Tadpoles everywhere!

[poconojoe]

I wasn't sure where to post this...I guess it's spawning, but not fish!
We have thousands of tiny tadpoles everywhere in our pond. I've never seen so many. Maybe it's actually a million! I imagine a lot of them will get eaten by the fish eventually. It will be interesting to see how many survive.

 

[Tula]

Do you know if they are toads or frogs? I usually get a lot of toad tadpoles and my koi don't eat their eggs. The tadpoles don't seem to stay very long.....they must develop quickly.

 

[poconojoe]

If I were to guess, I'd say they are frogs. They are black and only about a 1/4" long including their big head and wiggly tail. They're all hanging around the edges of the pond. I have seen at least 4 frogs in and around the pond for a couple months and I can hear them singing right now as I'm typing. There's a toad that's been living by the house. He's been there for a couple weeks.

 

[BKHpondcritters]

If I were to guess, I'd say they are frogs. They are black and only about a 1/4" long including their big head and wiggly tail. They're all hanging around the edges of the pond. I have seen at least 4 frogs in and around the pond for a couple months and I can hear them singing right now as I'm typing. There's a toad that's been living by the house. He's been there for a couple weeks.

That sounds like toads to me. If what you're hearing is 'singing' (long, whistling call) that's a male toad. Frogs make a variety of their own noises, but generally more low-pitched & 'croak' like.

 

[addy1]

We get tons of eggs and tad poles, the toads jump out pretty fast. The tree frogs also jump out fast. The green frogs wait until next year to leave the pond.

 

[poconojoe]

That sounds like toads to me. If what you're hearing is 'singing' (long, whistling call) that's a male toad. Frogs make a variety of their own noises, but generally more low-pitched & 'croak' like.

Oh, OK, they must be toads then because their singing sounds like whistling from afar. Up close it's a little more croak like. They are small and stay around and in the pond. I thought toads would just stay on the land. These guys jump in if you startle them.

 

[AlyssaFish]

Do you think you can get pictures? I love tadpoles!

 

[poconojoe]

Do you think you can get pictures? I love tadpoles!

Whenever I try to take pictures, they come out horrible. I even tried holding filters from my old (film) SLR in front of my phone.

 

[AlyssaFish]

Whenever I try to take pictures, they come out horrible. I even tried holding filters from my old (film) SLR in front of my phone.

Aww, that's too bad! But I understand!

 

[Tula]

Toads lay their eggs in water.

 

[BKHpondcritters]

Oh, OK, they must be toads then because their singing sounds like whistling from afar. Up close it's a little more croak like. They are small and stay around and in the pond. I thought toads would just stay on the land. These guys jump in if you startle them.

The toads will come & hang around the pond when it's spawning time. Their eggs look like long curly strings or chains laid in the water. Frog eggs look different, depending on which type of frog it is. Some make balls of eggs that attach underwater to plants (wood & pickerel), others lay rafts of eggs that stay more on the surface. After spawning the toads and other terrestrial types of frogs (tree & wood) leave the pond & return to the land. Truly aquatic frogs like green & bullfrogs stay in & around the pond all summer.

Sorry for the long winded explanation, but I'm fairly obsessed with my aquatic & semi aquatic 'friends'. Our first round of baby toads is making their way out of the pond & I just got finished playing with them & taking a bunch of pictures.

 

[poconojoe]

The toads will come & hang around the pond when it's spawning time. Their eggs look like long curly strings or chains laid in the water. Frog eggs look different, depending on which type of frog it is. Some make balls of eggs that attach underwater to plants (wood & pickerel), others lay rafts of eggs that stay more on the surface. After spawning the toads and other terrestrial types of frogs (tree & wood) leave the pond & return to the land. Truly aquatic frogs like green & bullfrogs stay in & around the pond all summer.

Sorry for the long winded explanation, but I'm fairly obsessed with my aquatic & semi aquatic 'friends'. Our first round of baby toads is making their way out of the pond & I just got finished playing with them & taking a bunch of pictures.

Thanks! Not long winded. The more info the better we all get educated on the subject. Heck, we're a diverse group. Not just ponds and fish.

 

[poconojoe]

This is the best picture I could get. Sorry, no way to get a perspective on their size, but they are tiny. Maybe 1/4" head to tail.

 

[BKHpondcritters]

Yup! I love my fish, but for me the pond is just as much about the plants & wildlife - the whole package deal! Here are a couple shots of my baby toads (one still has serious 'tadpole butt'! lol)

 

[BKHpondcritters]

View attachment 129791
This is the best picture I could get. Sorry, no way to get a perspective on their size, but they are tiny. Maybe 1/4" head to tail.

I call toad! If you put your feet in & sit still, you might be lucky enough to get a tadpole pedicure!