Large metamorphs

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   All of the froglets from my garden pond have been unusually large this year. The one below is possibly the biggest I've ever seen- about 22mm, and still showing signs of the tail bud.

All of the others have been large too- I don't think there's been one below 15mm. Anyone else had particularly large froglets this year? 

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Caleb Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 11 Apr 2011 Status: Offline Points: 660	Post Options Post Reply Quote Caleb Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Topic: Large metamorphs Posted: 16 Jul 2012 at 2:01pm
	All of the froglets from my garden pond have been unusually large this year. The one below is possibly the biggest I've ever seen- about 22mm, and still showing signs of the tail bud. All of the others have been large too- I don't think there's been one below 15mm. Anyone else had particularly large froglets this year?

will Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 27 Feb 2007 Location: United Kingdom Status: Offline Points: 1830	Post Options Post Reply Quote will Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 16 Jul 2012 at 2:58pm
	Just the reverse! very small (looking more like toadlets) and no more than 8mm; I put this down to the cold weather in May/June, but could also be that it's a new pond, with a lack of predators and therefore lots more tadpoles per litre of pond water. Still plenty left to metamorphose too, and this is in Hertfordshire, so should all be froglets by now.

Caleb Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 11 Apr 2011 Status: Offline Points: 660	Post Options Post Reply Quote Caleb Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 17 Jul 2012 at 10:18am
	My pond is relatively new as well, but I only had one clump of spawn this year, so they did have a low density. I was wondering whether the cold(er) weather actually encouraged them to stay in the water for longer and get to a bigger size before metamorphosing- this is certainly later than usual up here too.

Robert V Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 06 Aug 2004 Location: United Kingdom Status: Offline Points: 1264	Post Options Post Reply Quote Robert V Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 18 Jul 2012 at 8:51pm
	My pond is about 3 years old (and about the size of a puddle lol) and I've just got my first adult frog!!! Hey, anyone want a tip? Buy some creeping jenny and place it around the pond fringe, my frog seems to love hiding in its strands. R
	RobV

will Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 27 Feb 2007 Location: United Kingdom Status: Offline Points: 1830	Post Options Post Reply Quote will Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 18 Jul 2012 at 9:03pm
	Creeping Jenny also provides good cover for emerging froglets from blackbirds etc, (even if it can be quite dominant).