very concerned about my frog spawn

[Stomperone]

The bottom of my 4mtr x 3mtr pond was absolutely overflowing with spawn at the start of the month.. When I looked yesterday it had disappeared .. there are no sign of tadpoles and I do not understand what may have happened. I had loads of spawn last year and no problems, I have done nothing different and am very disappointed.. Is it likely that they will spawn again or do i have to wait till next year now? Or is there another reason for it to have gone?

[Gill Catton]

Originally Posted by Stomperone

The bottom of my 4mtr x 3mtr pond was absolutely overflowing with spawn at the start of the month.. When I looked yesterday it had disappeared .. there are no sign of tadpoles and I do not understand what may have happened. I had loads of spawn last year and no problems, I have done nothing different and am very disappointed.. Is it likely that they will spawn again or do i have to wait till next year now? Or is there another reason for it to have gone?

I think spawn sinks as it gets older can you see to the bottom of your pond?

Also if something has gone wrong, don't worry about it, this is exactly why frogs have hundreds and hundreds of babies

[Stomperone]

Thanks gill .. what I am concerned about is that I can see the bottom and there nothing there and even though there was thousands of eggs/spawn There is none to be seen anywhere. I am beginning to wonder if the kids down the road have come in and raped my pond grrrr. I had a bird table disappear last year..

[Paul mabbott]

Is this picture 'now'? I can see spawn - rather green coloured and on the bottom of the pond ...
This may be just normal: they've sunk to the bottom and have acquired a covering of alga but it could be something fatal has occurred to your water.
I have a pond which is a solid mass of spawn but today I've been out collected a bucketfull of spawn and distributed it around a few buckets and other containers. The reason for this is that in some past years my spawn has gone much like yours - turned green fallen, to the bottom and then just dissolved. In my case I have to assume that this has had something to do with changes in the constitution of the groundwater although I've never been able to prove anything. On the years that this happens the rescued spawn turns into tadpoles which continue to keep population levels up in the pond!
If I were you I would collect some of the spawn and put it in a bucket of clean water as an emergency measure ....

[marvin]

hi

how often have you been checking? did the spawn disappear overnight? if you haven't looked for a while it is possible that it has all hatched and been eaten. the tiny taddies will appear pretty inactive for a while so could be difficult to spot.

good luck
tim

[Stomperone]

Hi paul
This was the amount I had and it seemed to disappear overnight.. As I mentioned earlier I had no problem at all with last years hatching .. it really is as if someone came in and took it all .. not residue on the bottom of the pond either .. The only difference is that last year I think it was all laid later as there were weeds in the pond. I put it down to the weather going from hot to cold then warm again .. or as I say the kids down the road stealing it ..

[Dogghound]

If its very cold the tadpoles will be under the leaf litter, rocks, etc in your pond, im sure some will be there, do you have fish?

Each frog can only breed once a year so its unlikely you will get anymore this year, as your local population has bred.

[Phil Peake]

I would be really grateful to hear from anyone in the Peterborough area who would e prepared to donate some frogspawn for my children's pond. We made it as a Christmas present for them as they would love to have a safe place for frogs in our garden. 07951 889223.

[Dogghound]

Originally Posted by Phil Peake

I would be really grateful to hear from anyone in the Peterborough area who would e prepared to donate some frogspawn for my children's pond. We made it as a Christmas present for them as they would love to have a safe place for frogs in our garden. 07951 889223.

Im sorry Phil but amphibians should not be moved around even within a local area. You risk spreading diseases, which could potentially put local populations at risk. If the frogs have chosen not to breed in the pond then it is not currently suitable for them, perhaps the ponds young age. People can give you advice on how to attract amphibians to your garden and make your pond more appealing on here.

[werdnal]

Originally Posted by Phil Peake

I would be really grateful to hear from anyone in the Peterborough area who would e prepared to donate some frogspawn for my children's pond. We made it as a Christmas present for them as they would love to have a safe place for frogs in our garden. 07951 889223.

I'd 2nd the comments above - please do not move spawn from another pond. There are fatal frog viruses around, which can be spread by moving contaminated spawn and frogs. Your pond may be a bit new for them this year, but they will find it if you are patient. Maybe a little late for this year, but you may still get some, plus other wildlife - larvae, pond snails, beetles, pond skaters etc, will also find it naturally. I know its difficult with kids who want an instant effect, but its fun to keep an eye on it and see what turns up.

Do you have goldfish as this can sometimes put frogs off, and the fish will also eat the other smaller wildlife that appears, including tadpoles!

Does it have a fountain or waterfall - again this can sometimes reduce the amount of wildlife as some prefer still water.

Is it planted?

When was it finished? Water needs a chance to mature and grow some algae etc to help sustain other pond life. Try not to top up with tap water as this can upset the pH and the chemicals can kill off valuable creatures.