New pond and toadpoles

[Ellkebe]

Hi all

I found your forum while looking for help online with a new pond that I've just put in, and you guys seem a lot more knowledgeable than most - so I'm hoping to pick some brains

We put a very small pond into our garden two weekends ago in order to house some toadpoles that a friend was rehoming. They seem great - eating away, growing, very active etc. We've even had a frog appear from somewhere who's been coming and going as he wants.

The problem is the blanket weed that's appeared. At least, I think that's what it is from the descriptions on line/in books - a kind of green candyfloss attaching itself to the sides of the pond. At first it wasn't a problem - the toadpoles were eating it, and using it for shade but it seems to be growing really fast now - I'm wrapping it round a stick to get some of it out every other day.

Does anyone have advice on how to deal with it that doesn't involve chemicals or bales of barley straw (we're talking a tiny town garden puddle here!)?

I'm happy to keep removing it manually if that's not going to disturb the toadpoles - or to leave it alone if people think that it will eventually get itself into some kind of balance?

Any advice gratefully received.

Thanks

Ellkebe

[Kayleigh]

Hi and welcome to WAB. Ellkebe
A new pond will always have algae especially if you filled it with tap water.

The bales of straw you get from the pond centre are not that big not like a bale you use for horse bedding.

I would put lots of oxygenating plants and marginals like yellow flag irises and a deep water plant like a water lilly. You need plants to take up extra nutrients from the water. I throw a bag of supermarket watercress into my pond this helps keep the weed down.
You need to starve the blanket weed..
Keep removing it as you are.
But don't worry too much as wildlife actually like the cover of it.

hope this helps..

[Cheryl]

Hi

I use something called "Goodbye Blanket Weed" not very imaginative name but it does what it says

It's based on activitated barley straw in a small sachet and treats up to 1000 gallons.

I only have a small pond and pop one of the sachets each week into the filter (you can put them direct into the pond) and I've had no problems with blanket weed this year.

I thought it seemed pricey at £14.99 for a tub of 8 sachets - but it works!!!!!

[Ellkebe]

Many thanks for the super speedy response Kayleigh and Cheryl .

I'd put in some oxygenating plants, and some form of lily, plus two marginal plants as all the advice seemed to be to plant up if you want wildlife. When I looked up re blanket weed, it seemed to be saying that covering a fair proportion of the surface was the way to go, so hopefully that will pay off.

The pond is literally only a couple of feet square so I not sure straw would work, though I'll look into it - the 'Goodbye Blanket Weed' might but I noticed when looking online that though products routinely said safe for fish, many didn't mention other animals at all.

Water cress is interesting - does it actually grow in there or is it it breaking down that keeps the weed at bay?

Last question (for the time being ) - am I right in thinking that the toadpoles are eating the stuff?

Cheers

Ellkebe

[Dogghound]

Most products are harmful to other life in the pond, i carnt comment on this one as ive not used it but as a general rule i dont use chemicals. The tadpoles will eat the blanket weed until around the time they develop legs then they will become carnivorus. Snails are another option although they can only eat so much so if you are swamped with it they will make little difference.

[Kayleigh]

Yes, the watercress grows but you will have to remove some as it grows rapid.But its easy to pull out.

Yes, the tadpoles will eat the blanket weed until they grow legs then you will need to feed them as they stop being vegetarian and will eat each other..
They eat chopped worms,crushed snails, or and fish food. I feed mine on dried bloodworm from fish/pet shops.

Covering a fair portion of the pond will help.

Sounds like you are doing everything right. I personally wouldn't put any chemicals in.

[Ellkebe]

Ok, so at the moment I'm thinking no chemicals - which will be in line with the garden more generally - get some water cress and then give it some time, removing the weed manually.

I didn't realise the toadpoles would become carnivorous before they left the water! There's no sign of any back legs yet, but reading up on them suggests that they should be emerging in the next month or so - and will be looking for winter lodgings around October time - so they need to get a move on!

So, water cress and dried blood worm - a shopping list that should get my husband worried

Cheers
Ellkebe

[Dogghound]

Originally Posted by Ellkebe

I didn't realise the toadpoles would become carnivorous before they left the water! There's no sign of any back legs yet, but reading up on them suggests that they should be emerging in the next month or so - and will be looking for winter lodgings around October time - so they need to get a move on!

Cheers
Ellkebe

When you transfer tadpoles to a new pond or if they are born in a new pond it delays devlopment im afarid. Also due to the massive amount of factors affection development it would be impossible to generalise emergence times. Dont be supprised if some of your tadpoles over winter this year. As your pond matures then they will speed up their development.

[Ellkebe]

Thanks Dogghound - that explains the 'lagging behind' that seems to be going on!

I checked them all a bit more thoroughly when putting in water cress this morning, and one - only one - has back legs. So I guess he'll start snacking on his more backward siblings, given half a chance. Family life, eh

Will they be alright overwintering in the (very wee) pond? And is there any advice on how I can make that more likely? (First pond as well as first toads, so please forgive the ignorance)

Cheers
Ellkebe

[Kayleigh]

Hi Ellkebe,
How deep is the pond..Anything deeper then 18" to 2ft will be OK as long as there is mud in the bottom where they can bury themselves..

[Ellkebe]

Thanks for that Kayleigh. Things may be a bit dodgy as the pond is only about a foot and a half at its deepest. There is mud/stones/grit though and I could add more soil in the run up to autumn.

Is the problem low water temperature or are they ok so long as it doesn't actually freeze?

Thanks for the watercress tip btw - they're loving it!

Cheers
Ellkebe

[Kayleigh]

I think its the cold with the fish but freezing with other wildlife...I lost a goldfish in a barrel so put the other one in the large pond where it survived the winter then rehomed him.

[Ellkebe]

Thanks Kayleigh - I'm in greater London so things rarely freeze up too much. If I keep a close eye on it - tennis ball etc!! - it might be ok.

Cheers
Ellkebe

[Kayleigh]

Originally Posted by Ellkebe

Thanks Kayleigh - I'm in greater London so things rarely freeze up too much. If I keep a close eye on it - tennis ball etc!! - it might be ok.

Cheers
Ellkebe

Yes, but fish may die.

[Ellkebe]

No fish