Tadpoles

Joined
Apr 30, 2017
Messages
95
Reaction score
80
Location
Ms
Showcase(s):
2
Hardiness Zone
7b
Country
United States
why won't my goldfish eat the tadpoles? I have read that they do, but mine don't. Toads laid eggs, I fished a lot out, but there are still a bunch, bunch of tadpoles.
 

Jhn

Joined
Jul 3, 2017
Messages
2,213
Reaction score
2,254
Location
Maryland
Showcase(s):
1
Hardiness Zone
7b
Country
United States
Toad tadpoles produce toxins, so most fish don’t eat them or learn quickly to leave them alone.
 

JBtheExplorer

Native Gardener
Joined
Apr 2, 2013
Messages
5,186
Reaction score
9,912
Location
Wisconsin
Showcase(s):
1
Hardiness Zone
5b
Country
United States
why won't my goldfish eat the tadpoles? I have read that they do, but mine don't. Toads laid eggs

Toad tadpoles are different.
Fish will readily eat frog tadpoles. Toad tadpoles are poisonous, and fish will instinctively avoid them.


Why fish them out? Let 'em live. They won't stay long once they're on land. They'll eventually leave and find homes of their own. That's really what ponds are all about, wildlife.
 
Joined
Dec 16, 2017
Messages
13,380
Reaction score
10,484
Location
Ct
Showcase(s):
1
Hardiness Zone
6b
Country
United States
Like jb said i'd let them be let them become toads and move on don't forget toads eat insects so yes while toads are on the list of EWWW'S I'd be willing to bet what they eat is higher on your list of ewww's
 
Last edited:
Joined
Apr 30, 2017
Messages
95
Reaction score
80
Location
Ms
Showcase(s):
2
Hardiness Zone
7b
Country
United States
I really don't have an eww list, I love frog tadpoles..... Loud obnoxious toads though....
 
Joined
Nov 4, 2016
Messages
36
Reaction score
18
Location
Sun City West, AZ
Hardiness Zone
9b
As was stated before toads don't hang around ponds. They leave and find a home out tin the woods under a log or a rock and eat many, many insects.
I also don't think they croak except in the Spring when breeding but I may be wrong.
 

addy1

water gardener / gold fish and shubunkins
Moderator
Joined
Jun 23, 2010
Messages
44,338
Reaction score
29,089
Location
Frederick, Maryland
Showcase(s):
1
Hardiness Zone
6b
Country
United States
I leave them be, get hundreds of them, they leave the ponds when they are around 1/4 inch in size, tiny little things.
 
Joined
Oct 6, 2015
Messages
136
Reaction score
341
Location
Houston TX
Hardiness Zone
9a
Country
United States
As was stated before toads don't hang around ponds. They leave and find a home out tin the woods under a log or a rock and eat many, many insects.
I also don't think they croak except in the Spring when breeding but I may be wrong.

HAHAHAHAHA I wish that was my experience. The best thing about this longer cooler weather is the toads have not congregated around my pond yet. Once they do it will be a half dozen to a full army of toads every night until late summer croaking and screaming their heads off. We started seeing them pop up around the pond about two weeks ago. Thus far I've got 2 fat females hanging around just waiting for the first rainy, humid night.

Benefits outweigh the load negatives though. I get an army of little algae hungry eating machines, there are lots of toads hanging around to eat mosquitoes, and it adds a new life cycle to the pond to watch and enjoy.

With that being said I had a pair of leopard frogs the first year the pond was in and I would gladly remove every toad to have those two frogs back. :)
 
Joined
Dec 16, 2017
Messages
13,380
Reaction score
10,484
Location
Ct
Showcase(s):
1
Hardiness Zone
6b
Country
United States
HAHAHAHAHA I wish that was my experience. The best thing about this longer cooler weather is the toads have not congregated around my pond yet. Once they do it will be a half dozen to a full army of toads every night until late summer croaking and screaming their heads off. We started seeing them pop up around the pond about two weeks ago. Thus far I've got 2 fat females hanging around just waiting for the first rainy, humid night.

Benefits outweigh the load negatives though. I get an army of little algae hungry eating machines, there are lots of toads hanging around to eat mosquitoes, and it adds a new life cycle to the pond to watch and enjoy.

With that being said I had a pair of leopard frogs the first year the pond was in and I would gladly remove every toad to have those two frogs back. :)
ASK JB what you could do to make a habitat more friendly for leopard frogs
 
Joined
May 22, 2012
Messages
249
Reaction score
224
Location
NJ
Hardiness Zone
7a
Oh yeah, once they come in I have screamers every night. Doesn't bother me at all though as it is far from the house and I enjoy the sound. But the toads make WAY more noise than the bullfrogs ever do and bullfrogs are all I ever get. :( My neighbor is full of green frogs, so not fair.
 
Joined
Apr 30, 2017
Messages
95
Reaction score
80
Location
Ms
Showcase(s):
2
Hardiness Zone
7b
Country
United States
My pond is near, almost up against the house lol. They are loud and obnoxious. It is actually right outside my son's bedroom window and he now hates toads!
 
Joined
Nov 13, 2017
Messages
425
Reaction score
397
Hardiness Zone
7a/7b depending on the map
Country
United States
I've got one green frog, and several bullfrogs. The Bullfrogs are handy to have around when they get big.
 

Ask a Question

Want to reply to this thread or ask your own question?

You'll need to choose a username for the site, which only take a couple of moments. After that, you can post your question and our members will help you out.

Ask a Question

Similar Threads


Members online

Forum statistics

Threads
30,781
Messages
508,561
Members
13,042
Latest member
lucaryan

Latest Threads

Top