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Ponds in the UK

What type of spawn ?

20 years ago

We are excited that we have our first frog spawn but have also found what looks like spawn but is much smaller, clearer and appears to have a dark green nucleus.

The "spawn" surrounds two small plants in the shallows on stones and appears to surround the plants and lays flat, rather than in a large ball like the frog spawn.

We have newts but I have read that they lay eggs within folds of plant leaves.

Could this be newts, or a more sinister inhabitant ?

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Comments (5)

dampflippers
20 years ago
Newts lay eggs one at a time, so not newts.
What size is the clump of spawn? and what size is the nucleus? When frogspawn is VERY fresh it is fairly small then absorbs water and gets bigger.
chippewacat
20 years ago
I am intrigued about what you consider to be sinister.....! Seriously though, it does sound like very innocent frog spawn.

Keep hoping to get toad spawn, or if we have it to actually see it this year. I saw some mating (one female with many hangers on) a couple of years ago in some one else's pond, and went back the next day to find long ropes looped around pond weed in a very complex way.

Anyone lucky enough to get toad spawn?
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dampflippers
20 years ago
I have seen some in 2 locations in north east so far.
frogeyebrian
Original Author
20 years ago
The spawn form a single thickness layer around the base of a couple of plants in shallow water over stones. It is very small spawn and the nucleus almost fills the "bubble".
After a chilly night much of it has disappeared, there were a couple of snails taking a great interest in it yesterday.

The newts were very active yesterday, is it easy to spot their eggs ?
dampflippers
20 years ago
I've never actually seen one but I have seen pictures. You need to look for folded and stuck leaves underwater round the edge of the pond. I think it has a pale nucleus and a little jelly.

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