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Post by teasel on Apr 1, 2017 22:39:21 GMT
Thanks foxy. I think I have lost a lot of the tadpoles as there was an undesigned overflow from the "pond" and they seemed to like swimming downstream
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foxy
Junior Member
Posts: 61
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Post by foxy on Apr 2, 2017 10:49:21 GMT
Most of my spawn has hatched (if that's the correct word) and many of the tadpoles are growing quite well. It seems like the development is staged across the spawn & ponds, I presume it's down to the size of the pond & the amount of sun to warm them as the spawn in the larger pond is the furthest behind but after a couple of sunny days that went from small slightly elongated eggs to long thin flat tadpole shapes very quickly.
There's still no sign of any other pond life (beetles etc.) but plenty of algae for the tads (probably too much lol) so I think they'll be ok till they turn carnivorous.
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Post by rowanberry on Apr 2, 2017 19:47:55 GMT
Sadly, almost all of my spawn has died this year. I don't know why this has happened... all I can think is that the frogs were a bit too early, and the water simply isn't warm enough. Sunlight won't fall fully on our pond for another week or so, (and I don't remember there being so much spawn in March last year- I think it didn't appear until early April) and it just isn't developing. The little black centres have turned white, without any turning into the usual tiny commas. I might have to sieve some out tomorrow, else I'm worried the water will become too contaminated. A new clump of spawn appeared this morning, so I'm still hoping we will get a least a few tads... shame to have none at all.
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Post by Tringa on Apr 3, 2017 9:29:15 GMT
Having recently posted in this thread - wildaboutthebritishisles.uk/thread/1413/worth-protecting-wildlife-fishpond - about always having frog spawn in the pond, this year we had spawn but, like the above, it has gone. I was very careful in not disturbing it when I cleared duckweed and catkins from the surface but both the clumps(one about half the size of a football) have disappeared. I don't know why; cold hasn't been a problem here in the south east as only in the last couple of days has it been a bit chilly in the morning. There are still frogs in the pond so we might get some more. Dave
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Post by Harold Smith on Apr 3, 2017 18:31:45 GMT
I was pleased to see frogspawn in my pond this year and watching them starting to develop into tadpoles.
Last year was a disaster. My resident Mallards hovered them all up. At the end of summer they disappeared.
Guess what! The male returned and suddenly there were no more tadpoles. The female came the following day and had a swim around the pond. I'm not sure if she found anything edible as she went over to the ground feeder, ate most of the seed and then flew off. They haven't been back since.
They had been taking up residence in the garden for the last few years and it was great to have them wandering around the garden, making themselves at home. Now, I'm beginning to think they are more of a liability than a welcome visitor.
Well, I think if they do come back I welcome them despite my annoyance at them for taking the tadpoles.
Harold.
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Post by NellyDee on Apr 7, 2017 8:00:21 GMT
None of the frog spawn survived here. What with the frost, a dumping of snow(which did not last) and more frost. Have not seen any more spawn, so hope the frogs survived - maybe just waiting till it gets a bit warmer.
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Post by rowanberry on Apr 9, 2017 19:53:56 GMT
None of the frog spawn survived here. What with the frost, a dumping of snow(which did not last) and more frost. Have not seen any more spawn, so hope the frogs survived - maybe just waiting till it gets a bit warmer. Some of the frogs do seem to spawn later than others... I've had a few clumps appear over the past few days. I'm keeping fingers crossed that these later clumps survive, because all the rest seems to have died. I saw one tiny little tad swimming about yesterday all on his own. I am hoping that he doesn't get eaten by one of the adult frogs lurking in the pond.
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Post by teasel on Apr 10, 2017 10:59:34 GMT
my "pond" has, unsurprisingly, gone very green but I can still see some tadpoles. I should have let nature take it's course and not added the cucumber but there were a lot initially. On a positive note, the midges have discovered it so I won't have to add meat as the midge larvae should be sufficient. They are very small at the moment, but between them and the daphnia there should be enough non vegetable options
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