Clearing the pond today and noticed quite a few tadpoles there. Didn't
think they should be there at this time of year. Should they ?

TIA.
--
Regards,

Hugh Jampton

Hugh Jampton writes
Clearing the pond today and noticed quite a few tadpoles there. Didn't
think they should be there at this time of year. Should they ?

If they haven't grown very first (because the water is cold, for
example), then they may overwinter as tadpoles. But you're right that
usually they turn into frogs during the first summer.
--
Kay

"Hugh Jampton" wrote ...
Clearing the pond today and noticed quite a few tadpoles there. Didn't
think they should be there at this time of year. Should they ?

Some, normally those from late spawnings, do stay as tadpoles and overwinter
that way, turning into frogs early next year, provided they make it.
They can be quite big too, are your's bigger than normal tadpoles? I've seen
some huge ones late in the year.

--
Regards
Bob Hobden
just W. of London

..

Hugh Jampton wrote:

Clearing the pond today and noticed quite a few tadpoles there. Didn't
think they should be there at this time of year. Should they ?

TIA.

AFAIK unusual but does happen. In order to metamorphose, tadpoles
require several essential nutrients in their food - if they don't get
the diet they need, they don't metamorphose. I think the commonest cause
is lack of iodine but undoubtably there are other causes.

Larry

On Mon, 7 Sep 2009 22:53:30 +0100, Bob Hobden wrote:

They can be quite big too, are your's bigger than normal tadpoles?

No. Just about the same size as normal tadpoles.
--
Regards,

Hugh Jampton