Help! Lots of frogspawn in a very small tray!

[calanda]

Hello - I'm new and hope you can help!

Over the winter I left a tray out in my garden (the small, grey ones that you had at school) and I've just noticed that it is about 1/4 with frogspawn. Do I need to try and move it to a bigger tank? I don't have a pond in my garden.

Also, the water level was quite low so I topped it up with tap water - I've since read that the chlorine in tap water kills them - have I done in all my frog spawn? I can see some of them moving in their sacks...

I've always had frogs in my garden and would really like some of these to survive!

[posie]

Hello Calanda, and Welcome to WAB. Yes, they must have a bigger 'container' of some sort. Can you acquire any rain water from a neighbour perhaps. if not asap stand some tapwater outside in something shallow with large surface area for at least 24 hrs before use, as a last resort. They have obviously just hatched, or are hatching, so will feed on the spawn for a while. After that I expect you know they will need feeding...Posie..

[calanda]

Thank you! They haven't started to hatch out yet - only a handful are moving and most still look like blobs! Will find a bigger container today and go on the hunt for some water. If, when I transport it to the new container, the spawn seperates into smaller clumps, will it still be okay? Sorry if I sound a bit thick - never done this before!

[posie]

I know what you mean, I was asking the same question a while ago. No, it won't do much harm, but I suggest you get someone to help you slide a big plastic sheet under the tray first, cos if you lose any it's a devil to pick up, and you could tilt the tray so the spawn goes onto the sheet, (keeping edges of sheet held higher)and that would be easier, cos spawn is sort of liquid and will tip the tray and shoot off the side. Whatever the spawn is in, get it as close to the surface of the water in the new tank as you can when putting it in,Well you'd do that anyway..VERY important thing is TEMPERATURE of new water, it MUST be the same, it really is best to use a thermometer,But if you have the two containers close for a time, there won't be much difference on the surface, but the deeper one could be cooler lower down., so mix the new water a bit when you do it so it's even temp....Posie...Good Luck..ps what part of the country do you live?

[calanda]

I'm in Cheshire. I haven't got a very large container so do you think I could split the spawn into 3 and put them in seperate ones? Am seriously considering putting a small pond in this week just for them - it is starting to look like the easier option!!

[posie]

Yes you could divide it, I wondered if youcould have a wildlife pond, if you put any fish in it they will eat the wildlife, so it's best to keep them separate.

Kayleigh has a thread called 'pond in a barrel 4 yrs on' or something like that, that you might like to look at as an interim measure, tho it will entail acquiring a container, but I guess you'll line your new pond anyway ?...Let us know how you get on with spawn/taddies....Posie..

[dampflippers]

I hope I'm not too late.
You can make lovely little container ponds with large plastic plant pots that don't have holes. You can often get them quite cheaply from "cheap shops".
Alternativey use those plastic storage crates, or even buy a few 99p builders buckets.
I have tadpole nurseries in all of these dotted over the garden!

Ask around and see if any of your neigbours have ponds and could donate some oxygenators (underwater pond plants). If not these are usually about £1 a bunch from garden centres.
Good ones:
Callitriche stagnalis Water Starwort
Ceratophyllum demersum Rigid Hornwort
Eleocharis acicularis Hair Grass
Fontinalis antipyretica Willow Moss
Hippuris vulgaris Marestail (not suitable for small,
mud-based ponds)
Hottonia palustris Water Violet
Myriophyllum spicatum Water Milfoil
Myriophyllum verticillatum Whorled Milfoil
Nuphar lutea Yellow Water Lily (for large ponds only)
Nymphaea alba White Water Lily (for large ponds only)
Potamogeton crispus Curly Pondweed
Ranunculus aquatilis Water Crowfoot

Try to avoid: Tillea/Crassula helmsii, azolla/fairymoss nd other non native invasive species.
Invasive non-native plants

[calanda]

That's brilliant - thank you! Lots of little 'ponds' sounds great!

I have asked around and have found a couple of people who will take some for their ponds but it would be lovely to keep some for my garden.

You've all been so helpful. Thank you!

[posie]

You are very welcome. Let us know how you get on.....Posie