toad pond questions

davemanchoo · #1 (**permalink**) 06-07-2010, 07:14 PM

6-7 years ago i was unable to mow my lawn for baby toads, hundreds of them. the local roads were littered with bodies at mating time.
the nearby fishing pond was moved and the toad numbers have plummeted, i only saw 1 last year.
i am looking to build a pond and thought i would try to help the toads.
searching the net i am getting conflicting information on some questions i have.

does the pond need to be a certain size
does the pond need to be a certain depth
is it better with fish or without (sounds daft but the local toads are from a fish pond and the site said fish dont eat toad tadpoles. they of course eat frog tadpoles so maybe it gives them an edge)
if the pond is right will the toads come( if they always went back to the pond they were born in, surely they would not colonize new ponds and would have died out years ago.)

can anyone give me a definitive answer so i can get digging and have it ready for them next spring.
my pond will be 10ft roundish and 3ft deep(will it be big enough)
if you have toads in your pond could you let me know
1. size
2 depth
3 fish or not
4 introduced or came naturally
thanks

faz · #2 (**permalink**) 06-07-2010, 07:21 PM

hi dave welcome to WAB i have a pond well established now its 7ft long 4 deep at its deepest i have lots of sloping edges so my frogs newts and toads can get access to and from the pond lots of water plants and yes i have about 30 fish in my pond all the wild life is there natrurally

davemanchoo · #3 (**permalink**) 06-07-2010, 07:27 PM

cheers faz sounds like i will be on a winner then.

dillbarn · #4 (**permalink**) 06-07-2010, 07:45 PM

Hi Dave
I have had my pond for around 12 years and have only had very occasional toads. Probably as few as 5 over the years. The pond is around 8ft by 4ft with plenty of access in and out the water and attracts many frogs. I've no idea why the toads stay away but guess it could just be a location thing.

Kayleigh · #5 (**permalink**) 06-07-2010, 09:41 PM

My pond is about 10ft long with a shallow bit at one end and a deep 18" in the middle I got toads and newts breeding in there the first few months after if was built and ever since.
Its now 4yrs old.
Its in the shade in the day and gets afternoon sun and has fish I put 4 tench in but they have bred I dont know how many are in there now.
I wish I hadn't put any in there.