Tadpoles?

historyman

I have placed several containers around the garden to catch rain water. Today I went to empty them into larger container to save and found that one small clear plastic tub had wildlife swimming around, on closer inspection they appear to be Tadpoles. I don't have a pond nor is there one nearby, but I do have frogs and toads in the garden Would very much like to keep them. 
Would love to hear what you clever folk might think of this.

Pete.8

Are you sure they're tadpoles?
Presumably frogs would have had to get into the container, mate, spawn then the eggs hatch.
I know when I've left containers out they're frequently home to lots of mossie/gnat larvae.

In natural ponds there will be plenty of daphnia and the like for the tads to eat, they'll need food if they are tads and you hope to raise them.
It's not something I've tried, but I hope someone can advise.

historyman

Cannot be 100% sure  but have shown them to neighbours and we all think they are Tadpoles. Been down the village pond and collected some water and hope that there will be enough feed for them or perhaps I should put them in the village pond ?

fidgetbones

I would tip them in the pond. A neighbour had some of our frogspawn, but the tadpoles did not do well in a large bucket.  Ours grew legs and left the pond last week.

Pete.8

Iagree - they'll be much happier there than in a bucket, and it'll be nice to know that you've made a contribution to nature

historyman

We are a "Wildlife friendly village" so I contacted the person in charge  she has just been to look and agrees they are Tadpoles - the mystery still remains - how did they get in the bucket.  They are now safely in the village pond. 

Igrowfromseed

A couple of snails fell into our pond and the tadpoles are ‘swarming’ around each snail looking like they are having a feast.