small wildlife pond??

shei111 · #1 (**permalink**) 29-03-2008, 07:36 PM

: Hello, weve got a pond with about 12 fish in , the largest is about 8 inches and ita a golden orf,

but I wanted a small wildlife pond nearby to that about say 3 footX 3 foot. 1 foot deep

The reason I want the small one is because in the pond last year we had about 5 to 7 frogs , but I believe while we have fish we will not have frogspawn?

or if I had a small wildlife pond would the creatures jump in the main pond and get eaten in any case .

which is the best way to go please ?any info would be much appreciated thanks

Kayleigh · #2 (**permalink**) 29-03-2008, 07:43 PM

Hi, The small pond would be ideal. Wildlife frogs, toads, newts ect would find their own way around.
Don't put fish in the new one though. Go for it.

Dan Salter · #3 (**permalink**) 29-03-2008, 07:48 PM

I agree...should be ok.

Its the spawn that normally gets zapped by the fish or the tadpoles...once large enough to leave they should be ok if they end up in the fish pond.

You will also benefit lots of other wildlife in the fishless pond like damsel and dragonflies...whos larvae may also get eaten by fish

shei111 · #4 (**permalink**) 29-03-2008, 08:14 PM

Hi Kayleigh and dan Many thanks for the replies at least I know now that I was thinking down the right lines

I dont want fish in the wildlife pond , just want it purely for damsel, dragonfly, frogspawn, etc etc, to give the creatures a chance of survival .

thanks sheila

Dan Salter · #5 (**permalink**) 29-03-2008, 11:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shei111

Hi Kayleigh and dan Many thanks for the replies at least I know now that I was thinking down the right lines

I dont want fish in the wildlife pond , just want it purely for damsel, dragonfly, frogspawn, etc etc, to give the creatures a chance of survival .

thanks sheila

Good luck shiela and dont forget to post us some pics when its built ! your way ahead of me...my large wildlife pond project is still on hold due to the fencing man/chicken run man letting us down for another 3 or 4 weeks...cant start till he is done =(

shei111 · #6 (**permalink**) 30-03-2008, 10:37 AM

Good morn dan, Yes we been here 17 months now and certainly started from scratch but we are getting there, the weather seem to be holding us up every weekend now. Im waiting for my new camera to be delivered, then weve got to learn how to use that

one day you maybe able to see what weve been up to.

its raining abit again now.

paddy · #7 (**permalink**) 04-04-2008, 05:52 PM

If poss, i'd try to make it a bit deeper than 1' - depends how much sun it gets, but the water could get a bit warm. If you are restricted on depth, get plenty of plants and a mini-lily for shade!

Kayleigh · #8 (**permalink**) 04-04-2008, 06:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by paddy

If poss, i'd try to make it a bit deeper than 1' - depends how much sun it gets, but the water could get a bit warm. If you are restricted on depth, get plenty of plants and a mini-lily for shade!

OOPS I missed that bit..As paddy suggested try to make it at least 18" deep 2ft preferred. So wildlife will survive the winter.