Frog question

[Zeb]

I recently cleaned out the garden pond and managed to catch about 14 frogs from the bottom although I know there are more in the garden. Once the pond was clean all the plants, fish and frogs were put back and a week later its going strong. While sitting beside the pond watching the fish occasionally a frog or two would pop up and rest on the side

http://www.zeboliver.co.uk/pondpics/pond3.jpg

My question is, does anyone know where I can find a nice guide with clear pictures on how I can identify them? Three in particular had bright red bellies and its these I'm interested in identifying.

Because we have quite a few goldfish (about 7) I relocated most of the frog spawn into a large redundant fish tank and most have survived. My other question is when would it be safe to put them back into the pond? I have another fish tank (both are located outside in the garden) which is larger still which I can also use to contain the tadpoles/froglets until big enough. We've had frog spawn for a few years but the tadpoles have always been eaten by the fish which is why I'd like to save some.

[Tursiops]

Originally Posted by Zeb

My question is, does anyone know where I can find a nice guide with clear pictures on how I can identify them? Three in particular had bright red bellies and its these I'm interested in identifying.

Interesting. "Bright red bellies" doesn't sound like Common frog. If you are sure they're not newts, it's just possible they are Fire-bellied Toads, an introduced European species. Visit this site for ID:
http://www.herpetofauna.co.uk/identi...tm#naturalised

Originally Posted by Zeb

My other question is when would it be safe to put them back into the pond? I have another fish tank (both are located outside in the garden) which is larger still which I can also use to contain the tadpoles/froglets until big enough. We've had frog spawn for a few years but the tadpoles have always been eaten by the fish which is why I'd like to save some.

I would suggest keeping them in the tank until they have matured and allow them to disperse naturally. Goldfish are not very compatible with wildlife, as you have observed. If you have the space, why not dig a second pond specifically designed for wildlife?

HTH
Tursiops

[Zeb]

http://www.zeboliver.co.uk/pondpics/pond4.jpg

Not much space for another pond which is a shame as I'd love to build another. I don't think mother would be too happy if I sold her goldfish

Just managed to gt a couple pics of two frogs:

http://www.zeboliver.co.uk/pondpics/pond5.jpg
http://www.zeboliver.co.uk/pondpics/pond8.jpg

As for the red bellied frog I've looked in the link you provided earlier and couldn't find it anywhere. From what I remember their topsides were standard froggy green & brown camouflage with a very brick-red like belly and the rest of the underside was very pale, almost white.

[pheonix]

they definatly look like common frogs, any chance of o belly photo?
even the 'alien' frog species dont have red bellies to my knowledge??

[xtizwasx]

i am in essex and i also found two red belly frogs in my pond this year

[ctabuk]

I have to agree that those pics are common frogs, the red bellies, I believe is something to do with after laying spawn, spawn is gut - and the gut rebuilds itself.

[alrak]

when cleaning out the wildlife pond at school we found three common frogs with red bellies, well after spawning time. if i remember rightly a teacher mentioned it was connected to being albeano and that in frogs it's represented with red?

[nightshade]

Some of the frogs in my pond have red-bellies,I was worried that it might have been a disease red-leg,but they are still there.
Regarding frog spawn,there are too many frogs and toads in my pond/garden is there anywhere to donate any future spawn nationaly?

[Alan]

When I was a kid, me and my friends used to catch quite large ones in a local marshy ditch. These too had bright orange bellies (like the colouring on smooth newt males), and I always believed them to be Marsh Frogs - a larger (a least 2-3 times bigger) introduced cousin of our native ones.

I also caught a very large newt in the same area, at least 6-8 inches long. It was a female, with no markings as such. I think it was a smooth newt and a bit of a freak of nature cos of the size! I kept it in a fish tank in the garage, but it escaped

[Tornado]

Hi Zeb, I purchased a guide to small freshwater creatures last august at the British Birwatching Fair. The book is an OXFORD POCKET GUIDE and is simply named Small Freshwater Creatures, it covers a wide variety of things including frogs, toads and how to identify thier spawn, along with other creatures found in and around ponds. I find this easy to use and would recommend it if you don't want to go into the biology "too deep" (excuse the pun).