Toads

The last few nights have seen an increase in vocal activity around our pond.
Last night, it started to lose its beauty about 3 AM. I went out and in a
matter of 2 minutes counted a dozen and a half gulf coast toads (Houston,
TX). This morning the hornwort is covered with strings of eggs. On the one
hand this would indicate a healthy environment. On the other it likely
indicates that we will be inundated with toads. Any natural suggestions for
toad and tadpole control?

Thanks, John

Patience is the only resource we know.

Build it, they will come.

Wait, they will go.

Wait longer, the tadpoles grow to toadlets.

Result, you have fewer bugs and chop more toads when you mow.

Jim


"John A. Kostelac" wrote in message
...
The last few nights have seen an increase in vocal activity around our
pond.
Last night, it started to lose its beauty about 3 AM. I went out and in a
matter of 2 minutes counted a dozen and a half gulf coast toads (Houston,
TX). This morning the hornwort is covered with strings of eggs. On the one
hand this would indicate a healthy environment. On the other it likely
indicates that we will be inundated with toads. Any natural suggestions
for
toad and tadpole control?

Thanks, John

Patience is the only resource we know.

Build it, they will come.

Wait, they will go.

Wait longer, the tadpoles grow to toadlets.

Result, you have fewer bugs and chop more toads when you mow.

Jim


"John A. Kostelac" wrote in message
...
The last few nights have seen an increase in vocal activity around our
pond.
Last night, it started to lose its beauty about 3 AM. I went out and in a
matter of 2 minutes counted a dozen and a half gulf coast toads (Houston,
TX). This morning the hornwort is covered with strings of eggs. On the one
hand this would indicate a healthy environment. On the other it likely
indicates that we will be inundated with toads. Any natural suggestions
for
toad and tadpole control?

Thanks, John

Hi John,

I am a second year ponder. Last year when i saw a million tadpoles, i
thought there would be toads everywhere. Well, there isn't. Apparently
the birds get their share of babies. I wouldn't worry about it.

OR, you could take some of the unwanted bullfrogs in this group.






On Sat, 24 Apr 2004 17:14:55 GMT, "John A. Kostelac"
wrote:

The last few nights have seen an increase in vocal activity around
our pond.
Last night, it started to lose its beauty about 3 AM. I went out and
in a
matter of 2 minutes counted a dozen and a half gulf coast toads
(Houston,
TX). This morning the hornwort is covered with strings of eggs. On
the one
hand this would indicate a healthy environment. On the other it
likely
indicates that we will be inundated with toads. Any natural
suggestions for
toad and tadpole control?

Thanks, John

Hi John,

I am a second year ponder. Last year when i saw a million tadpoles, i
thought there would be toads everywhere. Well, there isn't. Apparently
the birds get their share of babies. I wouldn't worry about it.

OR, you could take some of the unwanted bullfrogs in this group.






On Sat, 24 Apr 2004 17:14:55 GMT, "John A. Kostelac"
wrote:

The last few nights have seen an increase in vocal activity around
our pond.
Last night, it started to lose its beauty about 3 AM. I went out and
in a
matter of 2 minutes counted a dozen and a half gulf coast toads
(Houston,
TX). This morning the hornwort is covered with strings of eggs. On
the one
hand this would indicate a healthy environment. On the other it
likely
indicates that we will be inundated with toads. Any natural
suggestions for
toad and tadpole control?

Thanks, John

John,

I don't know how big your pond is. You might monitor the Ph as the egg
season moves on. It can spike from the eggs and tadpoles, if the pond is
small.

Our toads have also begun to sing...crickets on speed. It goes on for a
long time. We too sometimes think the serenade could be worth bypassing at
bedtime. haven't figured out how to do it.

Jim


"John A. Kostelac" wrote in message
...
The last few nights have seen an increase in vocal activity around our
pond.
Last night, it started to lose its beauty about 3 AM. I went out and in a
matter of 2 minutes counted a dozen and a half gulf coast toads (Houston,
TX). This morning the hornwort is covered with strings of eggs. On the one
hand this would indicate a healthy environment. On the other it likely
indicates that we will be inundated with toads. Any natural suggestions
for
toad and tadpole control?

Thanks, John

John,

I don't know how big your pond is. You might monitor the Ph as the egg
season moves on. It can spike from the eggs and tadpoles, if the pond is
small.

Our toads have also begun to sing...crickets on speed. It goes on for a
long time. We too sometimes think the serenade could be worth bypassing at
bedtime. haven't figured out how to do it.

Jim


"John A. Kostelac" wrote in message
...
The last few nights have seen an increase in vocal activity around our
pond.
Last night, it started to lose its beauty about 3 AM. I went out and in a
matter of 2 minutes counted a dozen and a half gulf coast toads (Houston,
TX). This morning the hornwort is covered with strings of eggs. On the one
hand this would indicate a healthy environment. On the other it likely
indicates that we will be inundated with toads. Any natural suggestions
for
toad and tadpole control?

Thanks, John

We get Fowler's Toads in our pond - their voice is an unappealing
br-a-a-a-a-a-a-k! Although they lay hundreds and even thousands of eggs, on
average they only replace themselves as far as living long enough to breed
again, unless they are expanding into hitherto unavailable territory (like
our pond). Unfortunately there aren't many other animals that eat toads or
their eggs.

You can scoop the eggs out before they become tadpoles - or, after they
become tadpoles, net them and remove them. That's about the only way you
can reduce their numbers so there won't be quite so many the next breeding
season.

Now, if only we had the American Toad with its beautiful trilling call, I'd
just leave them alone!

Happy Ponding,
Tim

"John A. Kostelac" wrote in message
...
The last few nights have seen an increase in vocal activity around our
pond.
Last night, it started to lose its beauty about 3 AM. I went out and in a
matter of 2 minutes counted a dozen and a half gulf coast toads (Houston,
TX). This morning the hornwort is covered with strings of eggs. On the one
hand this would indicate a healthy environment. On the other it likely
indicates that we will be inundated with toads. Any natural suggestions
for
toad and tadpole control?

Thanks, John

We get Fowler's Toads in our pond - their voice is an unappealing
br-a-a-a-a-a-a-k! Although they lay hundreds and even thousands of eggs, on
average they only replace themselves as far as living long enough to breed
again, unless they are expanding into hitherto unavailable territory (like
our pond). Unfortunately there aren't many other animals that eat toads or
their eggs.

You can scoop the eggs out before they become tadpoles - or, after they
become tadpoles, net them and remove them. That's about the only way you
can reduce their numbers so there won't be quite so many the next breeding
season.

Now, if only we had the American Toad with its beautiful trilling call, I'd
just leave them alone!

Happy Ponding,
Tim

"John A. Kostelac" wrote in message
...
The last few nights have seen an increase in vocal activity around our
pond.
Last night, it started to lose its beauty about 3 AM. I went out and in a
matter of 2 minutes counted a dozen and a half gulf coast toads (Houston,
TX). This morning the hornwort is covered with strings of eggs. On the one
hand this would indicate a healthy environment. On the other it likely
indicates that we will be inundated with toads. Any natural suggestions
for
toad and tadpole control?

Thanks, John

Thanks to all.

What's the deal with bull frogs? One response mentioned them. Are they worse
than the toads?

As for chemistry, I am not too concerned about chem changes. I can't seem to
get the chemistry t ever move for any reason. We have a slightly different
pond than I have read about on the list. About five years ago we put in a
scuba diving swimming pool. It is 13 feet deep and comes to close to 50,000
gallons. After a duck invasion we converted part of the shallow area to bog
filter/shallow fish and plant area leaving about 44,000 gallons for the fish
and us to swim in. It has really livened up scuba practice. The chemistry
has always been odd, but steady as a rock.

pH ~ 8.8 -9.0
ammonia=0
nitrite=0
nitrate=max 20ppm
TA=250
KH300
salt=0.06%

We have a huge variety of fish from koi to pacu to angels, including
guppies, goldfish, gourami's, tiger barbs, clown barbs, 10 very large plecos
(no string algae ever), tin foil barbs (large), sword tails (millions of
babies), water striders (not invited), two small red eared sliders, and
occasionally 3 humans. We turn the pond over via waterfall and 240 watts UV
about 3 times a day. Additionally we have a large particle filter systems
that runs all the water through in about 3 days and a diatomaceous earth (60
sqft) filter that turns the pond over 3 times a day. Add to this a booster
pump that pushes about 8000 GPH in a nice circle around the main bowl of the
pool to provide current. The net is clear water kept at 77F all year round.
Total aquatic fun.

I have been trying to convince the pH to come down to about 8.0 for the last
4 weeks to no avail. I have been adding about 20 oz muriatic acid each
evening to one of the treatment tanks that all the water passes through.
Again, not budging. Neither is the TA. But everyone eats and plays and grows
and BREEDS like mad. Even the tiger barbs were observed scattering eggs
(though none hatched that we could tell). So that ends up a minor worry. I
had tried a large bale of peat and running the pond water over it to see if
it would lower the pH, but after 3 weeks I saw no diff. Any ideas anyone?

Thanks,

John


"John A. Kostelac" wrote in message
...
The last few nights have seen an increase in vocal activity around our
pond.
Last night, it started to lose its beauty about 3 AM. I went out and in a
matter of 2 minutes counted a dozen and a half gulf coast toads (Houston,
TX). This morning the hornwort is covered with strings of eggs. On the one
hand this would indicate a healthy environment. On the other it likely
indicates that we will be inundated with toads. Any natural suggestions
for
toad and tadpole control?

Thanks, John