No tadpoles

[Rich]

The pond in my garden has its fair share of frog spawn every year, but for the last three years the tadpoles have hatched out then disappeared.

I was at a loss to understand why, and blamed frost, but for this to happen on three consecutive years I suspect something else may be the cause, there are no fish in the top pond, and the rudd in the lower pond are spawning and raising young OK.

I have started doing water tests this year and found Nitrate, Nitrite and Amonia levels are fine, but the pH is high at about 9.5. I am addressing this problem, but wonder if this could be the cause.

Has anyone any ideas please?

[Dogghound]

If it was the cause they wouldnt totally disappear, the water is moderatly alkaline, so that should be reduced abit so its around 7.6 to 8.2 that neutral ph is perfect, although anywhere between 7 & 8.5 is fine, is there lots of frog spawn? what other factors are there a powerfull pond pump etc? Dragonfly larva? beetle larva? are they actually just disapearing in the depths of the pond then emerging as frogletts and your missing it?

[Rich]

The pumps are switched off as there is a leak in the waterfall. They get to the black mass on the outside of the jelly stage and in the next day or two are gone. I have dragonflies, but they couldn't possibly eat all the taddys.

There is no sign of them, and the frogs in the garden are all quite large, it is like there is a generation missing.

[Dogghound]

No didnt think it would be the dragonflies would never eat loads, although herons have been know to eat tadpoles in large amounts, as well as newts & Adult frogs.

It may be that they are hiding in the silt at the bottom of the pond or in the vegetation at the edge of the pond because as they grow larger they become more secretive.

Tadpole development can often be dramatically fast in warm periods so metamorphosis has taken place and froglets have emerged en-masse and into the surrounding habitat without anyone being aware, they will often not stay in the garden and travel far away, however might be worth checking in and around your garden plants just incase?

[Rich]

I've had the pond for 7 years and spend a lot of time looking at it. I would have seen if there had been any tadpoles, and the missing small to medium size frogs confirms it. A few years ago the frequency of my disturbing frogs was far greater than it is now.

Even my hostas have some slug damage this year, something that has not happened since digging the ponds.

[hareyb]

i have had tadpoles for the last 2 years but no little froglets i still have alot left can anyone help

[Dogghound]

Originally Posted by hareyb

i have had tadpoles for the last 2 years but no little froglets i still have alot left can anyone help

You still have tadpoles left? sometimes tadpoles just simpily dont develop, i found a good example of this pond dipping about two years ago in november in a pond that was full of newt tadpoles.

As for the tadpoles vanishing im total baffled, i carnt think of another relistic reason why they have gone.

[dippymicky]

Hello
I have the same problem with my pond.
I notice that rich lives on the kent coast. I live 60 miles inland. There is a lake 1/4 of a mile away that hosts a large colony of European frogs. I believe these frogs have,over the years,migrated from Romney marshes. There is also a large and increasing colony of newts in my pond but the number of resident frogs has reduced. Whether the disappearence of tadpoles is caused by the newts or the European frogs I do not know.
Hope this helps
dippymicky

[coasty]

I have noted that I saw fewer froglets this year although there was plenty os spawn