Water Snail and Frogspawn....

[Red Robin]

Over the last few days I have observed one of my Giant Water Snails spending several hours on top of the frogspawn in my small wildlife pond:



It doesn't appear to be obviously grazing/feeding so perhaps it just fancies a big soft mattress to chill out on! The other water snails don't seem to be interested in the frogspawn.

I thought I'd ask in case someone knew something specific about this behaviour. Thanks for any information

[Red Robin]

The same snail (easily recognisable) is still cavorting amongst the frogspawn another day later but deeper in the water down one side. The upper spawn are beginning to hatch.

[Tursiops2]

Originally Posted by Red Robin

It doesn't appear to be obviously grazing/feeding so perhaps it just fancies a big soft mattress to chill out on! The other water snails don't seem to be interested in the frogspawn.

I thought I'd ask in case someone knew something specific about this behaviour. Thanks for any information

The spawn appears to have a thin coating of algae, this will be what the snail is grazing on. I don't think it's anything to worry about - all part of pond ecology.
T2

[Red Robin]

^^^^
Thanks, T2

That crossed my mind as a possibility too. Not a problem and it's nature's way, but I wouldn't be surprised if the snails don't eat some of the frogspawn jelly too.

I've now noticed several other pond snails grazing but they're all smaller younger ones. They have grown quite well since last summer.

[Kayleigh]

Originally Posted by Red Robin

^^^^
Thanks, T2

That crossed my mind as a possibility too. Not a problem and it's nature's way, but I wouldn't be surprised if the snails don't eat some of the frogspawn jelly too.

I've now noticed several other pond snails grazing but they're all smaller younger ones. They have grown quite well since last summer.

The snails will be laying eggs soon under the leaves of the water plants, the snails will eat anything that is dead so are good for cleaning up..
I have lots of snails and the pond never gets over run something eats them not quite sure what but they breed all summer.

[King Edward]

These snails seem to have quite voracious appetites. I hand fed a dead mosquito last year to a snail that was upside down on the surface tension - only a few seconds and the mosquito was completely consumed.

I also think it's likely that this snail is grazing on the algae rather than the spawn itself. I suspect that the jelly is watery and not very nutritious, as compared to the black centre which is definitely worth eating.

[Red Robin]

....5 days later and the tadpoles are emerging and gobbling up the egg jelly. You can now see quite clearly that the young Giant Water snails (born last summer) are grazing on the algae formed on the jelly.

No sign so far of any newts to predate on the tadpoles. I'm waiting to see if the tadpoles will gobble up any blanket weed on the pond sides when they've finished the jelly.

[joycee]

Unfortunately I believe that pond snails DO eat frog spawn. I had several large clumps of spawn in my pond and I noticed the pond snails all over it and inside it. The next day when I looked some of the spawn had disappeared and what was left was covered in snails. there is nothing else in the pond that could've eaten it. I have had to take the remaining spawn out and put it in a tank to hatch or else it would all be eaten. I am absolutely certain that the snails have eaten it all.

[Red Robin]

Originally Posted by King Edward

I also think it's likely that this snail is grazing on the algae rather than the spawn itself. I suspect that the jelly is watery and not very nutritious, as compared to the black centre which is definitely worth eating.

....I don't know for certain but isn't frogspawn jelly VERY nutritious? - I think this because I think it's what the young tadpoles feed on when emerging. Please correct me if I'm wrong.

[Red Robin]

Originally Posted by joycee

Unfortunately I believe that pond snails DO eat frog spawn. I had several large clumps of spawn in my pond and I noticed the pond snails all over it and inside it. The next day when I looked some of the spawn had disappeared and what was left was covered in snails. there is nothing else in the pond that could've eaten it. I have had to take the remaining spawn out and put it in a tank to hatch or else it would all be eaten. I am absolutely certain that the snails have eaten it all.

....You say "unfortunately" but it's all part of Nature's way. I'm personally quite glad if both my Pond Snails and Palmate Newts gooble up the frogspawn (which I have introduced from within 50ft away). I don't want my pond to be overrun with frogs, or indeed overrun with any single species.