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Post by Ellen Eyewater on Aug 2, 2007 14:28:24 GMT
I know that there are lots of very clever folks here, and I was hoping someone can help with this question/strange happening!
Several months ago I took masses of frog spawn from the big pond I look after, and put it in the Infants (or whatever it is called now?) School pond , which is next door to me, so the children could watch the tadpoles change into frogs.
I was amazed to look out of my window yesterday, to see lots of tadpoles still sunbathing in the shallows! They are still at the real tadpole stage.. no legs appearing at all! All of their siblings have long since turned into frogs and left home, why are they still here, and stuck at this stage of developement .. any ideas??
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Post by Janglers on Aug 2, 2007 14:34:22 GMT
Tygs family have just returned from a holiday in Devon. They, too, saw many tadpoles.
Frogs will be found in most ground level ponds, regardless of whether you want them or not. As they are amphibious it is normal to find adult frogs breeding within a pond between February and May, although this time frame may vary according to the weather. Breeding usually occurs several times each year and the males will call the females with a loud croaking sound. .
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Post by Ellen Eyewater on Aug 2, 2007 14:49:11 GMT
Thanks Janglers, but I forgot to mention that the school pond is raised about 2'6" above ground level, I really cant see that any frogs could of gotten in to spawn, so the only stuff was that which I had put in. As they turned into froglets they were caught and taken to frog friendly areas ... kids playgrounds are a little sparse!!
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Post by Lord L on Aug 2, 2007 18:17:56 GMT
Thanks Janglers, but I forgot to mention that the school pond is raised about 2'6" above ground level, I really cant see that any frogs could of gotten in to spawn, so the only stuff was that which I had put in. As they turned into froglets they were caught and taken to frog friendly areas ... kids playgrounds are a little sparse!! It happens. Some tadpoles will not mature in the first year: they will over-winter like that and then start the turning into frogs process next year. |
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Post by Ellen Eyewater on Aug 2, 2007 18:30:20 GMT
Thank you!
I was worrying there was something amis with the pond, but if this is normal I can sleep tonight, with no worry of 'mutant ninja tadpoles' comming to get me!
I told everyone someone here would know!
Thank you xx
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Post by Lord L on Aug 2, 2007 18:52:18 GMT
Thank you! I was worrying there was something amis with the pond, but if this is normal I can sleep tonight, with no worry of 'mutant ninja tadpoles' comming to get me! I told everyone someone here would know! Thank you xx No problem. It's called neoteny: very rarely, a tadpole will remain like that for ever - well, for the whole of its life, anyway. |
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Post by Suzy R Sopham on Aug 3, 2007 7:41:06 GMT
We haven't got a pond but we have loads of tiny little frogs around the garden at the moment. They aren't even as big as a fingernail!
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Post by Tigger on Aug 5, 2007 12:26:21 GMT
There is no pond at Tigger Towers either but yesterday lickle Frogsley Frog made his yearly appearance - this time hiding amongst the nasturtiums! ;D
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Post by Lord L on Aug 5, 2007 13:40:16 GMT
There is no pond at Tigger Towers either but yesterday lickle Frogsley Frog made his yearly appearance - this time hiding amongst the nasturtiums! ;D Have you tried kissing him? |
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