Frog Spawn all gone???

[skill4style]

We had lots of frog spawn this year, the pond was alive with frogs. Only problem is it gradually has disappeared. Unsure why this is or what may be eating it. We have no fish in the pond just frogs and newts and the usual creepy crawlies. We have had no frost. There are small bubbles on the surface of the pond, it looks almost poluted though I don't think it is. I have plenty of plants in the pond. ANy ideas on what is eating it happened to it? The same thing happened last year, my concern being if I don't sort it next year there will be fewer and fewer frogs left.

[marvin]

hi

just speculation but...

newts may have eaten many of the taddies before they developed, some of the spawn may not have been viable in the first place or it may have sunk into deeper cooler water which would impede development. if the taddies haven't developed the jelly is then left to decompose. the bacteria resonsible for this can drain oxygen from the water causing it to look polluted. i've just fished out any spawn from pond that doesn't look like developing to minimise the risk of this as it's only a very small pond.

tim

[tameblackbirds]

just check its not the taddies that have eaten it as they do feed on it firstly before moving onto plants. pool also looks almost cloudy during this process with a sort of slick on the surface of pond.

[earthdragon64]

Any Mallard ducks around? I believe they are partial to frog spawn.

[skill4style]

Thanks for the responses. The frogs laid arround two weeks ago, so the tadpoles where still undeveloped. There was very little spawn that was unfertilised, this is white in apperance probably due to the bacteria like you say. No mallards in sight, the pond is relatively small in a residential garden. I have thick weed in the pond (can't remember the name but it's a common fast growing american type) that stops the spawn from sinking. The pond is about 1meter by 2 so I find it difficult to believe birds ate it as the spawn was fairly central.