Questions about tadpoles

[oneilsfrogs]

My family and I rescued 12 grey tree frog tadpoles (well now 11 as we lost one) and we enjoy watching them change every day. 2 of the remaining 11 now have their front legs. But we have lots of questions.
1) When do we add land area for the tadpoles to climb out onto?
2) When is it safe to let them go? We may keep one or two but plan to let most of them go.
3) Right now we have been feeding them lettuce every so often but mostly baby fish food...as it was in the house and they seem to enjoy it. When do I feed them something more frog like?
4) Do I need a separate tank for the tadpoles that have their front legs? I have read that these guys actually don't need to be fed as they feed off of their tail.

Any help you all can give will be great. Thanks.

[UncleChester]

My family and I rescued 12 grey tree frog tadpoles (well now 11 as we lost one) and we enjoy watching them change every day. 2 of the remaining 11 now have their front legs. But we have lots of questions.
1) When do we add land area for the tadpoles to climb out onto?
2) When is it safe to let them go? We may keep one or two but plan to let most of them go.
3) Right now we have been feeding them lettuce every so often but mostly baby fish food...as it was in the house and they seem to enjoy it. When do I feed them something more frog like?
4) Do I need a separate tank for the tadpoles that have their front legs? I have read that these guys actually don't need to be fed as they feed off of their tail.

Any help you all can give will be great. Thanks.

1) When they have 4 legs they should be transferred to a container with very shallow water that they can easily get out of, like a small aquarium on a gentle slant. Or a land setup with a very shallow but easily accessible water dish.
2) They are most vulnerable while still absorbing their tail. Once they resume eating you can set them back in the wild where you found them. If you are unable to secure small enough feeders for them, I'd set them free while they still have a little tail nub.
3) When the tail is mostly gone, make live food available so it's there when they are ready. Flightless fruit flies are the standard, but pinhead crickets may also be used.
4) A separate tank is the easiest and safest way to prevent drowning accidents.

There's a detailed section on raising tadpoles in Frog Forum - Gray Tree Frog Care and Breeding