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Post by Shockprowl on Apr 21, 2019 7:19:12 GMT
If you're fortunate enough to have room for your own garden pond, or want to discuss ponds in general, discuss here.
We have a small pond in our back-garden. It's kinda behind some plants, set back. It's more a 'habitat' than a pond proper. Nice and cool, still water, perfect for frogs. But after, gosh, three years- NO FROGS! I'd always been told "if you build it, they will come..." So where are the amphibians?!
Thinking of adding another more prominent pond. Perhaps with a soothing water feature.
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Post by Benn on Apr 21, 2019 7:41:42 GMT
I don't know much about ponds or amphibians, but don't they need to have a river or something nearby to migrate from? Have you got one of those?
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Post by shadowynne on Apr 21, 2019 9:01:19 GMT
Well...
I do have a pond, also I have worked in the ornamental aquatics/pond trade for well over 20 years...
So.
One of the main things people overlook is that the pond is only a tiny percent of what amphibians need, newts and toads spend very little time actually in the water over the year, spending most of their lives on land. Frogs do spend more time in water but a lot less than people think.
The trick is to make the surrounding area more attractive to amphibians, lots of cover, a purposely placed pile of decomposing logs is always a winner, sections of flowerpots strategically placed help loads as well.
Also FOOD! Amphibians need insects, if your area is regularly or heavily manicured and sprayed that means less food. Less food means fewer amphibians. The insect life should be both in and out of the pond. If you regularly put down slug pellets this greatly lessens the chance of toads as the love a nice juicy slug.
Proximity to a water source isn't that important, toads and newts especially will travel miles in between water sources.
Your pond needs to be at least 18inches deep at its deepest, if it is to shallow it will have poor oxygen (regardless of plants, yes even "oxygenating plants") and have a chance of freezing solid in winter. Neither of these things are any good for vertebrate pond life.
And NO fish! If you have fish in the pond, they will eat the microorganisms that the amphibian larva depend on, as well as eating eggs and larvae of amphibians themselves.
Any help?
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Post by Shockprowl on Apr 21, 2019 9:16:59 GMT
Awww yes that's a fantastic help!
My 'pond' has many of the features you describe, but it's missing plenty of others.
It's already well under cover, but is probe all manner of leaf and debris falling in, making the water very mucky. And it's not as deep as you've said.
Plenty of #£@&ING gastropods though, which is why I put it in Inthe first place!
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Post by blueshift on Apr 21, 2019 10:30:56 GMT
GIANT GASTROPODS?  ? |
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Post by shadowynne on Apr 21, 2019 11:01:02 GMT
Leaf litter is fine, as long as it doesn't make up the majority of the pond. It provides cover for all manner of excellent crawling things.
Also you could "inoculate" your pond with a good bucketful of pond water + pond substrate from a natural pond/lake if you have access to one, this helps loads, if nothing else you could introduce the natural clean crew whos job it is to break down the leaf litter.
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Post by The Doctor on Apr 21, 2019 12:26:11 GMT
GIANT GASTROPODS? ? Perhaps Shockprowl faces The Twin Dilemma on Frontios??!! -Ralph |
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Post by Shockprowl on Apr 21, 2019 15:51:25 GMT
GIANT GASTROPODS? ? No, dear, it was "fucking" gastropods. "Fucking". 'Cos I hate bastards and they're everywhere. BUT SOON, THANKS TO THE WISE WORDS OF THE MASTER OF POND SHADOWAYNNE, MY AMPHIBIAN ARMY WILL RISE TO DESTROY THEM. |
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Post by Shockprowl on Apr 21, 2019 15:53:45 GMT
Leaf litter is fine, as long as it doesn't make up the majority of the pond. It provides cover for all manner of excellent crawling things. Also you could "inoculate" your pond with a good bucketful of pond water + pond substrate from a natural pond/lake if you have access to one, this helps loads, if nothing else you could introduce the natural clean crew whos job it is to break down the leaf litter. Yes I think it's too debrised at the mo. Inoculation with pond water is excellent advice. I think I need to make it deeper though first. |
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Post by Shockprowl on Apr 21, 2019 15:54:32 GMT
GIANT GASTROPODS? ? Perhaps Shockprowl faces The Twin Dilemma on Frontios??!! -Ralph I don't know what that means. |
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Post by blueshift on Apr 21, 2019 16:00:16 GMT
Perhaps Shockprowl faces The Twin Dilemma on Frontios??!! -Ralph I don't know what that means. Oh do we have a treat for you... |
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Post by Shockprowl on Apr 21, 2019 16:03:22 GMT
I don't know what that means. Oh do we have a treat for you... ooohhh poo |
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