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Dart Den

Serving the Dart Frog Community Since 2004...

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Shipping Tadpoles - Good practice ?
#1
I'm not a big shipper...so...

Anyone have any thoughts as to if there is a much hgher mortality with tads. Even with "awesome" test tube packing, ect, I still have to think that tads are a HECK of a lot more fragile than shipping a well started froglet even.

It just stands to reason - some tadpoles are tricky to morph out even in stable conditions. Thumbnail tads can be problematic sometimes as well.

And then....

It just seems that some people are treating them as potentialy disposable - No guarantee on live arrival, but "I've shipped em before with no problems" :roll:

Grow em up and then they are well started, no SLS ect.

As always (seems people NEED to see this "opinion disclaimer" lately).....just my .02. LOVE to hear other's thoughts on this practice.
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#2
Shipping tads isnt too hard when done right.. Ive probably shipped a thousand over the years but most were tincs and auratus. Now there is an issue to LAG I think if you take someones money and shipping funds your should be held responsible. Its your choice to ship them and sell them so whats with the NO LAG. If your trying to ship Fant or retic tads your ignorant, obligate tads you stupid but other than that Id say go for it but look at it as if your rep depends on it. Pack them as well as anything else you ship and if you cant dont bother selling them.

Another issue is Id always ask if the breeders as well cared for, supplemented well and have any past of sls or anything,

Michael
Everyday I meet someone I dislike, are you today's pick? If you dislike me it's because somethings wrong with you!

Don't Be A Hybridiot!
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#3
Most REPUTABLE breeders do not sell tadpoles.

I have swapped tadpoles with other breeders, no issues with shipping, you basically ship them like you would fish.
Something to keep in mind though is some people want to include live aquatic plants in with the tadpoles (like java moss, riccia, etc). Plants only give off oxygen when they are in light (photosynthesis). Plants release CO2 (carbon dioxide) when no light is present. So if you stick a wad of java moss in the container with the tadpoles, and place it in your shipping box, it will not provide oxygen for the trip. For no longer than the tadpoles will be in transit, they will be ok with just water.

The main thing is to send enough water with the tadpoles so the recipient can transition them SLOWLY to the new water source. Also might include some of the food if you are feeding something not readily available.
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#4
I agree with the shipping them like fish, smaller fish bags in insulated boxes work well when packed secure. I disagree with the Most Reputable breeders part. Now Most who consider themselves a business may not as they lose money selling tads but tads are sold all the time by many. Its as easy as sending them a PM or Email. it may not be in the classifieds but its done.

Michael
Everyday I meet someone I dislike, are you today's pick? If you dislike me it's because somethings wrong with you!

Don't Be A Hybridiot!
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#5
There are probably a lot of places that you can order something that does not appear on the menu.
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#6
I still think a WELL started froglet - old enough to not be frail, is more durable that most tadpoles. Water is a big factor. When the shipped tadpoles go into their "new" water....that can be not only a shock and stress, but possibly fatal.

I don't think money is at work here - less money to the breeder for a tadpole than a froglet. I think people cut corners to ship tadpoles and think of them as more or less "disposable" and that if they lose tadpoles in shipping, its nowhere near as bad as if they lose frogs.

Finally, one of the tenants of good breeder-ship is to safeguard and produce a healthy froglet to adult frog in furtherance to the hobby and for the good of the buyer. All tadpoles have a degree of uncertainty as to their growth and viability. Maybe that dovetails into why some people view them as disposable and not a big loss.

Some thoughts....
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#7
Guaranteeing them to be SLS free would be difficult (IMO). I've never sold a frog (let alone a tad) but have given and traded both frogs and tads locally. For me, my lamasis have never once had SlS. I gave 5 tads from the same group to a friend once and 4 out of 5 morphed with SLS. Im not faulting his care as he has successfully raised many tads (way more than me) and he's someone that I respect. But something somewhere along the line went wrong for that to happen. I can see doing shipping them, and would agree with a live arrival guarantee, but there are far too many variables to guarantee anything beyond that. In the end, I replaced the 4 that had sls with healthy young frogletts and to the best of my knowledge all is well today.
Derek
1.5 kids and a bunch of frogs
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#8
Well said Derek. That's the mark of a good and proper hobbyist IMO....standing by your hobby practices and making good customers and fellow partner hobbyists.

I still see way too many "my tads arrived dead and the seller won't do anything...." threads.
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#9
There is no such thing as an "assumption of risk" when dealing with tads - as in "buyer beware". If anything...I think more younger / newer people try to ship tads and they get even more bent out of shape when they don't ship well or die. And if it IS truly "buyer beware"...isn't that devaluing the tadpoles right off the git-go ?

It's like a lot of things in this hobby....don't attempt it until you have some time under your belt. I know, I know....you are now gonna say, how can we perfect shipping if we don't start somewhere and begin to "try".

ah..another hobby conundrum.
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"Time flies like an arrow, fruit flies like a banana".
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#10
Eppendorf Tube

From "Aqua Solutions"

"Not all tubes are created equal. If a chemical leaches out of the tube, it can carry over to all of your downstream applications and you will never know when it might affect your assays. One good summary on the importance of leaching comes from Reid et al. (2009): “There are several steps researchers can take to minimize the likelihood of their data being compromised by leachates. Some manufacturers provide information on the additives content of their plastics; for example, Eppendorf use virgin polypropylene for their colorless pipette tips and microfuge tubes, and no slip agents or other additives are present. Although the associated costs may be slightly higher, researchers should purchase plastic ware from a manufacturer that does not use additives and avoid buying from suppliers that refuse to confirm the absence of additive".

[Image: Eppendorf_tubes.jpg]
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#11
I don't think it is a practice by the breeder - to MAKE more money by holding back tadpoles as much as it is an attempt by the BUYER to SAVE money by requesting a tadpole instead of a froglet.

And...then throw in possibility that many new hobbyists are younger or don't have the income to purchase a lot of what they want and then, boom....you have the possibility of brand new hobbyist trying to get imitator tadpoles, for instance, and when they have problems...they get very upset, discouraged and start negative threads and PM's.
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#12
I think they would fair much better if they are shipped using breathable bags by Kordon. This would remove the water sloshing around as no air would be present. It would also keep you from having to worry about oxygen during shipping. The use of the smallest bags (betta bags) would work quite well. I regularly transport tadpoles and fish of various species in these conditions when field collecting.
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#13
I have shipped probably a couple hundred tads over the years in pint size spring water bottles and as Cindy mentioned enough water to transition to the receiver's water gradually is critical. I have never had issues with those I shipped except once on some Retic tads and I think those were just messed up tads as his problem cropped up in ones I raised later. I think that tads will not stress the way froglets do and that ultimately it is healthier to ship a tad than a froglet.

But a few things to consider, water chemistry change, age of the tad (I always preferred about 6 weeks of age), feeding and water change routine..any of these could ultimately effect a tads morph in a negative way. I would always send enough food to get a tad out of the water with the food they started on.

Since I do a 100% water change every day, when I get to 20+ tads I do offer them on occasion as I have to buy spring water for use on all my tanks and tads.
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#14
Tads y'all....tads....in the mail.
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"Time flies like an arrow, fruit flies like a banana".
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#15
I shipped some well established benedicta tads in film cans and they arrived w no issues. (they were w frogs and phase 22 paks sent O/N Fedex)
Scott - North Dallas
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#16
Bump....
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