Comments on: Frozen pond, no dead frogs (or newts) http://jeremybiggs.wordpress.com/2009/01/27/frozen-pond-no-dead-frogs-or-newts/ "If only I had found this website last year when I started my pond!” Thu, 02 Feb 2012 21:11:14 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.com/ By: jonspond http://jeremybiggs.wordpress.com/2009/01/27/frozen-pond-no-dead-frogs-or-newts/#comment-4093 Tue, 01 Feb 2011 22:30:01 +0000 http://thegardenpondblog.org.uk/?p=1465#comment-4093 Jeremy, I have noticed that my pond’s water level has dropped after the ice has thawed over the last few days. The ice was around 5cm thick or less – as it has thawed the water levels have dropped – does this mean I have a leak or is it natural evaporation?

]]> By: Jeremy Biggs http://jeremybiggs.wordpress.com/2009/01/27/frozen-pond-no-dead-frogs-or-newts/#comment-4091 Tue, 01 Feb 2011 06:33:07 +0000 http://thegardenpondblog.org.uk/?p=1465#comment-4091 H Faye – there turn out to be quite a lot at the bottom of ponds. It looks like the oxygen (or perhaps toxic gases); having plenty of plants should help and maybe less organic matter – but have to add that we don’t have enough good information about managing ponds in winter to be really confident on the advice. Keep an eye on the website for the Big Pond Thaw report for 2011 when we’ll review the cold weather pond advice again.

]]> By: faye http://jeremybiggs.wordpress.com/2009/01/27/frozen-pond-no-dead-frogs-or-newts/#comment-4088 Mon, 31 Jan 2011 19:04:32 +0000 http://thegardenpondblog.org.uk/?p=1465#comment-4088 i have just fished out seven dead frogs from our pond. i thought frogs hibernated in walls over winter. have the frogs died from disease or lack of oxygen i wonder? is there anything i can put at the bottom of the pond to produce oxygen over the winter months when it gets icy? faye

]]> By: Sue Orchard http://jeremybiggs.wordpress.com/2009/01/27/frozen-pond-no-dead-frogs-or-newts/#comment-4032 Thu, 20 Jan 2011 13:13:20 +0000 http://thegardenpondblog.org.uk/?p=1465#comment-4032 Carolyn – do birds use your pond for bathing? I often see an oily sheen on our pond after too many pigeons have been doing their ablutions. Presume it’s from their feathers. It quickly disperses although we do have a pump and small water fall which keeps the water moving a bit which must help.

]]> By: carolyn http://jeremybiggs.wordpress.com/2009/01/27/frozen-pond-no-dead-frogs-or-newts/#comment-4028 Wed, 19 Jan 2011 11:51:10 +0000 http://thegardenpondblog.org.uk/?p=1465#comment-4028 I also have a very small garden pond, home to lots of frogs and some goldfish, which froze solid in spite of my attempts to keep a hole free, and I now have several dead frogs and fish. Now the ice has gone, I have removed the dead frogs I can see, but the surface of the pond seems to have a thin layer of oil over it. I have no idea what has caused this, can it be from the dead frogs? Does anyone know, and what can I do about it? I haven’t put anything oily into the pond, and it has lots of plants and weed growing, it is normally a natural, healthy pond, I think (I know nothing about them really, but the frogs and fish seem to be happy and breed in it, and the vegetation grows too much, so I presume it is normally OK.

]]> By: Jeremy Biggs http://jeremybiggs.wordpress.com/2009/01/27/frozen-pond-no-dead-frogs-or-newts/#comment-4025 Tue, 18 Jan 2011 18:30:16 +0000 http://thegardenpondblog.org.uk/?p=1465#comment-4025 Hi Sue

Thanks for the form, and yes – we definitely are interested in ponds with no mortalities.

Interesting that you ran the pump.

Jeremy

]]> By: Sue Orchard http://jeremybiggs.wordpress.com/2009/01/27/frozen-pond-no-dead-frogs-or-newts/#comment-4024 Tue, 18 Jan 2011 16:51:04 +0000 http://thegardenpondblog.org.uk/?p=1465#comment-4024 Hi all – so sorry for all of you that have lost frogs etc. Very upsetting and worrying. I definitely had tadpoles and adult frogs last year so I’m really glad to be able to report no losses now the (very thick) ice has finally thawed. The pond is just over a year old so not as much vegetation as I would like yet but a pump returning running water to the pond kept a small area ice free (with a bit of help from a long stick!) and presumably oxygenated the water somewhat. Haven’t dipped the pond yet but have seen ‘whirlygig’ beetles and a mating pair of great diving beetles coming up for air!

P.S. I’ve completed the survey as I guess ‘no loss’ information may be usefull too.

]]> By: Jeremy Biggs http://jeremybiggs.wordpress.com/2009/01/27/frozen-pond-no-dead-frogs-or-newts/#comment-4022 Tue, 18 Jan 2011 10:07:14 +0000 http://thegardenpondblog.org.uk/?p=1465#comment-4022 Hi Jane – Would you be able to fill out a Big Pond Thaw form (on the Pond Conservation website), if you haven’t already done so.

And I’m curious what happened to your pond last year during the cold weather – did you have any problems then?

Best wishes

Jeremy

]]> By: Jane http://jeremybiggs.wordpress.com/2009/01/27/frozen-pond-no-dead-frogs-or-newts/#comment-4021 Tue, 18 Jan 2011 10:02:39 +0000 http://thegardenpondblog.org.uk/?p=1465#comment-4021 We’ve had the same I’ve just fished out 17 dead frogs from our pond and 4 dead fish. Really sad about it. I’ve had the pond in this garden for about 20 years and never had a problem and frogs started coming about 8 years after the pond was built. I also had ponds prior to that so not new to ponds. This is the first time I’ve encountered anything like this. Very disappointing and unpsetting.

]]> By: Judy http://jeremybiggs.wordpress.com/2009/01/27/frozen-pond-no-dead-frogs-or-newts/#comment-3945 Sun, 09 Jan 2011 14:39:23 +0000 http://thegardenpondblog.org.uk/?p=1465#comment-3945 Just managed to get alot of ice out of my smallish pond. It’s been frozen for 1 month. Have seen about 8 dead frogs, have left them in case they may have a survival system for being very cold or frozen! Will let you know if they are alive in a few days. Fingers crossed.

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