trying to get frogs into my water feature.

naturelover · #1 (**permalink**) 10-10-2007, 09:58 PM

if you remember on one of the posts i sent in saying, frogs cant get into my water feature because there are bricks four high round it with a fancy brick along the top,i inherited loads of large white stones when i bought the house,so collected them all up today and built a ramp typ thing upto the side of the brick work,hopeing i get froggies next year,its very froggie territry lots of creepy crawlys plants and algi with large pebbles on the bottom and a fountain typ thing in the middle,which i keep very low so it only trickles over,its got a large dish about 3 ft up and that overflows into the water feature,this the wild birds bath in they love it,i have a bird bath further down the garden but they seem to prefer this and the waterfall on the pond,the water feature is about 5x5feet square so its not small,one big problem my garden is fenced in all the way round with six foot fencing,how do they get into my garden in the first place?????????

m1.carson · #2 (**permalink**) 11-10-2007, 02:46 AM

Hi naturelover,

I wouldn't think your fence was built without some sort of gaps around the bottom of it, I'm sure frogs etc. will find a way in.

Worst case collect some spawn next spring, and before you ask, NO I'm NOT going to post you some.

Max.

naturelover · #3 (**permalink**) 11-10-2007, 07:46 PM

ha ha very funny max,i was going to get some spawn next year because where ever they hatch they return to spawn,am i right ?

wetlands_wedge · #4 (**permalink**) 11-10-2007, 10:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by naturelover

ha ha very funny max,i was going to get some spawn next year because where ever they hatch they return to spawn,am i right ?

Will your young frogs be able to get out of the water ok?

Gill Catton · #5 (**permalink**) 12-10-2007, 01:03 PM

I'd be very careful about getting spawn becasue you may transfer diseases with the spawn, plus if frogs are thin on the ground where you live it may be that the surrouding land isn't very good for them.

Frogs also tend to spawn in whatever they come across rather than return to their original spawning site which I think is more of a toad trait......

Make gaps at the bottom of the fence (particularly at corners) and if they are around, I'm sure they'll end up in your pond.

naturelover · #6 (**permalink**) 12-10-2007, 02:11 PM

yes there is large pebbles on the bottom that come out of the water and up the sides,the water is only about 8ins deep any way ideal for frogs.

Jez · #7 (**permalink**) 13-10-2007, 05:27 AM

Do you see much frog activity around your parts? Sorry. I'm not a shrink.

I'd allow access though gaps in fencing thats if you have fencing (already suggested). I would highly advice for all pond lovers and those who are thinking of creating a pond to make ponds frog friendly i.e some platforms upto the plant baskets at the borders edge as spawn is usely laid there for protection right the edge where fish will find it tricker to swim.

Frogs & toads alike seem to home in quickly to ponds probably as bogland pools and such ideal habitat is getting scarcer, so providing they can gain entry to your garden then there should be little reason to go out and collect spawn.

I hope they find there way into your pond at some point bearing in mind that they'll be hibernating all to soon Naturelover.

naturelover · #8 (**permalink**) 13-10-2007, 10:14 AM

thankyou jez,i know it wont happen this year just thinking ahead to next year,i always had frogs and newts in chelmsfod which is a large town,but now i have moved to the fens which is all country i dont seem to see any,strange that.

Jez · #9 (**permalink**) 13-10-2007, 06:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by naturelover

thankyou jez,i know it wont happen this year just thinking ahead to next year,i always had frogs and newts in chelmsfod which is a large town,but now i have moved to the fens which is all country i dont seem to see any,strange that.

You could have a look on the springwatch website and look at the frog sightings in britain for last spring. It might give you an idea of what activity you have in the fens.

davejg · #10 (**permalink**) 15-11-2007, 02:36 PM

Nature lover, I think you'll find there are plenty arround you, I'm not far away from you & i have lots (at least 10 in the greenhouse) and in any long grass.
Give them some dark damp areas around the pond & they will appear. Don't forget they are fen frogs ( not used to climbing)!