Adopting Frogspawn

[citychick]

We dug out our pond in November last year and as far as we can see dont have anything in terms of "life". My husband was talking to a colleague who gets lots of spawn every year and has offered to give us some to adopt for our pond.

I have heard lots about not moving spawn as it spreads diseases but then I know people do do it.

So it leaves me in the middle? Do I adopt some or not...?

Thanks

Lauren x

[posie]

Hi Lauren, I was wondering the same thing, cos I've been offered spawn if I don't get any. But there is time to still get your own yet. I daresay there will be several answers in a minute, then we'll both know...

[Tobyh]

I'll be in the same position as my pond was only dug last May. I did however "rescue" alot of tadpoles from someone who was having to repair their pond. I think I'm right in saying that those will not be breeding until next year.

Apart from disease I think you have to be very careful about the depth the spawn is laid at because it's tied in to the water temperature (anyone confirm?) - if it's moved you need to try and relocate at the same type of area/depth.

I know I'd like some again this year so be interesting to hear views.

TobyH

[Gill Catton]

It's definately best to let frogs and toads turn up on their own. They are usually best at working out when your pond is providing the right habitat.

There is also a definate risk of spreading disease with the spawn and water.

Plus if you wait yoou can record the natural maturation of the pond - watch which invertebrates turn up first etc.

Frogs and toads are pretty much everywhere, I'm sure they will lay spawn when the time is right.

For ponds where people feel there is too much spawn again, nature will sort itself out. Predators will soon pick off the excess to raise their own offspring.

[dampflippers]

I agree- do wait and let them arrive naturally. It will be far more exciting for you.
Start going out at night and looking in the pond with a torch. You may be surprised to see frogs already there. Watch where you walk too!
It is important for them to have a shallow area or pond weed near the surface in at least one part of the pond. If you haven't got this, could you add a few rocks etc?

Do beware of bringing in spawn. Red leg disease is really nasty and spreads easily.

Good luck, and I hope you soon have things arriving in the ponds- keep us posted.

[Cowgirl]

On a simliar note...

If you 'kidnap' (rescue, cos they were in the middle of the road & going the wrong way!!) a copulating pair,relocate to your pond, (which is on the same farm) & they spawn, tadpoles etc. Will the original pair return to your pond or try to make it back to the original location? Presume the spawned frogs will home in on where they were born?

[Malcolm Banks]

They might come back but might not. I have had more adult frogs arriving in my pond this year than last, and they obviously were not from my last year's frogspawn (my first). Some frogs must migrate between ponds, species dispersal possibly modulated by density in local aquatic environments. So a bit of a coin toss I reckon. Someone must have marked frogs in some way to observe the "homing" behaviour, but I am just assuming that amongst my enlarged population of frogs are the 2 or 3 that were regular residents/visitors last year.
M

[posie]

With regard to 'moving' spawn etc, there is an issue not only with the adopted ones bringing in disease to it's new home, there is also the fact that they will not have the inborn resistance to the local problems lying dormant in it's new home, which the existing residents will have. Similar thing to this is....if a newborn orphaned mammal is given colostrum from a doner, it best to be a doner who has been living in the same area, as close as possible, in order to get the maximum protection from 'local disease' and etc. Colostrum from further away is better than nothing, but not as good as 'local' colostrum. Yet having said that, do frogs move about big distances from pond to pond, 'cos if they do that knocks my above statement 'into a cocked hat' (Sorry, wrong thread, HeHe).........Posie........:rolleyes :

[dampflippers]

I think toads have a much stronger homing behaviour than frogs, and they will travel much further (hard with a man on your back).

I heard somewhere that amphibians can smell ponds and so know which direction to go. I wonder if any research has been done on this.

[posie]

Originally Posted by dampflippers

I think toads have a much stronger homing behaviour than frogs, and they will travel much further (hard with a man on your back).

I heard somewhere that amphibians can smell ponds and so know which direction to go. I wonder if any research has been done on this.

It seems reasonable to me that amphibians smell ponds, and I guess that the wind direction would figure in this. When do newts mate/lay ,eggs does anyone know please.
I gotta get to grips with my pond, or the area around it, so that I have access all the way round and not just a small part, as it makes it difficult to observe what's going on.......Posie..