks. Once they are 1–1.5 cm and feeding confidently, you can move them to larger enclosures.
Timeline Overview
| Stage | Timeframe | Key Focus |
|---|---|---|
| Eggs | 0–14 days | Keep clean and fungus-free |
| Tadpoles | 2–12 weeks | Feeding and water quality |
| Morphs | 1–2 days | Dry spot, low stress |
| Froglets | 1–2 months | Springtails and growth |
Which Dart Frogs Are Best to Breed?
- Easy Morphers: Dendrobates tinctorius ‘Azureus’, ‘Lucemalia’, Leucomelas
- More Advanced: Ranitomeya variabilis, Oophaga pumilio
Avoid cohabiting different morphs or species in breeding tanks to prevent hybridisation.
Check out our current dart frogs for sale — many are UK captive-bred and well-suited for beginners.
Frogfather summary
Raising tadpoles from egg to froglet is a beautiful journey. It requires care, cleanliness, and a little bit of patience — but the reward of watching your frogs grow through every stage of life is well worth it.
