Timelapse of common frog Rana temporaria frogspawn developing into tadpoles over a period of about 7 days. Common frogs breed in shallow, still, fresh water such as ponds, with breeding generally commencing in March. The females lay between 1000 and 4000 eggs, which float in large clusters. They are surrounded with a clear jelly_like substance that swells up in the water to protect the fragile embryos. The spawn floats to the surface so that the sun can warm the eggs. Tadpoles begin to emerge after about one month. They feed on the jelly_like substance for the first few days, after which they feed on algae.