Big surprise in the pond!

21 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

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (9)

AJC_1
21 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
21 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
Related Discussions
Questions re: surprise baby fish in pond
Q
Comments (4)
Yes, I keep catching glimpses of this fish when I'm out feeding the fish twice a day or working on the pond but only brief glimpses. After further examination, I think he's at least 2 inches long. He seems to follow the "school" at least some of the time, swimming lower to the bottom and in the back of the pack. He's very hard to see because he totally blends in with the color of the algae-coated bottom and sides of the pond. He doesn't seem to have a long tail like my 2 comets or the shubbie which is why I was thinking maybe koi but I'm hoping goldfish. I guess I will have to be patient and wait for him to decide to be bold enough to try and feed with the others in order to get a better look at him. There may be others in there but I haven't seen any thus far. I have crystal clear water but plenty of water hyacinth and underwater hiding places so there are probably some more somewhere, unfortunately. My first fish were baby koi from a cull sale. They sold me way more than needed for my 1500-1700 gallon pond and I gave away all but three of the koi to a fellow ponder with a big pond several months ago. If I had it to do again, I would have stuck with goldfish for this pond. I absolutely love my goldfish, even more than the koi. They are tamer and don't wreak havoc on my anacharis like the koi.
...See More
pond skimmer for a really really big pond
Q
Comments (6)
You'll never be able to keep it clean. Even well-run pools get leaves and muck and have to be vacumed. Leaves float and sink. And with the sand bottom you'll have to put scuba gear on because a vacuum will just suck up your sand and leaves. Skimmers work with suction. meaning you'd have to have a large pump... huge one.. with multiple pipings and multiple skimmers and the water will have to be blasted back in from the pump which could get the sand oscillating a bit and fogging up the water. Not to mention wildlife will move into this. You also should treat this sitting water. Don't forget birds might drop in it, animals might drown in it, and the water will eventually just muck up in various ways with various bacteria. I envision a real pain. Too bad you couldn't tap into the water, let it flow to a concrete basin, and out .That way you can keep it cleaner and controlled. Instead of letting it flow all the way to the valley, I'd tap into it higher up and let it flow into a concrete basin and I'd let the water keep on flowing and when it flows to an overflow area it will take the top surface with it.. leaves and all. .. and rejoin the stream. That way you always have fresh water, it naturally skims itself and you have a pool that can be cleaned based on leaves that sink, etc. BUT.. I'm sure there's more ways to accomplish this... that's my 2 cents.
...See More
Happy Surprise at the Pond
Q
Comments (2)
Sadly I had to shut my pond down Wednesday. I always wait till the last minute. It snowed Thursday and the top two ponds are frozen over. I always do a frog check to be sure nobodys trying to overwinter in the small ponds that freeze. I dread shutting it down and so look forward to un tenting and starting it up as early as possible in the spring. Sniff sniff night fishies :(
...See More
Milkweed Blooms - One a big surprise!
Q
Comments (8)
Hi Sandy, yes, since I have to overwinter them, I have them in medium sized flower pots. The lady from whom I purchased the seed told me she usually keeps her younger plants in pots for 2-3 years before she plants them out into her garden. She thought I'd have no trouble maintaining them in pots. She did suggest I protect the potted plants from hot afternoon sun. Right now they get morning sun and afternoon dappled high shade. I'll check the roots after a couple of seasons of growth to see if they require some root trimming or up potting but for now, they seem quite happy. It is such a lovely, small milkweed, I wish I could plant them into the garden but pots will have to do in my area. This milkweed sets pods fairly easily. Not as many as the A perennis but still everyone should get seed once they have plants growing. Are you growing any of the A perennis milkweed? That, too, is a lovely, easy to grow milkweed and I think it should grow in ground for me in my zone. Everyone who lives in an appropriate grow zone should consider trying this small milkweed. I think I have the plants fairly well protected now (still in pots) so I'm hoping to have some mature seed this season. There are quite a few seed pods on this milkweed right now. These little plants bloom and bloom and many pollinators visit the blooms. The first pods that were close to maturing were eaten by some little monster that is making it's home near my garden. I'd be happy to share some seed with you if I end up having seed. Just let me know. Mary
...See More
chippewacat
21 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
21 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
21 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
21 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
21 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
21 years ago
Oh goody, wet undercarriage even without slipping!
PyschicLord
21 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.

Big surprise in the pond!

Comments (9)

AJC_1

alison_froglady

Related Discussions

chippewacat

Sean_McKinney

dampflippers

anyanka

Scotty24
Original Author

Sean_McKinney

PyschicLord

COMPANY

BUSINESS SERVICES

GET HELP

CONNECT WITH US

Big surprise in the pond!

Comments (9)

Related Discussions

Scotty24Original Author

COMPANY

BUSINESS SERVICES

GET HELP

CONNECT WITH US

Scotty24
Original Author