Bubble tadpole Imitator Egg and Tadpole development

[Girlwithafrogtattoo]

I did so over a couple hours- was that enough time?
It hadn't been mentioned to gradually change it, but didn't want to shock the tadpole, that's why I did it the way I did.
I feel horrible again!
I won't be pulling any more eggs, that's for sure!

[Cindy Dicken]

No need to beat yourself up, you meant well.
Yes, any time you make changes to the water, it's best to do it slowly a little at a time, over a day or two.
When I use tadpole tea, I do it for the eggs, if I have had a problem with mold, or for the first couple
of weeks after the tadpole has hatched as a preventative for mouth fungus. Then I will transition the tadpole off of the tea and go with straight bottled spring water. I suspect that the tadpole went into shock due to the change in the PH.

[Philsuma]

I use a weak tea, myself. I can see where some people would make it very strong - like actual human ice tea density.

I would still make a quess that the bubble is gas related - to the water composition or possibly protein in the food.

The tanins and the PH change help keep fungal elements at bay and I believe Ed may have once suggested a possible bacteria infection as the cause of a tad bubble, but again....I'd put my money on "unusual water composition" or too much food with too high protein.

[Cindy Dicken]

I have also heard that gas bubbles can be contributed to too cool water temp.

[Girlwithafrogtattoo]

Ah! I didn't even think about the PH! Our water is high on the PH scale as it is. I don't rememer exactly what it was, but the water alone is why I kept African Cichlids. I believe it was 8.6
On the other board it's been suggested that the tadpole- who is still alive- is suffering from the bacteria in the water. And that it's tail is starting to show that in the picture from day 34. The water is changed completely every day because I have him in a tiny container. I think in a couple days after I let him hopefully recover from the stress of yesterday I will put him in a larger container.
I did more reading on the gas bubble as well. For the next couple of days I won't feed either- that seems to be the recommended way of treating it if it's from too much protein in the food.

Thank you guys for your help- I feel a lot more comfortable coming here for advice than the other board!

[Girlwithafrogtattoo]

[Girlwithafrogtattoo]

[Philsuma]

That's just great photo-documentation Kim. Those photos could be very important to someone wishing to write a paper one day. The symmetry of the bubble is what has me astounded. I was lucky enough to watch a tadpole pop a front out one day...it was like it was wrestling with a straight-jacket. Lots of movement. I still think that Tad is going to pop both fronts and look normal.

[Philsuma]

I'm seeing where someone is claiming uneaten food and the resulting "bacteria" is the culprit here...

I would not bet on it. I haven't heard that theory from anyone else and while it may be possible (there are at least 5-6 different theories now), I still think that it is FAR from certain.

[Girlwithafrogtattoo]

I hope your are right! I should take a picture of him from the front if he cooperates. It looks so uncomfortable, and at this point I haven't really noticed any difference in the bubble size after changing the water, or halting food.

I'm hopefull that my next tadpole doesn't have the air bubbles though. I tried placing this guy in a larger amount of water, but he doesn't swim well at all, so I'm leaving him in the 2oz container and doing the water changes daily.

[Cindy Dicken]

I feed sparingly so not to foul the water. I do not do water changes on my tadpoles. The tadpoles are in open top jars that sit on a rack with fluorescent lights. I have java moss in each tadpole jar, and I will add water, usually once a week or when it is needed to maintain about a two and a half to three inch depth.
I believe that if you feed a QUALITY food, you will not have the waste to deal with. A quality food will be utilized and metabolized by the tadpole resulting in far less excrement.

[Philsuma]

Like Cindy....I never do water changes either. I only "top off" water.

I DO suction up detritus with a Turkey Baster...but I never do a wholesale water change. I believe strongly that they should not really have "Clean" water. Water changed daily can be a shock to them.

I always have a slice of Indian almond leaf in the 2oz cup for the tad to hide under / around and more importantly, for the tad to graze on. Tadpoles of most species - especially Tincs and Tinc "types" will not only eat the bio film that grows on the leaf, but will also actually consume the leaf - skeletonizing it. AND the almond leaf will also release the needed Tannins into the water and at a much lower level than a high concentrate of dark red or brown tea - which may also shock the tad.

...just how I do....

[Girlwithafrogtattoo]

Cindy- I had thought of using Ball jars with lids for the next tadpole, but my space is really limited. The little 2oz containers seemed like a good size to be able to place them somewhere safe.
Lids and covers are nessasary here, there is so much cat fur flying around here that I'd hate to see one stuck in it. Darn long haired cat!
I tried growing Java moss, but had no luck with it to this point, of course, I ordered it from eBay.

Phil-
I have put a small piece of almond leaf in the cup with the tadpole, so he does have a bit of cover. He was also sitting on it, so I guess he was grazing on it.
I'm hoping to pick up some of those 6.5qt KIS containers like you use, and set them up under my Azureus viv. Both to hold tadpole containers, and as grow out/morph out containers.
Of course, I've got my 10 gallon mini african violet propogation tank under there right now, so I need to figure out where to go with it!

[Girlwithafrogtattoo]

And I will not do the constant water changes for other tads then either.
For this guy I was trying to keep the water really clean also for the photographs. Would it be harmful to change that now? If it is used to the way I've done the water changes, I dont want to shock it again by changing my habits.

[Philsuma]

to be honest, I would say its just as important to keep that particular tad's water clear in order to facilitate photo documentation, but the other tads...yeah....I would not do full water changes on them.

[Girlwithafrogtattoo]

In the second picture you can see the tadpoles little hands! It caught me off guard!

[Girlwithafrogtattoo]

I tried to get some better "hand" pics, and while I was watching him he was moving his arms around. It was very interesting to watch.
There should be about 3 weeks before the tad comes ootw right?

[Girlwithafrogtattoo]

[Girlwithafrogtattoo]

[Girlwithafrogtattoo]