To Tad or Not to Tad?

[Davidless]

Ok,

I've had my pond almost a year, so I'll post this here.

My 1100 gal pond is in my small back yard which is in a small village in Buffalo N.Y. therefore not a lot of frogs around to hang in my pond.

Last summer I discovered 2 green frogs (I was ecstatic), but this spring about a month ago I noticed only one frog but now it’s gone also.

Here’s my question, I’d like to get some frogs in my pond, so, should I buy some tad poles from the local pond store? Or will this be a big mistake? I’m not sure where they keep disappearing to when I do see one or two.

Thanks for your opinion and help

David

 

[koiguy1969]

just because you havent seen them doesnt meen theyre not around... i often dont see them either. just hear their splashes as they hit the water to hide as i approach. or you gotta really look for them to see most of the time anyways...they will leave the pond area occasionally to hunt. tads are cheap go ahead and pick up a few. they'll likely hang around.

 

[HARO]

Don't forget; raccoons eat frogs! and the masked bandits are everywhere! But I would still go ahead and add some tadpoles to the pond. Just make sure they aren't bullfrog tads!
John

 

[Davidless]

Thanks guys, I think i will

 

[kcrepps]

Pondcrastinator

What is wrong with bullfrog tads? We have one in our pond and are eagerly awaiting its transformation.

 

[HARO]

Bullfrogs are canibalistic garbage disposal units. Anything that fits in that mouth gets eaten, including, but not limited to, smaller frogs, goldfish, small birds and even little turtles! That's why I try to keep them out of my pond.
John

 

[kcrepps]

Very good point.

 

[addy1]

Bullfrogs are canibalistic garbage disposal units. Anything that fits in that mouth gets eaten, including, but not limited to, smaller frogs, goldfish, small birds and even little turtles! That's why I try to keep them out of my pond.
John

Yeah, I agree, but how in the world would you catch them unless you snag them during sleepy time in the winter. I read they stay on the bottom of the pond over winter.

 

[Malak]

I have two bullfrogs that I got as tads. Maybe that's what happend to the other frogs. I still prefer them because
they are easier to see and they will keep the population of other things in check. But I will limit how many I
have after learning the above. Who know's maybe they eat snakes too! :-D

 

[HARO]

As long as the snake fits in the mouth, those gluttons will eat it!
John

 

[Davidless]

Yes, they are incredable canabalistic creatures, someone posted a video from National Geographic on this sight last year about one, really quite amazing

David

 

[damian]

i almost bought a couple bullfrog tadpoles today because they look pretty awesome

 

[CometKeith]

Damian, Bullfrog tadpoles take more than one season to become a frog. They can grow large but the odds are they might hop away at some point also. I had one for a while and he was fun to have and made our pond more interesting. My wife and daughter never cared about the fish, but were always excited when they saw the frog. I would try one and see how it goes. The videos you see on youtube are pretty contrived. I think they starve the frogs before they film them eating whatever. Also they will keep down your population of unwanted insects so they definitely have value. My small bullfrog never bothered my fish. One warning is that in some states they are considered nuisances and are actually illegal to transport, own etc because they will eat smaller frogs and some of these other frog populations are being diminished because of the bullfrog. We don't have any naturally occurring frogs in the Chicago area so that wasn't a problem here.

 

[Davidless]

Damian, Bullfrog tadpoles take more than one season to become a frog. They can grow large but the odds are they might hop away at some point also. I had one for a while and he was fun to have and made our pond more interesting. My wife and daughter never cared about the fish, but were always excited when they saw the frog. I would try one and see how it goes. The videos you see on youtube are pretty contrived. I think they starve the frogs before they film them eating whatever. Also they will keep down your population of unwanted insects so they definitely have value. My small bullfrog never bothered my fish. One warning is that in some states they are considered nuisances and are actually illegal to transport, own etc because they will eat smaller frogs and some of these other frog populations are being diminished because of the bullfrog. We don't have any naturally occurring frogs in the Chicago area so that wasn't a problem here.

Thaks for the bull frog insight, I think I will talk to our local pond store and see what they say about puting some bull frog tads in my pond.

David

 

[Rivermist]

Were they aquatic frogs for sure ?

I see tree frogs around water feature when they are gonna lay their eggs... then they leave.
they are the prettiest flashy green little things I've seen

Will take pictures this year

Otherwise... Bullfrogs have never been a problem in my ponds. And we've had up to 100 !

Never had a fish missing even the small ones.



green frogs are the same type of garbage disposal... it's a green frog that I found once trying to desperately swallow a young bird that had drowned into a pond...