Blind Frog

[MEUROSS]

We have a generally thriving pond in the frog sense but this year all is not well ! about 4 weeks ago we found the frog spawn outside of the pond. we put it back but i fear it has disappeared - probably eaten by the golds fish. More recently there has been just one large blind frog. Now I'm beginning to think that maybe the frog laid the spawn in the wrong place ? I removed the frog for fear that it might be infected. I put it in the stream at the ottom of the garden.
Any ideas ?

[nightshade]

The lioness says that she has seen Magpies take spawn in huge lumps
out of the pond here
I would have thought even a blind Frog knows it needs water (and a mate)to
spawn and have them fertilised

[Paul mabbott]

Several points here. Frogs will often lay spawn in the strangest places - in my case, when the pond is 'full' they lay it in plantpot trays, buckets, any old spot of water that's available. Many of these will not come to fruition because they dry up. I tend to collect stray spawn and put it in a large bucket!
We shouldn't be too concerned about some (up to 90%?) of spawn dying or being eaten - laying so many eggs is a strategy to ensure survival of a few tadpoles. Indeed, of course, tadpoles will eat spawn and, of course, other tadpoles if no other food is available.
Finally, native pondlife and goldfish do not go together - you can try segmenting your pond ... or getting rid of the fish....
Good luck, Paul

Originally Posted by MEUROSS

We have a generally thriving pond in the frog sense but this year all is not well ! about 4 weeks ago we found the frog spawn outside of the pond. we put it back but i fear it has disappeared - probably eaten by the golds fish. More recently there has been just one large blind frog. Now I'm beginning to think that maybe the frog laid the spawn in the wrong place ? I removed the frog for fear that it might be infected. I put it in the stream at the ottom of the garden.
Any ideas ?