frog orgy deaths?

[newponder]

My little pond is full of frogs despite it being so low in water level due to a leak. Spawn has started to appear and i have been watching what i imagine was a female surrounded by 4 males clinging on at all sorts of angles (!!?) - she is now dead as was one of the males and ive just had to fish her out as she was starting to bloat! One of the males was still attached!!
What id like to know is is this normal behaviour during the mating season? I did dredge up a dead one last year too but just thought it unlucky!
Always keen to learn...............!

[Kayleigh]

Yes they get into a frog ball and hold the female and other frogs under the water where they drown.
I fished five out of my barrel the other day that were all clinging together..
I left them on the soil they sorted themselves out but I think I would have had fatalities if I didn't do something.
I now have 3 lots of spawn and a bigger pond on the cards.

[Paul mabbott]

It's not exactly normal but it's certainly not rare. Apart from the accidental drowning problem, we have to remember that some of these frogs will (in frog terms) be quite old so that some will die of exhaustion (or excitement) from the activity.

[newponder]

Well thankyou folks - i live to learn!