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What to do with dead frogs

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Burbers7o View Drop Down
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    Posted: 21 Apr 2017 at 5:39pm
Hello, 

I've got a wildlife pond that is in it's first year so I'm new to this!
We've got plenty of tadpoles etc in there but I've just spotted a large dead frog belly up at the bottom of the pond with the tadpoles eating it.
Should I leave it in there or will it cause issues?
I don't know what it died of so I was worried it might spread any disease to the tadpoles? 

Hopefully someone can help me out....
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chubsta View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (1) Thanks(1)   Quote chubsta Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 21 Apr 2017 at 7:22pm
i would suggest removing it and disposing of it elsewhere - the odds are it won't spread any disease any more than it already has done, if indeed it has one, after all it may just have died of old age! - but such a large rotting object in the pond may affect water quality. i am however, no expert on such things
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Burbers7o View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Burbers7o Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 21 Apr 2017 at 7:37pm
Thanks for your input chubsta, it's much appreciated!
I am trying to keep the pond as natural as possible and I know things die and decompose in ponds naturally, I just don't want to harbour any disease!
It's at times like this I have to think "what would Attenborough do?"!
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (1) Thanks(1)   Quote GemmaJF Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 21 Apr 2017 at 7:38pm
I think it is good advice. 

It may have died from exhaustion after the breeding season or some other non-disease related cause, but probably wise not to take the chance and not to leave it in there to rot.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (1) Thanks(1)   Quote PondDragon Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 21 Apr 2017 at 8:52pm
On the other hand, a dead frog is a substantial amount of food to nourish the tadpoles and could give them quite a boost, especially in a new pond where food might be limited. I don't think there is a 'right' answer here - you could easily argue it either way.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Burbers7o Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 21 Apr 2017 at 9:10pm
Thanks for your opinions! There's nothing else for it.... I'm gonna flip a coin in the morning!
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chubsta View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (1) Thanks(1)   Quote chubsta Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 21 Apr 2017 at 9:45pm
Originally posted by PondDragon PondDragon wrote:

On the other hand, a dead frog is a substantial amount of food to nourish the tadpoles and could give them quite a boost, especially in a new pond where food might be limited. I don't think there is a 'right' answer here - you could easily argue it either way.
 

take the frog out and put a sausage in...
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will View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (1) Thanks(1)   Quote will Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 22 Apr 2017 at 9:47am
I think it depends on the size of the pond and the likelihood that it will foul the water.  In my pond I leave the frogs that die under the ice in a cold winter and wait for the tadpoles to eat their dead relatives in the spring.  Does that sound macabre?  the circle of life, and all thatWink
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Burbers7o Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 22 Apr 2017 at 10:19am
I tossed a coin this morning! It's staying in!
Thanks again for everyones comments! It reall is much appreciated!
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote GemmaJF Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 22 Apr 2017 at 5:01pm
lol, well as good a way to decide as any. 

I hope your taddies enjoy their slightly macabre feast Thumbs Up
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