What do Tadpoles Eat

There are various stages in the life cycle of amphibians. The larva of a frog or toad is called as tadpole. Tadpoles differ from the adult frogs or toads, in external as well as internal appearance. Tadpoles hatch from eggs that are laid in water. After hatching from the egg, the tadpole, also known as a polliwog, resembles a fish and breathes through gills. It is legless and moves with the help of a tail. During the process of metamorphosis, a tadpole develops legs, lungs and other organs, loses its tail; and becomes an adult frog or toad.

What do tadpoles eat? The diet of a tadpole varies from species to species. However, most tadpoles are herbivores and feed on plants and algae. Some species are omnivores and eat detritus and even other tadpoles. Tadpoles eat a wide variety of food. During the early developmental stage, the tadpole feeds on its own yolk sacks, in order to grow and develop. One day after hatching, the tadpole starts to absorb oxygen through its skin and eats the remainder of yolk in its intestine. Within 2-3 days, it opens its mouth and its external gills start working. After that, it becomes vegetarian. The major food for tadpoles includes plants, algae and other microscopic things in the water. They also feed on fish food, lettuce, egg yolk and baby cereal.

When the back legs of tadpoles emerge, they completely become carnivores within a short period of time. If there are no sufficient insects, larvae, microbes or other small animals in the water, then they eat each other.