vieja, depends on what kind of frog tadpoles they are, as they all change at different rates. Leopard frog tadpoles can change into frogs a few weeks. Others such as Green frogs or Bullfrogs can take two years or more to change over. It all depends on the pond conditions, temperature and food availability. Since you describe them being "the size of a big marble", it makes me think you may have either Green frog or Bullfrog tadpoles. I have thought in the passed, that the Green frog tadpoles, I put into in my ponds had either died or had been eaten,since there was never a sign of them, only to find the next year some young frogs in and around my ponds. They are very good at surviving and staying out of harms way. "Horton"

I have sort of teh same issue. Our Green Frog and the little fella she brought to the pond laid eggs early June. They turned into tadpoles, but the Goldfish and their insatiable appetite ate every one. She then went with the male to the kiddy pool where we had duckweed and pond plants being held and laid more eggs, but these were laid mid to late July. We now have oodles and oodles of tadpoles and it is doubtful they will turn before colder weather gets here. I tried to dipnet some to the other side of the pond while the GF were busy across working on pellets, but there are always GF all over and they must have alerted the others because not a one tadpole is left. I have no way of overwintering Green Frog Tadpoles and would really like to put them in the pond now while they still have the cover of the roots of the Water Hyacinth and Water Lettuce....but I know they will be devoured by the GF! Such a Deal!! Cyndi

Midwesternerr's advice is right. Another de-chlorinating product is "Ammo-Lock". It also helps remove ammonia from the water (caused by lots of tadpoles pooping). I use a pre-formed stiff pond liner, rather than a flexible one, to stand up to tree roots and punctures better. To avoid trapping little critters in the pond: One can also use water plants and thin, flat rocks for "ramps" to let young emerging frogs/toad and salamanders. I have a potted water willow in my small pond and the roots grow out 8-10" from the edge of the pot. The top of the pot is just above the water level, but little critters can climb out of the water via the floating/partly submerged mat of roots. Then they can walk up and exit on the little ramp I have bridging the willow pot to the pond edge. I have 2 other 'ramps' in other parts of the pond and I try and keep it full. Most emerging frogs and toads can climb the smooth plastic sides without ramps... You can get an inexpensive pump filter for small pond pumps. The one I use is essentially a plastic box around several layers of foam filter. The pump body and water intake goes inside the box, and water passes through 5-6 layers of the foam material before entering the pump. The filters/distance means even tiny critters do not get sucked into the pump. You can remove and clean it easily without disturbing the tadpoles. I recommend letting algae grow on the sides of the pond. Tadpoles eat a lot and they love munching algae. I also bring duckweed to the pond - it helps provide food, oxygen and clean the water (tadpoles poop a lot of nutrients). Besides the water willow, I have Pickerel Weed, and Lizard's tail in pots in the pond. You can supplement your tadpole's pond food with lettuce (they like Red Leaf Lettuce the best, but larger tadpoles can eat Romaine). They also LOVE daylily petals. Every now and then, especially when it's about to rain cats and dogs, I let out a few inches of water from the pond. This gets rid of some of the "old water" in favor of new. Be sure there is some shady, leaf-litter habitat near your pond. Ideally connected to larger expanses of such habitat. If the pond is in a sunny area surrounded by mowed grass, the emerging frogs and toads will have a long "death march" to safety. Finally, even if you do not have frogs/toads in your yard now, you can transplant tadpoles or tiny toads/frogs from elsewhere. But be sure to get them from ephemeral wetlands if you live in suburbia - Bullfrogs, Pig Frogs, Pickerel Frogs, etc. need larger water sources. Or get tiny toads as they emerge from their nurseries elsewhere.

Thinning out the plants somewhat shouldn't interfere with their ability to live in the water. Just be sure the young frogs/toads have the ability to get out of the water when they metamorphose. Hopefully, you will get some rain soon. The amphibians in my area (south Texas) are really taking a beating because of our prolonged drought. Hopefully we will get a nice tropical storm or two this season to refill the tanks!