So Guhl, Idaho, 83316. For years, labs have fed solely minced beef liver or beef heart. Beef liver is no longer recommended as a balanced diet since it has been implicated as a cause of Vitamin A toxicity and other amphibian diseases. Nutrition - Tadpoles Tadpoles have a high calcium requirement and in addition to their diet, absorb calcium through their gills and skin. Good nutrition and adequately hard water are essential for normal development.
Iodine deficiencies can develop when amphibians are fed deficient or goitrogenic diets.
This causes tadpoles to fail to metamorphose. Tadpoles fed spinach may develop oxalate calculi in the kidneys and die at the time of metamorphosis. Xenopus laevis tadpoles are filter feeders and will begin to feed on suspended food particles at about 10 days old. Their typical posture is to hang, head down at a 45 angle in mid water with their long, whip-like tails rapidly vibrating. This produces a current in the water which brings their microscopic food to them.