Tadpoles begin their lives with gills and they breathe water. However, fairly quickly they develop lungs and they breathe air. This leads to some interesting behavior.

As your tadpoles get bigger, you'll watch them go up and down like those diver toys they sell for aquariums. The tadpole will be sleeping contentedly on the gravel bottom of the tank. Then, all of a sudden, they will skyrocket to the top of the water, twist, and let out an air bubble. Then they'll zip right back down to the bottom again.

I've even seen tadpoles swim out of the bottom of the barrel-tank-ornament they were sleeping in, go to the top, do a twist to release the air bubble, and then swim back down into the barrel again.

The tadpoles are just like hippopotami, manatees, or other aquatic creatures that breathe air. They go down to rest, and surface occasionally to breathe in some air. In a tadpole's case, they seem to like to breathe out the old air at the same time. It's almost like sometimes that old air is stuck in them. The twist or turn they do helps it to get out of them. Then they breathe in some fresh air and go back down to rest again.

In this video, you can see the first tadpole on the rock do the twisting release. You can also see several other tadpoles doing it the air bubble release throughout the video.



Tadpole Care Feeding and Raising - What do Tadpoles Eat and Need to Thrive?

Frogs and Toads in Sutton Massachusetts

Tadpole Care and Feeding This step by step manual helps ensure that your little tadpoles grow up to be happy, healthy frogs. From choosing the tank to designing the menu, from checking the pH to adjusting the temperature, I'll ensure your cute, tiny balls of energy grow up into a joyful friend.

Animals and Birds in Sutton Massachusetts

Sutton Massachusetts Photo Collection