"It is all murky and full of algae" I think that's a good food base, in addition chuck a couple of slugs in, well away from escape routes, to drown or if you dont like them drowning squash them first, their bodies will be devoured when they start to rot. I know it sounds disgusting but I have seen it happen, they also skelatise dead stickle backs in a few hours.

Cook your lettuce leaves well before feeding them. That's what I fed my indoor ones with, and when they got to a certain size they loved it (but it has to be soft and squidgy!). You can cook them up first and freeze them and just chuck them in as needed.

Now I know why Sean, with rare exception, I never see a dead stickelback! At this time of year I take the snails in the garden for a walk down the road to the park and that has helped keep their numbers down, but now I know what to do with the slugs. I have a bargain with the frogs and toads--I keep the little ones for them, and I take the big ones to the park. Whether it works in proved via the state of the Hostas!

That sounds good, cheers guys. I must say they don't seem to be ailing yet anyway!!

Once hatched they will live off the jelly for several before they start free swimming.

Once hatched they will live off the jelly for several days before they start free swimming.

My tadpoles have left the watercress now and are munching their way through the string algae/blanketweed so if you have some of that in your pond then they will be fine. I would recommend getting a bit of watercress anyway as the frogs like to hide in it and lay their spawn so you could be ready for next year with a good amount.
Alison

Thanks Alison. I have tried adding some just from a bag of supermarket watercress. It's a bit early to tell whether it has taken yet. It didn't have any roots but I hope that some of the little white bits on the stems will develop into roots.

Hi Chrisabella, if you are near a wildlife trust centre or similar, pay them a visit. Explain that frogs have spawned in your pond and that you can't find oxygenators to buy and ask if they can give you a handful. Hopefully they will help you out. Make sure you convenienty have a strong waterproof plastic bag in your handbag! (and also a clean bucket in your boot to prop it up in).
By the way, there are mail order water plant suppliers.

Christabella, my watercress came just from three small little bits in a salad bag.They were just normal with no roots on so yours should be fine. Last year I took out of the pond 5 binliners full of it....It does spread everywhere, you just need to keep contol over it. The best thing is it stays green all through the winter so gives a bit of colour and safety for the frogs when there is nothing else available.
Alison

Thanks that's a good idea. I have got hornwort and something else (the name of which escapes me) on order from Wiggly Wigglers but they say they are not avail til end of the month.

I need to have a clear out in the fish pond, but I rather send it to someone than compost it. It will have blanket weed but I would try to get rid of the worst of that, and probably some invertebrate passengers, do you want snails. There may be lagarosiphon, hornwort, eldoea canadensis, other elodea type plants, a milfoil and the oxygenating water buttercup. If the postage is over £5 I would like it refunded.
As a guide someone sent me an about 1ft cube of elodea canadensis and the postage was £7.50 2 years ago, the contents of that filled a 130 gallon tank.
If you are interested email me your address, I am aiming for a Monday post.