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janew Member Joined: 28 Mar 2003 No. of posts: 7  View other posts by janew |
Posted: 29 May 2003 As I posted a while ago, I have a temporary pond full of common frog tadpoles "rescued" from my sister's fishpond. They have been there two months now and are growing well on a diet of spinach, none have metamorphosed yet. This morning, when I went to feed them, I found an enormous (around 9-10cm) common frog in the pool! It does not want to leave (I tried to coax it out but it wouldn't go). Will it eat the tadpoles? As it is only a temporary pond, I cannot see there being enough food in there for it, other than cannibalising! Will it see the pool as a ready food source, or will it be satisfied finding other prey around my garden? |
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GemmaJF Admin Group Joined: 25 Jan 2003 No. of posts: 2090  View other posts by GemmaJF |
Posted: 29 May 2003 Hi Jane, I have never heard any reports of young common frogs figuring highly in the adults diet, the adult is seeking the cool of the water during this hot weather and very likely is ranging quite far from the pond in search of invertebrate food in the evening and night. It is possible that an adult would take the young, as they do not really differentiate their choice, but I wouldn't worry too much, it's natural enough that an adult is around at this time of year. I've never witnessed common frogs taking food in water either, though newts often do. Gemma Fairchild, Independent Ecological Consultant |
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GemmaJF Admin Group Joined: 25 Jan 2003 No. of posts: 2090 View other posts by GemmaJF |
Posted: 29 May 2003 I just looked up Common Frog feeding habits, which confirms what I put above that they do not take food in water, they feed exclusively on land using their tongues to catch the food.. so the adult won't take the tadpoles. If there is plenty of cover for the little ones when they metamorphose this adult is very unlikely to cause any problems at all. Gemma Fairchild, Independent Ecological Consultant |
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janew Member Joined: 28 Mar 2003 No. of posts: 7 View other posts by janew |
Posted: 29 May 2003 Excellent, thanks a lot, you've put my mind at rest now! It is by far the biggest adult I've ever seen though, absolutely beautiful! |
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