Natural Science Forum / Biology / Paleontology / June 2005

So far as I know, tadpoles are vegetarian.

Sorry if my reply is WAY off topic, but I thought this might help:

Tadpoles tend to be vegetarian, many are omnivorous, but not predatory - so
I wouldn't count on them to keep mosquito larvae in check. Tadpoles tend to
stay near the bottom, where they can hide or blend in. They may also tax the
plants as much as, if not more than fish (remember, they excrete, too!). As
for a mosquito ring; I don't know what that is, but if it puts ANY chemicals
in the water, and you want the tadpoles to survive, then avoid it - tadpoles
are still amphibians and as such have permeable skins that will readily take
up whatever's dissolved in the water. You might want to pick up a few
'feeder' goldfish and throw them in the pond; they're small, dirt cheap, and
may be enough to keep the mosquito larvae in check. If you're gonna keep
livestock in the pond (weather it be fish or tadpoles), investing in small
filtration system is probably a good idea; a good filter with the right
media is important in keeping down the buildup of ammonia, and other animal
waste products. Also, a small pump or filter system that keeps the water
surface constantly moving may likely discourage mosquitoes from spawning in
the first place.

Ummm... All that being said, I am no expert in this area, just a hobbyist,
so you may want to field these questions to your local pet store or water
garden staff(s).