Home |
Search |
Today's Posts |
#1
|
|||
|
|||
New pond critter
It's been unusually warm here in the mid-atlantic for
a few weeks now, in fact, it's 10:30 pm and 52 F outside (A real bummer for someone like I who loves snow). Anyway, got home tonight and found a 6" spotted salamander (stocky, black with bright yellow spots) out back near our new pond. We have lots of small salamanders in the yard, but this is the first time I've seen one of these so we took a few pictures and let it go near the waterfall. Apparently they become active in February when the snow starts to melt at which time they start roaming at night looking for a mate and a pond/pool to lay eggs in. Got my fingers crossed! |
#2
|
|||
|
|||
New pond critter
"Dan" wrote in message ... It's been unusually warm here in the mid-atlantic for a few weeks now, in fact, it's 10:30 pm and 52 F outside (A real bummer for someone like I who loves snow). Anyway, got home tonight and found a 6" spotted salamander (stocky, black with bright yellow spots) out back near our new pond. We have lots of small salamanders in the yard, but this is the first time I've seen one of these so we took a few pictures and let it go near the waterfall. Apparently they become active in February when the snow starts to melt at which time they start roaming at night looking for a mate and a pond/pool to lay eggs in. Got my fingers crossed! ============================ They live here as well. I've found a few in or near my ponds but never any young ones. Maybe the GF or koi eat their eggs or young ones. Tomorrow it's supposed to be in the 70s here in zone 6. -- Koi-Lo.... frugal ponding since 1995... Aquariums since 1952 My Pond & Aquarium Pages: NEW PAGE: Aquariums: http://bellsouthpwp.net/s/h/shastada...ium-Page4.html http://bellsouthpwp.net/s/h/shastadaisy ~~~ }((((o ~~~ }{{{{o ~~~ }(((((o |
#3
|
|||
|
|||
New pond critter
On Wed, 11 Jan 2006 22:43:42 -0500, Dan wrote:
It's been unusually warm here in the mid-atlantic for a few weeks now, in fact, it's 10:30 pm and 52 F outside (A real bummer for someone like I who loves snow). Anyway, got home tonight and found a 6" spotted salamander (stocky, black with bright yellow spots) out back near our new pond. We have lots of small salamanders in the yard, but this is the first time I've seen one of these so we took a few pictures and let it go near the waterfall. Apparently they become active in February when the snow starts to melt at which time they start roaming at night looking for a mate and a pond/pool to lay eggs in. Got my fingers crossed! Cool. I sure hope that if it cools off, it does it slowly so as not to catch the little critters unprepared and freeze them. ~ jan ~ jan/WA Zone 7a |
#4
|
|||
|
|||
New pond critter
Hi DragonSparrow,
If you want to save the little salamander offspring, your going to need to intercept the eggs, or isolate them from the Goldfish. ALL fish love to eat salamander eggs and larvae. They even sell them in some of the higher end bait shops, and they are expensive. I used to fish for some time as a kid, and these eggs were one of the best baits you could get. From what I here, GF even eat thier own eggs if given the chance. Good luck saving them. I'd try to net off the area where the eggs get laid. But even then you stand a less than decent chance of saving the young when they hatch. Another solution is to give them a place to hide by placing a large flat rock in the pond, and a few more in a stream if you have one. Hope this helps -- Kevin |
#5
|
|||
|
|||
New pond critter
wrote in message ... I'd try to net off the area where the eggs get laid. But even then you stand a less than decent chance of saving the young when they hatch. Another solution is to give them a place to hide by placing a large flat rock in the pond, and a few more in a stream if you have one. ========================= Using a new underwater can gill-net and kill fish. A large amount of Hornwart and Elodea would give the young a place to hide until large enough to move around freely. It would also attract water bugs and insects for them to feed on. -- Koi-Lo.... frugal ponding since 1995... Aquariums since 1952 My Pond & Aquarium Pages: NEW PAGE: Aquariums: http://bellsouthpwp.net/s/h/shastada...ium-Page4.html http://bellsouthpwp.net/s/h/shastadaisy ~~~ }((((o ~~~ }{{{{o ~~~ }(((((o |
Reply |
Thread Tools | Search this Thread |
Display Modes | |
|
|
Similar Threads | ||||
Thread | Forum | |||
Garden Pond Critter? | Ponds | |||
Garden Pond Critter? | Ponds | |||
Can you identify this critter ? (halfly OT, found it near the pond) | Ponds | |||
Who is this loud mouthed critter? | Ponds | |||
What kind of critter steals bell peppers? | Texas |