GardenBanter.co.uk - View Single Post

13-07-2006, 05:09 PM posted to alt.garden.pond.chat

wrote:

Pete Thomas wrote:
Hi all, I'm new to this group.

I recently moved and started a wildlife pond. I "borrowed" some
frogspawn, the tadpoles hatched but it looks like none of them are
growing legs. My previous wildlife pond just down the road in the same
locality (Southampton UK) had plenty of tadpoles turning into frogs and
newts breeding successfully.

This pond is new. I dug it in October last year, about 3ft deep and 6
feet across (100 gallons or so). I filled it with about half rainwater
from a butt and half tapwater with conditioner which had a few months to
condition before adding the spawn in Feb.

My wife thinks they may be just turning into frogs and sneaking off
before I see them, but I find this unlikely as I check the pond nearly
every day and in the past I've always seen the little fellows getting
legs gradually - it takes a few weeks so I'd see them.

I heard somewhere that there is something (or maybe lack of something)
that can cause tadpoles to not mature, can anyone help?

I can understand the confusion, but actually this thread is about trying
to get frogs, not get rid of them.

WHY WOULD ANYONE WANT TO GET RID OF THEM!!! - FOOLS

I am having the same problem my pond, which is now 3 years old, had
more frogs spawning than ever before this spring, and they were at it
for weeks, yet my tadpoles are not developing any legs - none - not
even thinking about it - I have had a chat with them (the tadpoles)
about it but it hasn't made any difference!!
Now my mum who lives 5 miles away her tadpoles are already growing into
little frogletts and some of them are already leaving home.

My pond has been build solely for - frogs, toads and newts - it
does not have any fish in it. It has sun and shade, plants and looking
at last years calendar the tads had legs this time last year - what
could have happened?

Why are my tadpoles legless??

Does anyone have any advice?? Please - Thanks