Frogs and frogspawn

[Malcolm Banks]

The jelly does appear to break down and coalesce and the taddies do appear to eat it - last year my taddies used to retreat back into the "gel" at night and eventually finished off just about all of it. It does become covered with green algae, but that's like a cream topping to a taddie
Having said that, I have so far been blessed with about 9 or 10 batches of spawn, but a couple (batches not eggs)appear not to have been fertilised. So, I am hoping the surviving taddies will have extra keen appetites of Creosotesque proportions.
Seriously though, would like an informed opinion of whether to remove the infertile stuff or not??
M

[Susie]

i would leave it at the moment even if it appears to be unfertile

[Malcolm Banks]

Thanks Susie, I had a discussion with my wife about it and we both agreed it was best to leave it and see what happens, then we should be better informed if it happens in the future
M

[Susie]

i think it is probably the best decision. I know i have had spawn which i thought unfertilised as it had white dots on the black centre but it did develop into viable tadpoles plus, as long there isnt a surplus of spawn to putrify the water, then it is a useful food source for other creatures even if barren.

[FungiJohn]

The first 5 'clouds' of spawn noted this morning with much more to follow given the general activity!

John

[toadpole]

congratulations ..hopefully i will be typing those words in a few days marion

[shirl]

Rose End Meadows Nature Reserve Cromford, there is a small dew pond stuffed full of frogs and spawn last weekend. The frogs just would not stay still for a proper photo!

Shirl

[ooragnak]

Originally Posted by GFM

Has anyone seen any frogs or even better still any frogspawn. Its usually around the 6th March ish for my pond near Leeds and I suspect possibly later if the cold weather persists. My own pond shows no sign of life whatsoever and is unusually slimy after the ice and snow, almost algae-like, no sign of newly aroused frogs marching across roads and lawns either.
No matter it will all eventually happen. Actually its quite nice to have a more traditional proper winter, the Snowdrops are only coming through now and the Daffodils are miles off, whereas in recent years many have been out by now!

I have loads of frog spawn down here in Portsmouth, I have tadpoles as well, my snowdrops are in flower and daffodils, so i guess its that bit warmer here!!!!

[Hedera]

The first five clumps of spawn in my pond got badly frosted, but three others are developing. It's only a tiny pond anyway.
I shall have to top it up from the rainwater butt soon, but thought it best to leave it to see what spawn I'd got.

[Malcolm Banks]

Originally Posted by ooragnak

I have loads of frog spawn down here in Portsmouth, I have tadpoles as well, my snowdrops are in flower and daffodils, so i guess its that bit warmer here!!!!

Likely that there is more to it ooragnak, toadpole is, like me, near Guildford and yet unlike me has no spawn yet. Some of my earlier batches (laid 27/28 Feb) now have wriggling taddies in, so won't be long before they're out and about
Will be interesting to see if the Jan and then Feb/Mar freezes have the effect of shifting the spawning window further into March and beyond? - so will be keen to hear who has the last reported spawn. Sorry, getting serious again
M