no tadpoles again

[JennyP]

Despite quite nice large clumps of spawn in our tiny pond early in spring there were no tadpoles again - does anyone know why this might be - and is there a helping hand I could offer; there are no predatory birds and only one quite moribund goldfish, the spawn quickens and tadlets clump and appear to get ready to launch but then nothing more?

[BigT]

Firstly, are you sure that they are really disappearing? They are quite expert at hiding in the silt, then one day clearing off, without you ever seeing them? If you are convinced that they are disappearing, then the following reasons can cause excessive mortality:
- Long hard frosts will affect a small pool more severely than a larger one;
- Anoxia, use of fertilisers etc can cause algae bloom, which starves the water of oxygen;
- Dragonfly larvae find taddies very yummy, as does everything else in the pond including your golfish - do not be put off by appearences, he's a taddie killer;
- Topping up excessively with chlorinated tap water, use rain water if poss.

Well thats my braincell allocation used up for today, hope it helps!

[JennyP]

Think lack of oxygen may be culprit but the oxygenating plants seem to go dormant over winter and don't start up again properly until after the taddies aren't appearing; maybe I should cultivate a few in a separate tank. Thanks anyway.