Re-homing tadpoles??

[j15ess]

Hello!

We have a pond that we are downsizing and moving. It was a big fish pond, the fish have safely been re-homed and I want to move it and alter it into a wildlife pond.

I am looking to re-home some of the tadpoles that are in there. I just some advice as to whether this can actually be done? If we can, where is the best place for them?

I appreciate any advice you can give me. I want to help the frogs as much as possible, despite having a massive phobia of them! (Husband will be doing any moving required. )

Thanks in advance,
Jess

[Dogghound]

The best advice is wait until they develop and leave the water in a month or so. Moving tadpoles is not a great thing to do for the tadpoles themselves and for other tadpoles in the pond they are moved to. They are highly sensitive to change, moving them will also upset the balance in the pond they are going to. As well as this they can carry disease and spreading them from pond to pond can only help diseases spread. I know its probrably not the answer you wanted but you did say you want to help the frogs.

[j15ess]

Thanks for the reply.

Is that how long the tadpoles will take to turn into frogs? Roughly, obviously! Early June time?

The only thing that worries me is that as the pond is no longer totally full, once the tadpoles turn into frogs I am worried that they won't be able to get out asthe water level is below the edge of the pond. Should I place a couple of large rocks in? To help them on their way?

[j15ess]

P.S. I love your little signature!

[Dogghound]

Emergence time depends on temperature and food availability if you live in Scotland it would take alot longer than if you live in the south. Yes if the sides are very slippy, either a rock or wood etc anything just to help them get out. ha Cheers.

[Gill Catton]

Can I just say that I agree with everything dogghound has said, moving tadpoles around is best avoided and advised against by organisations such as froglife who deal with amohibian conservation nationally.

[j15ess]

I have been down this evening and created them a 'ramp' with an old fence post.

[Paul mabbott]

Yes, .... but I think that in this particular case we're talking about someone moving a pond around a small site - is that correct j15.... ?

In which case there is no problem in taking spawn/tadpoles from the old pond to the new one - or keeping them in buckets until they can make their own decisions!

The problem is with taking potentialy infected animals and transferring the infection to a clean environment.

Originally Posted by Gill Catton

Can I just say that I agree with everything dogghound has said, moving tadpoles around is best avoided and advised against by organisations such as froglife who deal with amohibian conservation nationally.

[j15ess]

Yes, that's right. We had a large fish pond when we moved in. We have re-homed the fish to friends, and we are down sizing the pond and moving it, within the garden, and creating a wildlife pond.

So I could, in theory scoop all the tadpoles out and they could live in a temporary home? If they lived in buckets, what would they need to feed off? And are buckets the best containers?

So many questions! Sorry.

[Gill Catton]

Originally Posted by Paul mabbott

Yes, .... but I think that in this particular case we're talking about someone moving a pond around a small site - is that correct j15.... ?

In which case there is no problem in taking spawn/tadpoles from the old pond to the new one - or keeping them in buckets until they can make their own decisions!

The problem is with taking potentialy infected animals and transferring the infection to a clean environment.

yes you are right, I should have put this answer on the other tadpole thread where this top post has also been posted.

[Dogghound]

Originally Posted by Paul mabbott

Yes, .... but I think that in this particular case we're talking about someone moving a pond around a small site - is that correct j15.... ?

In which case there is no problem in taking spawn/tadpoles from the old pond to the new one - or keeping them in buckets until they can make their own decisions!

This may stop the potential threat of disease but will do the tadpoles no good what so ever by placing them in a new pond with less life, or different organisms possibly a different temperature and ph are all factors which could upset the balance not to mention the limited stress this would cause, for the sake of postponing it a month or so.

[dampflippers]

If you are making the new pond in a different part of the garden, are you using the same preformed pond or the same liner?
If not, make the new pond first, then transfer the weed you want, fill it and then transfer your tads and other pondlife.
Then keep the old one!!