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Disappearing Tadpoles: |
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manders Member Joined: 20 Mar 2005 No. of posts: 13  View other posts by manders |
Posted: 26 Apr 2005 This year we had a massive amount of frogspawn as per usual, the tadpoles hatched and looked to be doing fine for about a two weeks. Then in the space of a few days they all disapeared and now none are left. This has happened one other year also, although most years there is no problem. We have red eared terrapin in the pond, but it has also been there for many years without having any impact on the tadpoles. What could have killed/eaten the tadpoles so quickly. Could it be water quality in some way or any other reason? |
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Robert V Senior Member Joined: 06 Aug 2004 No. of posts: 717 View other posts by Robert V |
Posted: 27 Apr 2005 Manders, I think you'll find its the terrapin. Maybe in other years there's been something else to keep it pre occupied, such as another food source. But I can tell you this, that since terrapins were released into a local pond close to me, the frog and toad population has dwindled. It just depends whether you prefer a pet terrapin or have wild frogs visiting your pond. Sorry thats no help. R RobV |
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manders Member Joined: 20 Mar 2005 No. of posts: 13 View other posts by manders |
Posted: 27 Apr 2005 Robert, I hear what you are saying but cant really go allong with it, the terrapin has been in the garden pond for twenty years, and never had any significant impact on frogs or tadpoles, (one terrapin many 000's of tadpoles). Its never shown much inclination to eat them except to snap at a few that passed its mouth. Also at this time of year, he has only just warmed up enough to start feeding(we hand feed it). The tadpoles all dissapeared in the space of a few days, and the terrapin just isnt agile enough to reach all the places where they congregate, most of the time he was torpid at the bottom of the pond. On the other hand the pond was very dirty this year, with very little in it apart from some blanket weed(for which the terrapin may be indirectly to blame) could they have starved to death? They were fine up until the rain washed the remnants of the spawn jelly away. |
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Robert V Senior Member Joined: 06 Aug 2004 No. of posts: 717 View other posts by Robert V |
Posted: 27 Apr 2005 Well, I remember a few years back that one of my neighbours had a bon fire and burned some plastic sheet and the next day the tadpoles in my pond were all dead. Perhaps it was something like that. And if the tadpoles had been there for many years it seem a bit weird why they would starve to death this year. Have all the adults left the pond or do some hang around during the summer? RobV |
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GemmaJF Admin Group Joined: 25 Jan 2003 No. of posts: 2090  View other posts by GemmaJF |
Posted: 27 Apr 2005 Rob, I've heard from a few people that their terrapins have very little impact on amphibians in garden ponds, other than taking a snap at them if they come within range (I have also seen what appeared to be total carnage by terrapins, but I now doubt that they were the culprit and would suspect domestic pets or foxes). I would guess something else has caused this, though what I have no idea. We lost a lot of toad tadpoles last year to the dragonfly larva, but they were not really active till the late spring, still a few toads made it and that is the way it has always been. Gemma Fairchild, Independent Ecological Consultant |
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manders Member Joined: 20 Mar 2005 No. of posts: 13 View other posts by manders |
Posted: 28 Apr 2005 Could it be possible that they just starved? The pond water was very dirty, with not much life below the surface, around the edge was plenty of blanket week, but little else, the tadpoles vanished straight after some heavy rain, which washed the remnants of the jelly away, which is what they seemed to be eating at the time. Weve now (too late) cleaned the pond out. Or maybe some chemical was in the rain? In defense of terrapins(red eared variety), mine only actively chases pond snails, and has cleaned out all the great pond snails to extinction. But is very cautious and otherwise, and acts more like a scavenger, spending too long smelling things to actually catch anything that moves (ie fish or frogs). If something sits still long enough for him to give it a good smelling, he might then bite it, but if it struggles he tends to drop it and never bother similar things again. Only thing we suspect him of is biting then tail end off two very stupid fantail goldfish, which probably didnt swim away when he approached. He completely ignores all the other goldfish. |
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GemmaJF Admin Group Joined: 25 Jan 2003 No. of posts: 2090 View other posts by GemmaJF |
Posted: 28 Apr 2005 Maybe low oxygen content in the water killed them? Frog tadpoles develop working lungs quite quickly and are more tolerant of low oxygen that toad tadpoles, but a guess two weeks would not have been long enough for them to be able to gulp air if the oxygen levels were low. I know frog tadpoles also have a habit of congregating in shallow margins, I've seen them stranded at pond margins many times after a heavy rain. Gemma Fairchild, Independent Ecological Consultant |
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manders Member Joined: 20 Mar 2005 No. of posts: 13 View other posts by manders |
Posted: 29 Apr 2005 Low oxygen could be feasible, although we had goldfish in the pond which survived, some large ones went missing, probably due to a heron. The pond has vertical sides, shallows parts only being in plant baskets, so they werent washed up. I admit i am still baffled, but can only assume it was something to do with poor water quality, we have cleaned out the pond, and hope next year is better. If anybody has any further suggestions, would love to hear it. Another year with no tadpoles surviving and we may not have any frogs left. Very few other ponds close to us. |
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markkettle Member Joined: 29 Jun 2006 No. of posts: 6  View other posts by markkettle |
Posted: 18 Jul 2006 Help! I wanted frogs in my pond which I have had for a couple of years but didn't get any arrive. This was possibly because where I live is known for high populations of foxes and badgers and my attempts to keep them out of my garden prevented access by common frogs. In a last ditch attempt I bought, from a reptile seller, a couple of Marsh frogs last week. However, whilst at the shop, my wife and I fell in love with a couple of red eared terrapins and bought these also. They are quite large (shells the size of a side plate). Oops, reading about them now I think I have made a huge mistake. I must say that I haven't seen them going for any fish but just come up to munch on the fish pellets. What are the chances of these animals living successfully in my pond with the frogs and goldfish? Mark |
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Dan Kane Senior Member Joined: 30 Dec 2005 No. of posts: 201  View other posts by Dan Kane |
Posted: 19 Jul 2006 Right Mark... What you have done is to my knowlage illegal; by releasing non - native species of animals into the wild which both have destructive implications on our native species. If you want to keep them legally they must be inside in a suitable terranium of vivarium. Terrapins will generally eat pretty much whatever they can - fish if they can. If they're bigger than your frogs then they are at risk too. Dan www.randacumbria.moonfruit.com |
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markkettle Member Joined: 29 Jun 2006 No. of posts: 6 View other posts by markkettle |
Posted: 20 Jul 2006 Thanks for your reply Dan. I wasn't aware that the pond in my enclosed garden was classed as "the wild" and thought that this covered releasing animals into a local stream or waterway. I'm sure the terrapins pose no threat to anything outside of the confines of my garden but do fear for those animals within it. Mark |
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GemmaJF Admin Group Joined: 25 Jan 2003 No. of posts: 2090 View other posts by GemmaJF |
Posted: 20 Jul 2006 The Wildlife and Countryside act indicates that release of non-native species into the wild is an offence. This includes gardens from which escape is possible.. which in practical terms means most gardens, I wouldn't want to argue it in court in any case. Best put the animals in tanks Mark, terrapins are OK indoors if you buy a powerful filter like an ehiem (which I've probably spelt wrong). Be patient, native animals will find your pond (best loose the fish though Gemma Fairchild, Independent Ecological Consultant |
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markkettle Member Joined: 29 Jun 2006 No. of posts: 6 View other posts by markkettle |
Posted: 21 Jul 2006 I've no room for a tank indoors Gemma, certainly not anything big enought to house these two monsters. Any idea of anyone who will take them and be able to offer them the care they require? Mark |
- Disappearing Tadpoles |
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