Toad in Garden Pond

Francesanne

Apologies in advance if I've posted in the wrong forum but didn't think this query would come under pets. We've got a small garden pond with approximately 8 gold fish. We had large amount of frog spawn earlier in the year. Yesterday my husband discovered a smallish toad partially submerged in the water. We kept checking on him during the day and he stayed virtually in the same position. This evening he was laying under the water. I'd thought the poor creature had died and fished him out gently with a net. I don't know who was more shocked but he was very much alive. So I gently put him back into pond. Is this normal behavior for toads? We've had numerous frogs in the garden but first toad we've seen and would like to keep them safe.

wallbash

he stayed virtually in the same position

he was laying under the water.

What do you expect him to do?

Lucky you , I have only frogs

wellused

We had loads of spawn in our pond earlier in the year but it disapeared the fish must have eaten it.

TonyMMM

Perfectly normal - just leave him alone, he'll be fine.

Davesnave

Francesanne wrote: »

Is this normal behavior for toads? We've had numerous frogs in the garden but first toad we've seen and would like to keep them safe.

It's normal for all amphibians in warm weather/at mating time.

One positive thing you can do is provide a pile of rocks or logs in a shaded or partly shaded place, for amphibians to hide among. They'll do this if the pile is reasonably permanent.

Last week, I began digging where I'd previously taken out some large roots of a vegetable called Yacon. In the hole I'd left earlier there was a newt. In that case I had to move the creature to a shady stone pile because the veg garden wasn't really a safe hiding place. The nearest water is about 100 metres away

Francesanne

Many thanks for your advice. This is a very new experience for us. Moved down from London & very small garden. Never saw a bird let alone frogs & toads. Just want to take care of our new charges:).

andrewf75

wellused wrote: »

We had loads of spawn in our pond earlier in the year but it disapeared the fish must have eaten it.

yep, fish and wildlife don't mix well in garden ponds

If you want wildlife don't have fish!

Davesnave

andrewf75 wrote: »

yep, fish and wildlife don't mix well in garden ponds

If you want wildlife don't have fish!

Well, yes, and no.

My pond at the old house was so popular, I was overrun with frog, toad and newt tadpoles. There were a few goldfish, which didn't seem to dent the population of adults returning.

The numbers were too high to be sustainable. They'd have succumbed naturally, fish or no fish

However, at another pond I managed years ago, some kind soul bequeathed me some sticklebacks. Oh dear! Soon there was little in there, except sticklebacks, a few leeches and foul-smelling water. There was nothing for it but to wait till winter, then pump the whole thing dry and let the dregs freeze for a while.

So, it also depends which fish are involved.

jill45

I have a pond and want to get rid of it. Left by the old owners - it has some goldfish and some plants - no idea if it has any frogs or toads, but i guess they will be there somewhere. What's the best way to get rid of them. I don't want to harm anything , but I do want to fill up the pond.

TonyMMM

jill45 wrote: »

I have a pond and want to get rid of it. Left by the old owners - it has some goldfish and some plants - no idea if it has any frogs or toads, but i guess they will be there somewhere. What's the best way to get rid of them. I don't want to harm anything , but I do want to fill up the pond.

Pump the water out, fish will be easy to catch as the water level drops - they will need alternative accommodation (friend neighbour with a pond ?) then shovel all the mud/weed and muck out and leave it piled up somewhere to let any creatures escape - meanwhile fill pond with rubble/soil or whatever.