exo
Junior Member
Posts: 60 
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Post by exo on Sept 9, 2017 14:43:07 GMT
I had loads (& loads) of tadpoles in spring, see thread wildaboutthebritishisles.uk/thread/1413/worth-protecting-wildlife-fishpond. But I only saw around 20 small frogs hopping around the garden, now I think I know why, I've got a load of dragonfly (+ damsel fly?) nymphs. I've rescued between 50 & 100 of them from the same 'filter pond', that I've just given it's yearly clean-out. They still look reasonably fat, presumably from feeding on the glut of taddies earlier, & I've put them in a newly installed small wildlife pond (same water as the main pond so insta-mature I hope). Question is, do I need to feed them, since I think there's too many for the pond to support naturally (there's nothing much else in the small pond). And what do I fed them with - I assume they eat only live food, so thinking I could chuck in some earth worms regularly ? Fuzzy photo, looking down at a bit of the bottom of the wildlife pond :  |
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Post by NellyDee on Sept 11, 2017 8:13:15 GMT
You could try Hikari Tropical Algae Wafers, these wafers sink. Rowanberry suggested I try these for my pond - newts like them. My new pond only has a few snails that were on pond plants I bought and lots of Lesser Water Boatmen scurrying about and they seem to go for the wafers.
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Post by rowanberry on Sept 14, 2017 21:02:30 GMT
That's a lot of nymphs- and will they stay in that phase over the winter? They might like those algae wafers- but if you think they'd prefer something more carnivorous Hikari do one for "catfish, sharks, polypterus (bichirs), eels and stingrays" according to their website, (and who on earth has a pond where they can keep stingrays??) www.hikari.uk.com/index.php/products/tropical/sinking-carnivore-pellets/They do lots of other types of fishfood, too- and they have a good reputation. |
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exo
Junior Member
Posts: 60
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Post by exo on Sept 16, 2017 17:43:07 GMT
Thanks for the suggestions,
but I think it's likely they only grab & eat moving live food, like spiders do, they only have 'piercing' mouthparts ?
I've chucked in quite a lot of big & medium lob worms over the last several days & they've all gone each time,
thinking it's unlikely they crawled out due to the steep pond sides - it's one of those preformed fibreglass ponds.
So I'm hoping the critters will survive to next spring to hatch out,
as long as I keep remembering to go & dig up a few worms now & then.
Should be a bumper dragonfly / damsel-fly year ,
but must put some reeds or iris in the pond before spring, to give them somewhere to climb up & pupate...
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Post by NellyDee on Sept 17, 2017 9:04:34 GMT
Probably a mad thought but how about live mealworms or in shops that sell things for fish tanks and ponds they do small prawn looking type water insects (can't remember name) and water fleas etc. Used to get them when I had a pond in London.
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exo
Junior Member
Posts: 60
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Post by exo on Sept 21, 2017 17:36:08 GMT
Good idea, maybe I'll pop into the aquarium shop 6 door down & see if he's got anything suitable... Mind you the prawn/shrimp-like things sound like they might be a bit expensive, but then again if they can live naturally (until eaten) they might be a good bet - cheers for the suggestion  |
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Post by NellyDee on Sept 22, 2017 8:02:14 GMT
I remember what they are called - the water fleas are Daphnia and the prawn like things are Branchiopoda - Tadpole Shrimp. both were very cheap for a bag full. as a bye the by the tadpole shrimps actually bred in the pond so ended up be almost a constant food. I think you can actually by the eggs of both on line from aquatic shops.
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exo
Junior Member
Posts: 60
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Post by exo on Sept 22, 2017 17:36:58 GMT
Interesting, didn't know you could buy live Tadpole Shrimps, I've only seen the eggs for sale.
Might give that a try - although I'm not sure if these shrimps are a good idea in a wildlife pond
- I think they might eat the smaller 'more usual' native animals...
thanks for the idea
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