More to the point, Amphibians are probably the most threatened of your animal groups in this country, possibly the world, because they are so vulnerable to air and water pollution. (I helped survey a stream Saturday which had an oil spill 6 months ago. We also surveyed it two years ago and the results were sobering, so I'm a little twitchy about this stuff anyway.)

When I get tadpoles in my Daphnia cultures outside, my activities stop in that culture. (I always have back-up cultures though.) I don't know whether they are frogs, toads or salamanders, nor the exact species. Most of them are also great insect hunters and it seems a tiny investment in the future to let them "play through". It is also cool finding out what they will be. :)

I understand, on the average, massive numbers of tadpoles will perish for every one which will become a reproducing adult. So if you take a few it, probably will not make a difference in the ultimate scheme of things. I just feel better not feeding them to fish and I've fed a lot of stuff to fish over the years.

I don't wish to intrude on your privacy, but if you would mention, in a general sense, what part of the world you live in (i.e. I live in the southern suburbs of Chicago) I might be able to suggest an aquarium club where you could purchase a modestly inexpensive Daphnia culture (or microworm, Walter worm, Grundle worm culture...). I'd mail a culture for postage, but in this weather, even with the best packing, I fear they would cook. :(