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Ponds in the UK

Big surprise in the pond!

19 years ago

Just come back in from the garden and while I was there noticed what I thought was new frog spawn in the ponds.

Suddenly realised it was in 'strings' and I have toadspawn.

Never had this in the ponds before as we've always had a migration of toads out of the garden at this time of year to 'wherever' they normally spawn.

However this year we have the !!*^***!! new development behind us (knocked down existing bungalow and building two more)and the builder has removed a small natural stone wall separating us and erected a 6ft high fence.

I think because of this combined with the fact the area the toads normally cross has been completely cleared of all vegetation, (flowers, grass, bushes etc) they have decided to stay.

As the ponds are teaming with too many Sticklebacks, masses of taddies and I now also have toadspawn they're more like wildlife ponds than fishponds! Amazing as they are completely netted.

The unnetted wildlife pond I enlarged last year has been competely ignored!

Sue

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Comments (9)

AJC_1
19 years ago
Congrates Sue, only ever seen one old toad in my garden, he was here years, but never had a mate so never got toad spawn.
alison_froglady
19 years ago
What wonderful news Sue. Maybe you will have to move the fish to the wildlife pond. lol. I am hoping to see our toad this year. It kept coming in the house last year. Sorry about the builders.I guess everything went ahead even after all your protests. I hope it doesn't become too much for you. I suppose you could look on the bright side and find some wonderful plants to climb up the new fence.
Alison
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chippewacat
19 years ago
Lucky you! My toads seem to go elsewhere to spawn, but I think there has been a little action has I did see toadlet last year. This year a few have been staying but no sign of spawn--but I know it can be hard to see if there is a lot of weed. What a nice surprise to be able to see it in your pond, and good thing they had some place to move to when the building work started.
Sean_McKinney
19 years ago
Now that she has toads I can just imagine Sue out in the dead of night stood over her caldron going " hibble bubble toil and ........" :-))))
dampflippers
19 years ago
Oooh I'm jealous! I don't have any toads at all.
I was going to ask if you would transfer some of the spawn and tadpoles to your other pond. It will be easier to move a bit of the toadspawn than wait to catch the tads. I have transferred some to my fishless pond, and a few tads to a tub with exit route (covering all options!)
Let's hope the winter weather this weekend doesn't spoil it all.
anyanka
19 years ago
Me too - my pond is only one year old, but I recently heard the toads' calling at night (a lovely little sound) and now have strings of toadspawn wrapped around the oxygenating weed! I expect the newts will eat most of the toadpoles when they hatch, though.
I get all excited whenever there's new life in the pond, especially as I didn't put in anything except water, stones and plants!
Scotty24
Original Author
19 years ago
Sean
I would be careful what you say [lol]...I might cast a spell to make your legs even shorter!

Dampflippers
I did try transfering a small amount of frogspawn from the other ponds but I think the magpies or(something)ate it! Get a lot of birds using this pond to drink and bathe.
Wonder if the frogs and toads realise their eggs are safer in the short term in the netted ponds?
My fish eat about 75% of the frog taddies when they start swimming around but I've heard fish won't touch toad taddies as they taste nasty.
It will be interesting to see if they spit these out.
Sue
Sean_McKinney
19 years ago
Oh goody, wet undercarriage even without slipping!
PyschicLord
19 years ago
I get a lot of toad taddies each year (once swimming around, you can tell the difference as the colouring is very black compared to the frog taddies).

The 'spit them out' myth just doesn't hold water as my Orfe find them very palatable and quickly turn them into personal protein.

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