Pond question...

[NHMickey]

I have frogs around my ponds and a few of them are rather large. I am worried that they will try and winter in the ponsd. Not a good idea as the ponds are not deep enough and are plastic. I was thinking of draining the ponds as I have no plants in them and was wondering when a good time would be to do that... Any help?

 

[sorcerormickey]

I really don't have any experience with this, but I would just suggest that you do it early enough that the frogs have time to find a new home before winter. Good luck to you and the froggies!

 

[NHMickey]

I was thinking if I leave the smaller ponds with water but make sure they are clean and clear they might just stay near by and use the flower beds to nest for the winter....

 

[Mamu]

Nat frogs are always a problem when you have a rubber liner.

First of all try to move them, we moved our frogs this past weekend to a natural pond about a 1/2 mile away. It's OK to drain the pond, but I would clean the walls and replace the water. This way if more frogs return you can get them with a net. Also you will need water in the pond during the winter to keep it from caving in. You need to keep pressure on the side walls. Good luck moving your frogs.

We had a very mild winter last year and I float a heater on the top because I have goldfish. I was picking frogs out right up till January. Until the water freezes you may still get a frog or two. So keep checking.

 

[NHMickey]

it's not a rubber Liner it is one of those big plastic preformed tubs. I was thinking of draining the water and just adding a few wooden braces to hold the sides in place... I hate to move my frogs. But I don't want them to die either....

 

[DebºoºS]

[color=0range]We've had 3 preformed ponds with goldfish in one and frogs in all for 3 winters now. I leave one fountain going in the goldfish pond late into the winter to remove gases. The frogs bury themselves in the soft dirt around the ponds to winter over while the goldfish go under the leaves in the pond. I don't drain any of the ponds but take out some of the leaves.
This year I'm worried about my plants.[/color]

 

[Mamu]

Deb I cut back my plants and drop them down to the deepest part of the pond. I have not lost any plants. If you have tropical plants they do have to come in. I do buy some tropical but replace them yearly, I do not have any luck keeping them.

I also run the bubbler until it starts to freeze, then replace it with a small heater to keep a air vent for the fish. I stop feeding them in September and they go into some kind of a semi-hibernation. They survive the winter as long as there is an air opening.

 

[TigH]

Hey, Mamu! Not everyone knows what a bubbler is! Isn't that just a MA term?

I remember moving from MA to MD and said something about getting a drink from the bubbler (I was working at a department store). They guy I was working with looked at me like I had two heads.

Good luck to everyone's frogs! Hope they survive the winter!!!