9 pellets is a lot for one tadpole, maybe 6 or 4, but that depends on the size of the pellets and how many tadpoles you have. Anyways, if your unsure if he is eating, try boiling lettuce for 5-15 minutes or until it sinks. Tropical fish flake food worked for me also, but lettuce is a sure fire way. Feed them 1-2 times a day. Try to feed as much as they can eat, with a little left over for later. Don't overfeed, as it will dirty the water and cause unpleasant problems. It would be better to underfeed, as you can tell if you are not feeding them enough.