Spring is in the air

21 years ago

OK, its the 7th of January, and I have just found a pair (of frogs) embracing in the pond! So, when will we see the quivering of frog spawn?

Usually I let nature take its course, but with the pond freezing over in February/March causing my neighbour losing all her frog spawn last year--and the size of the dragonfly nymphs, I thought I would make a frog nursery this year for some of the spawn. Anyone done this indoors and any hints?

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Comments (11)

Scotty24
21 years ago
Happy new year to you!
I always think it is best to leave well alone and let nature take its course.
I have more frogs in my pond this winter than ever before (the bottom of the ponds are covered with them and many in the liner 'folds') and they do seem to 'wrap around' and 'embrace' each other.
March seems to be the ideal time for frog spawn....all mine hatched out last year but the fish ate at least 75% of the tadpoles, however still had more tadpoles 'morph' into frogs than the previous 7 years when they were in a pond with no fish or predators at all!
Nature is a funny thing.....
dampflippers
21 years ago
If you take some in I suggest you only taake a little.
I did this and most of the tadpoles inside died, I think because I hadn't realised I should change the water.

I have recently bought a little booklet from the Froglife website, aimed at schools, but with lots of good info. Even so, they tell you not to keep more than a few in an aquarium once they have hatched.
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Glenn, your little girls sound adorable! and at that age they are so cute and they say the funniest things for us adults. I still remember my own little girl many years ago, she had me running all over the place but from early on her meals were from the garden and she helped picking up her favorites. When I was a little girl, I thought the garden was a magical place where you can eat, smell and breathe nature at its best. I always looked for the elders in my family and learn from them, better than any book. As a child I asked for fruit better than any other sweet.... Sharon, I had different A pears from the Oriental store, they are very different depending on the country that they come from, they are not Publix material, I really don't care for those. It is always a good idea to try to sample the fruit before we buy the tree, otherwise we can end up with something we don't really like. Thank you Elizabeth, it is always fun to work in the garden, make my meals out the season veggies and take the pictures.... March 10-11 is going to be another Leu Gardens sell and I hope to be there, I always find something interesting and get to walk the grounds.... Time for the baby pinks from the garden, I got this maple one time at the sale, it is getting some buds now. Another violet indoorsSilvia
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ponddipperdave
21 years ago
Yes, I do this each year with one clump of frog spawn.
I change a jugful of water each day after the spawn are wriggling freely.
Any tadpoles taken up into the jug are put in a bucket outside. eventualy i end up with about seven in my mini aquarium. I very rarely have any deaths.
one year, I put a mini aquarium of about 12 inches inside one of about 24 inches and put a turf of grass in the larger aquarium with a fine mesh lid.
I was able to watch as the froglets left the "mini" and fended for themselves in the larger aquarium.
I would thrash about in the bushes with a fine net in order to get midge, flies and other small beatles and fed them daily.
It was very interesting to watch the children perfect their flycatching skills.
Dave
chippewacat
Original Author
21 years ago
Many thanks for your suggestions, I will try it with a clump of spawn and release them when they are big enough to not be so tempting to munch, and be able to avoid ice. The male frogs are gathering, and last night it was already getting rather noisy even over the howling wind.

By the way Dave, the imagery of teaching your kids to catch flies did bring a smile on a rainy monday morning--I doubt I will be able to get my daughter to be so obliging!
dampflippers
21 years ago
If you have a frost free greenhouse, this would be another alternative. You could get a tub or aquarium ready now with some pond weed.
The book I bought recommended feeding the tads on one pellet of rabbit food.
chippewacat
Original Author
21 years ago
Thanks Dave, the tub is this weekends project, and I'm sure the rabbit will share its food. I also read that lettuce that has been cooked is good when they are not carnivorous, and it can be frozen.

Any ideas on temprature and light? I am just wondering about where to put it in the house, as we don't have a greenhouse or similar. We have a cool cellar that gets some light, or can try to find a cool bit of the house near a window. The rabbit has its own shed and could share it with the tadpoles, but as his water has been known to freeze that might defeat the purpose!
dampflippers
21 years ago
The spawn we put in son's bedroom last year developed worryingly fast, and then 99% of the tads died virtually as soon as they emerged. (but I hadn't been changing any water) I think it was too warm. You should also avoid sun on the tank because warm water carries less oxygen than cooler water, or a postion near a radiator.
Don't spray any flyspray or other chemicals or cleaners near the tank/tub.
Sean_McKinney
21 years ago
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chippewacat
Original Author
21 years ago
Brrrr! Well they don't call it the English Riviera down here for nothing!

The boys have all gathered now, dotted all around the periphery of the pond. All croaking away. No sign of any females yet though.

I have noticed the BBC and English wildlife are doing a survey to see when particular spring signs are happening, on BBC springwatch. Want to know about frog spawn, bumblebee sitings and hawthorn blossom and the like. Can find it through the BBC science sites.
fishmaduk
21 years ago
hi
all.
sean WHAT,s THAT WHITE STUFF????????????????????.

DID IT FALL FROM THE SKY??????????????????????????.

WHERE,S THE TINS OF BEER THIS YEAR?????????????????????.

---------FISHMADUK-------------david-------------------
Sean_McKinney
21 years ago
Its called snow David, the beer doesnt come out until the ice is thick enough to take its weight, to precious to give to the fish