Tadpoles

A tadpole begins life looking more like a tiny fish than a frog. It breathes through gills, swims with a tail and usually feeds on algae. Over several weeks it goes through metamorphosis: back legs appear first, then front legs, the lungs develop, and the tail is slowly absorbed until a small froglet climbs out of the water.

Raising tadpoles is a classic classroom and family project. Learn what tadpoles eat, follow our step-by-step guide to raising tadpoles, and find out how long tadpoles take to become frogs.