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Spring is in the air
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Posted by chippewacat Devon UK (My Page) on Fri, Jan 7, 05 at 14:16
| OK, its the 7th of January, and I have just found a pair (of frogs) embracing in the pond! So, when will we see the quivering of frog spawn?
Usually I let nature take its course, but with the pond freezing over in February/March causing my neighbour losing all her frog spawn last year--and the size of the dragonfly nymphs, I thought I would make a frog nursery this year for some of the spawn. Anyone done this indoors and any hints? |
Follow-Up Postings:
RE: Spring is in the air
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Happy new year to you!
I always think it is best to leave well alone and let nature take its course.
I have more frogs in my pond this winter than ever before (the bottom of the ponds are covered with them and many in the liner 'folds') and they do seem to 'wrap around' and 'embrace' each other.
March seems to be the ideal time for frog spawn....all mine hatched out last year but the fish ate at least 75% of the tadpoles, however still had more tadpoles 'morph' into frogs than the previous 7 years when they were in a pond with no fish or predators at all!
Nature is a funny thing..... |
RE: Spring is in the air
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If you take some in I suggest you only taake a little.
I did this and most of the tadpoles inside died, I think because I hadn't realised I should change the water. I have recently bought a little booklet from the Froglife website, aimed at schools, but with lots of good info. Even so, they tell you not to keep more than a few in an aquarium once they have hatched. |
RE: Spring is in the air
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Yes, I do this each year with one clump of frog spawn.
I change a jugful of water each day after the spawn are wriggling freely.
Any tadpoles taken up into the jug are put in a bucket outside. eventualy i end up with about seven in my mini aquarium. I very rarely have any deaths.
one year, I put a mini aquarium of about 12 inches inside one of about 24 inches and put a turf of grass in the larger aquarium with a fine mesh lid.
I was able to watch as the froglets left the "mini" and fended for themselves in the larger aquarium.
I would thrash about in the bushes with a fine net in order to get midge, flies and other small beatles and fed them daily.
It was very interesting to watch the children perfect their flycatching skills.
Dave |
RE: Spring is in the air
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| Many thanks for your suggestions, I will try it with a clump of spawn and release them when they are big enough to not be so tempting to munch, and be able to avoid ice. The male frogs are gathering, and last night it was already getting rather noisy even over the howling wind. By the way Dave, the imagery of teaching your kids to catch flies did bring a smile on a rainy monday morning--I doubt I will be able to get my daughter to be so obliging! |
RE: Spring is in the air
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If you have a frost free greenhouse, this would be another alternative. You could get a tub or aquarium ready now with some pond weed.
The book I bought recommended feeding the tads on one pellet of rabbit food. |
RE: Spring is in the air
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| Thanks Dave, the tub is this weekends project, and I'm sure the rabbit will share its food. I also read that lettuce that has been cooked is good when they are not carnivorous, and it can be frozen. Any ideas on temprature and light? I am just wondering about where to put it in the house, as we don't have a greenhouse or similar. We have a cool cellar that gets some light, or can try to find a cool bit of the house near a window. The rabbit has its own shed and could share it with the tadpoles, but as his water has been known to freeze that might defeat the purpose! |
RE: Spring is in the air
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The spawn we put in son's bedroom last year developed worryingly fast, and then 99% of the tads died virtually as soon as they emerged. (but I hadn't been changing any water) I think it was too warm. You should also avoid sun on the tank because warm water carries less oxygen than cooler water, or a postion near a radiator.
Don't spray any flyspray or other chemicals or cleaners near the tank/tub. |
Spring is in the air????? Pardon!!!!!!
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RE: Spring is in the air
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| Brrrr! Well they don't call it the English Riviera down here for nothing! The boys have all gathered now, dotted all around the periphery of the pond. All croaking away. No sign of any females yet though. I have noticed the BBC and English wildlife are doing a survey to see when particular spring signs are happening, on BBC springwatch. Want to know about frog spawn, bumblebee sitings and hawthorn blossom and the like. Can find it through the BBC science sites. |
re: spring is in the air (truely tropical here)!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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hi
all.
sean WHAT,s THAT WHITE STUFF????????????????????. DID IT FALL FROM THE SKY??????????????????????????. WHERE,S THE TINS OF BEER THIS YEAR?????????????????????. ---------FISHMADUK-------------david------------------- |
RE: Spring is in the air
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| Its called snow David, the beer doesnt come out until the ice is thick enough to take its weight, to precious to give to the fish |
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