RAUK - Archived Forum - Posts by dave n dogs:

Hiya folks,

I have an old bath, planted up, contains beetles, snails etc.  I guess there are 50-80 taddies still present.  Plump and looking good.  I started this 'mini pond' off last spring, suplement the food chain with fish pellets and small chicken bones, stripped of meat, fat, grease.  The taddies love it!

My main pond attracted over a dozen mating frogs last year, it's not taddie friendly due to fish and the pump/filter set up, (My reason for the bath) If 1 in 1000 survived to froglet I would be surprised.  For those I relocate, I witness a survival rate of about 80%.  Once they leave it is up to them.

I will keep you posted regards my over wintered friends.

Dave n dogs

Hiya airlines,

I reside in a terraced area of town, lots of cats, dogs, amphibians.  My initial thoughts on your fatalities would be those blackbirds.  They do take froglets.

Several people have brought injured frogs to my door, most of wich are the result of cats.  Can you post again, more info on the physical size of said frogs and any other visible injury?

with sympathy

dave n dogs

Hiya Caleb,

I have a resident frog (several years) that I assume to be a male, he's quite black, forget frogs are green!  Anyway, he over winters in the pond and I afford him residential status.

Although often seen hunting for food, I have not witnessed my friend taking part in the spring 'mating game'.  He's there non the less. 

Last year the diversity of colours amongst the frogs was extremely apparent, golden yellow to dark olive.  I put this down to the soil type and urban habitat they live in.  I have also witnessed albinos.

regards

dave n dogs

Hiya folks,

Nicola, have you traced the leak yet?  Assuming it is not evaporation, could you get hold of some large containers (spare but clean wheelie bin, ideal), maybe some storage tubs and such?  Transfer as much pond water as possible and plants/aquatic life to this temporary storage.  Clean out the sediment, again keep it if possible.  Inspect the 'empty hole in the ground' for obtrusive tree roots etc.  If no roots or projections are obvious, re-line the pond with a pond liner.  Replace the kept water, plants and such.

It is very difficult to understand anothers problems from afar, may I suggest you seek the help of a experienced pond keeper in your local area.  Don't be fooled by retail outlets and such.

best wishes

dave n dogs

Hiya folks,

Last year was quite good for amphibians in my area.  I witnessed an increase in spawn laying, some wonderful colours in the wee creatures.  I guess it will be 5 or 6 weeks now before the first arrivals.  I hope the newts make it back later on.

The park at the bottom of the street has a model boat pond, not used now.  It does have a good growth of underwater weed, home to all manner of aquatic life, migrating ducks find it and a pair of swans.  They are here now with well grown sygnets.  Last year half a bucket of relocated spawn produced thousands of froglets, much to the amusement of local kiddies and the amazement of myself and other pond keepers using the park.  I wonder if it will be similar this year.

That 'relocated' spawn came from another local park, rescued from flooded vehicle tracks contaminated with diesel fuel (shame on you, you council).  I could have collected dozens of buckets full, if only I had somewhere for it!

For the past several years my fish pond has attracted increasing numbers of frogs, it's not well suited for taddies, so I move some of them to old baths and storage containers previously planted up.  The taddies grow big, black and fat, a suplement of fish pellets and clean chicken bones does wonders.  I do carry out partial water changes, always adding some from my main pond.  It contains those microscopic elements vital to the food chain.

There is one frog I always recognise, he's a resident.  Hope to see him soon along with other 'visitors'.  "Bring it on".

dave n dogs

Hiya Alan,

I think you can safely assume it is or was frog spawn.

If you find any ghost koi hopping about your garden this spring, let me know.  

Hiya paulW,

What happened to those wee frogs then?  My guess is they where one year olds, the previous years emerging froglets.  So, in two more years they'll be back, to keep you awake.

These little lads are fighting machines, best left to their own, a damp and shady garden is their prefered battlefield.  Their freedom will bring rewards, no need to purchase slug pellets and insecticides! Bad things so they are, WMD to an amphibian.

Do post back if you encounter the wee insurgents again.

dave n dogs

The wee frogs are returning.  I saw three this morning, entwined at the depth of the pond.  It was not obvious at first, I thought I had a dead body, so I netted it to find two frogs 'embracing' and a very dark 'black' frog in the net.  He is not the boy who resides here each year.  that guy is older.  They have been returned seperately, for how long?.

I wonder if anyone else is witnessing activity now. 

Hiya Ronbell,

I have an old bath planted up for taddies to overwinter, it's outdoor of course and sheltered from the worse of wind.  I let it be, use it for bringing on new plants.  The taddies do well in it, it will produce froglets this year, how many, I could not say.

It is not unusual to see tadpoles fail to evolve, one would think those 'born' earliest would have a head start, that is not so.  I have found early spawnings to be a very long affair, the later spawnings however, they tramp on.

Let us know how your taddie develops

Hiya Tadpole,

Administrators words are very good.  A bit of r&r, then release.  As soon as possible.  This time of year they are getting over hibernation, need to find food.  Then the spawning orgy, give the wee frog what you can, a damp place in your garden afterwards.

Hiya folks,

I guess it's time for me to visit a local country park.  The early spawnings occur in tyre ruts, often contaminated with diesel fuel.,Thanks to the council.

Half a bucket of relocated, flushed spawn produced thousands of froglets last year.  Much to the amusement of local children and amazement of some adults.  I relocate to a urban park pond, it attracts swans, ducks, gulls and has seen an increase in weed growth and aquatic life over the years.  Last year showed a fair number of newts too.  Fish, goldfish and rudd, someone put a young pike in too, I can't say that was welcome.

For some reason(s) the local council frown on this behaviour, well I'm sorry, It's our park, we will manage it with or without blessing.  I hate to see it as a hole in the ground and full of shopping trolleys, discarded bikes, beer cans etc.  Shame on nelc. 

Several years ago I discovered albino spawn in my pond.

I contacted the lincolnshire wildlife trust, who informed me it is a common occurence.  The tadpoles don't generally survive with being so conspiqous to predators.

When I first discovered white eggs I thought they would be diseased.  I too removed them from the pond and distributed them within 5 to 20 gallon containers.  I'm afraid to say, work took me away from home for several months, I had asked a friend to keep an eye out on my pond and the suspected albinos.  On my return I found the containers to be quite nasty and the tadpoles had perished.

How big a container are you keeping them in?  Have you access to an old style dustbin @ 20 gallon?  Pop a pints worth of spawn in it, add pond weed and pond water, as much as possible, it will contain all the little micro organisms for the taddies to feed on.  Do add a small pump to circulate and aeriate the water.  The pump can also be used to dump some of the water now and then and do top up with pond water.  Don't take it straight from your tap, if that is unavoidable, let it stand for 48 hours in another container before you top up.  The young taddies require vegetable and algae feed food to start, once the legs develop I give a suplement of clean, small chicken bones and just a wee amount of dog meat, no too much mind, just a little on my finger tip.

I would not be too concerned regards the frogs 'kicking' spawn about, don't be concerned about that.  It is remarkebly resiliant stuff!  Spawn will naturally come to the surface and swell up when weather conditions allow.

Keep us informed on any progress.