my small wildlife pond up and ready

[shei111]

Hello All Well ive been busy making a small pond next to my fishpond purely for tadpoles , etc etc ive got about 130 to 150 tadpoles that hatched indoors 7 days ago they are all doing very well and growing fast. When could I put them in the new 20 gallon wildlife pond with the same water has main pond as also the same water they are in at the moment?also what about the difference in water temperature with what they are in at the moment being indoors quite warm and outside still getting frost, should I keep them in for a week or so? also ive not seen any newts in the fishpond since being built 11 months ago will I have more chance now they can escape the fish and go in the wildlife pond?The wildlife pond and the main pond are quite close together, ive today put some silver birch branches and a 4 foot piece of very soft elm with green moss on close to one side of the pond to give it a more natural look and feel and decoration , also some wildflower seeds ,I expect that will help insects and newts, frogs toads etc am I correct? Ive always been into gardens and birds , but this is the first time ive gone into ponds well not literally any ideas much appreciated thanks sheila

[Kayleigh]

Hi Sheila, I would keep the taddys in the house a bit longer as the temperature is alot different.

The wild flowers will increase the insect population.
I would put some plant cover near the new pond, Hostas are good and low growing plants.

Maybe also put a bucket of water/mud from the old pond into the new one. This will help it to establish.

[shei111]

Originally Posted by Kayleigh

Hi Sheila, I would keep the taddys in the house a bit longer as the temperature is alot different.

The wild flowers will increase the insect population.
I would put some plant cover near the new pond, Hostas are good and low growing plants.

Maybe also put a bucket of water/mud from the old pond into the new one. This will help it to establish.

Thanks kayleigh, to start with ive got 3 small alpines near the wildlife pond, in the wildlife ive taken a few plants from fishpond to go in wildlife , I havent done the mud yet thats a good idea ive got 2 large ox eye daisy plants they grow up to 4 feet tall, also a buddliea, and ive planted quite a bit ivy and draped it in and out of the branches, also 1 astilles, and 1 laurel shrub.Will do hostas next week , Do you think ive got newts about beings the main pond is now 11 months old. Sorry for so many questions but its very helpful sheila

[Kayleigh]

Not sure about the newt. If they are in the area they will find you. The planting sounds good, My Hostas are only just poking through the soil at the moment.

[dampflippers]

Regarding putting a bucket o mud from the other pond in.....beware that you don't bring fish eggs or baby fish in or all your hard work will be wasted.

It sounds lovely.

[Meta menardi]

Originally Posted by Kayleigh

My Hostas are only just poking through the soil at the moment.

I hear the sound of marching slugs! I hope not, Hostas are very beautiful plants, but I bet you have a battle.

[Kayleigh]

Originally Posted by Meta menardi

I hear the sound of marching slugs! I hope not, Hostas are very beautiful plants, but I bet you have a battle.

The snails are the worst when the plants are big. The frogs and toads can't climb up them . The toads eat the slugs when the plants are just poking through, so that saves them.

[shei111]

Hello all just a quick update on my taddies born 27.march there look as if Ive got about 130 tads , as the weather has warmed a bit I climatized about 30 tads to the wildlife water outside I done it over a day warm one at that.they are doing very nicely outside. Ive still got about 110 to 120 tads indoors they are also doing very well, when I compare the inside tads from the outside there is no size difference. I change the inside water about every 4 to 5 days and do not over feed. I feed them both the same food but obviously being outside theres more mud etc in there pond. They are now approx half inch long just round bodies and tail, when will they start to change shape?They are now near on 4 weeks old . Fascinating littles creatures anyone else with taddies indoors too? sheila

[Kayleigh]

you willknow if you have newts if you look into the pond at night with a torch..
I saw a newt laying eggs today in my pond on the plants

[Jez]

Originally Posted by Kayleigh

you willknow if you have newts if you look into the pond at night with a torch..
I saw a newt laying eggs today in my pond on the plants

!