Yesterday evening I was alerted to the call of two banjo frogs in our garden. I discovered the two frogs in our pond and they appeared to be fighting, although not too seriously. They were both calling but one was much louder than the other. I was pleased to see them as we have been hearing the calls recently but not actually seen the frogs. To my delight when I looked at the pond this morning there are two foam nests. The larger one attached to the vegetation at the side of the pond and the other floating loose. One of the frogs was hiding in the vegetation next to the large nest.

 The pond has been established for a few years now and we have had several lots of motorbike frog tadpoles. The pond was out of action for a year due to a leak which was fixed last december but the pump no longer works. So the pond has changed from having moving water to still. In fact although it is a fair size pond the water is a bit murkey. The information I have read also says that that now is not the usual breeding season for Banjo frogs. Any thoughts?

We live in Rockingham and always have lots of motorbike frogs in our garden, occasionally see a banjo frog and slender tree frogs. We have seen herons in the pond on a few occasions and sometimes have visits from a Rufous Hight Heron, acting suspiciously. Our neighbours also have a pond so easy pickings for frogs and tadpoles I think.

Banjo frog breeding season is usually winter to spring, so these guys are getting it on a little early.  I wonder if the change in the pond conditions has suited them perfectly and they just couldn’t wait to try it out! 

Each species of frog have evolved quite specific breeding requirements and sometimes it takes a bit of experimentation and attention to detail to create just the right habitat for all our beautiful native frogs in your own back yard.

According to the NSW Environment and Climate Change web site, scientists think the decline and disappearance of some frogs species in Australia and overseas may be partly due to a disease caused by a Chytrid fungus.  The fungus attacks the parts of a frog’s skin that have keratin in them. Since frogs use their skin in respiration, this makes it difficult for the frog to breathe. The fungus also damages the nervous system, affecting the frog’s behaviour. 

If you are planning to buy pond plants consider sourcing them from stores which have a healthy frog population.   That way you will know the plants are fungus free.

Two such stores which I have found in Perth, WA are Watergarden World on Erindale Road in Balcatta and the City Farmers store near Herdsman Lake.  Both stores offer a variety of great pond plants and are good sources of advice as well.  They both also have many varieties of frogs which have taken up residence in their ponds and gardens and they always seem to have plenty of fat tadpoles swimming around. 

If the frogs vote these habitats as safe and sustainable then I think we can feel safe buying their products for our own back yard havens.

Our story started out fairly simple – we have a fishpond with a multi-stage filter, part of which is an old concrete laundry tub, set higher than the pond and creating a waterfall into the main pond. Several years ago, we found that motorbike frogs had laid eggs amongst the vallis in these tubs. Unfortunately, many of the tadpoles went over the edge and into the waiting mouths of the fish below. Well, that wouldn’t do!

So we got an old corner-style bathtub and set that up (without a pump) and stocked it with vallis and western perch (a very small native species that doesn’t eat tadpoles because their mouths aren’t big enough!). That worked fine until the herons and egrets found the pond – the birds thought it was an open-air restaurant. A mesh “box” over the top stopped that.

In the mean time, frogs were still breeding in the fishpond filter – and those that didn’t go over the waterfall were turning into frogs. Even some that did go over the edge managed to evade the fish and turn into frogs! And of course, the fish food was equally palatable to the taddies so they grew pretty quick…

So when we found out about Frog Watch, we joined up right away – frogs return to where they grew up and we were knee-deep!

The biggest problem we have had is turning down people who live too far away. (According to the Frog Watch information, tadpoles shouldn’t be moved more than 2-3 suburbs away and shouldn’t be transported into a different “region” e.g from the Coastal Plain to the Hills.)

We haven’t had any other types of frogs make our place into their home. I suspect that is because all of the ponds (yes, there are now three) have fairly steep sides. I suspect other frog species would prefer some shallower water or even water-logged soil for breeding.

However, what we have found is that the frogs need some sort of shelter (e.g. water plants) and protection from marauding birds. Some small native fish (e.g. the western perch) will help control the mosquito larvae so you don’t create a serious bug problem (note that the tads won’t eat the mosquitoes!).

When we run the bore, the sprinklers also provide some top-up to the ponds (without adding chlorine and the other chemicals that are in the mains water). This also helps to cool the water down a bit. Speaking of which, if the water is too shallow, it will heat up to much and too quickly, so at least part of the pond should be reasonably deep.

Put all those together, get yourself a “starter pack” of tadpoles, and you’ll soon be knee-deep too! knee-deep, knee-deep!

I have written about this phenomenon before in Competitive Edge. As newly formed frogs emerge from the water they emit a hormone that inhibits the growth of tadpoles still in the water (it helps eliminate any competition for food). This hormone can build up in the water, after quite a few frogs have crawled out and the water level has dropped due to evaporation and the likes, and you can end up with taddies that seem to stay tadpoles for a year or more.

Before I knew about this little trick I had some tadpoles in my pond which had been there forever, so I bought them inside and put them in a fish tank to watch them and figure out why they weren’t growing. But within a week they all sprouted legs and started losing their tails. I quickly transferred them back outside and they continued on their journey through life. I wanted to know why so I did some research and that is when I learnt about the inhibiting hormone. I guessed it was the change of water which had the desired effect.

I advised Tim to try changing his water in his ponds, but he says he has already tried that. I wasn’t able to suggest anything else to help him with his problem.

Can anyone out their help Tim?

Rosalie Primary School has recently played host to a PEAC group headed by teacher Kirsteen McCrory who have made creating a frog pond a fabulous learning experience which also gives back to the school community.

The children involved in the project researched all aspects of healthy frog pond requirements and put together proposals and plans for their vision of a perfect frog environment. These proposals are on display in the Rosalie Primary School Library (Onslow Road, Shenton Park). They are marvellous sources of all things frog pond and include costings of materials required to finish the project.

They recieved funds from the Rosalie Primary School to purchase materials like pond liner, plants and fish, and then all mucked in to help dig, fill, plant and generally create a wonderful frog pond in the school grounds. It is complete with a bog for attracting Slender Tree Frogs, lots of logs and rocks for shelter, and plants to keep the water healthy.

Calinda from Woodvale Fish and Lily Farm was a fantastic mentor for this project. She provided expert advice on the right plants for a healthy water system, and lots of other useful information, as well as ultimately being very generous in donating goods when budgets ran low. You can visit their site at www.woodvalefishandlilyfarm.com

I’m hoping to have the clever kids from PEAC as guest bloggers soon, to give us their insight on creating a community frog pond. Please send your comments if you have had any experience in this type of endeavour. We would love more stories about communities coming together through frogs.

It is full of good instructions for making easy frog ponds from baths and buckets and useful tips on location and design. It really encourages the use of natives in all things to do with your frog pond, from the water plants, to the plants surrounding your pond, to the fish you put in your pond.

I got my copy from the SERCUL exhibit at the Garden Show, but I’m sure you can get one from the Perth Zoo. If you come across one, grab it! It’s a very good information source.

The one thing I got from it that I wanted to comment on was the Native fish species that are quoted as being great for controlling mosquito populations, and are frog and tadpole friendly.

Native Fish Species

Western Pygmy Perch (Edelia vittata)
I have so far found it quite easy to source these fish. They do seem to be very popular at the moment. Most places sell them as soon as they get them but they are easy to find. A couple of good sources are Exotic Tropical Fish at Unit 5/1 Dellamarta Road, Wangara. Also try Water Garden World at 2 Erindale Road, Balcatta.

Western Minnow (Galaxis occidentalis)
I have not been able to find a reliable source of this fish. I’m not sure if the fish wholesalers actually stock them.

Swan River Goby (Pseudogobius olorum)
This fish is only occassionally available to the fish shops. They will try to get them in but the supply is not as constant as with the Western Pygmy Perch.

One thing I did learn from this quick bit of research was that the reason these fish are frog-friendly is because they are small or have small mouths and so aren’t physically able to eat the frog sqawn or small tadpoles.

You may be able to persuade your local pet shop to order you one of these species of fish to save you the leg work. Give it a go! My local, Subiaco Tropical Fish and Bird Store, were very willing to help. Let me know how you get on.

There are laws about keeping frogs in captivity. For instance you need a license to keep them enclosed. So you don’t want to go kidnapping frogs from foreign lands as this is quite illegal. Also they, quite possibly, will simply take off. Frogs have a favourite territory and if you take them from it they will attempt to find their way back. Very sad if that territory was 300km away! Also, we definitely do not want to be spreading the Frog Fungus by transporting froggies all over the continent.

The best way to get frogs to set up camp in your backyard is to introduce them as tadpoles. Now this can be quite problematical. Where, in this day and age, do you source tadpoles from?

One way is to keep an eye out at your local primary school. Classroom teachers are amazing sources of tadpoles. I think things like lizards, mice and tadpoles gravitate towards them! Neighbours and friends are another source as they may already have operational frog systems.

An above board, no nonsense and fantastic source, though, is the WA Museum Frogwatch Tadpole Register. This is a service run by the staff at the Museum of WA. You can email them with your contact details and your suburb and they will connect you with people in your area who have a surplus of tadpoles in their ponds. Their email address is frogwatch@museum.wa.gov.au.

Have a look at their site for more information. Go to www.museum.wa.gov.au/frogwatch, click on Learn about frogs, click on Tadpole Exchange Programme and then click on the word more at the bottom of that paragraph. It tells you all about the programme and how to be a part of it. There is a link there that allows you to email directly!

They are planning to upgrade their system in the future so that you can register on line for the Tadpole Exchange Programme, but as yet you have to email them to apply.

Good luck taddie hunting. Let me know how you get on.

Now you have a hole with water in it! Very soon, if you don’t do something with it you will have a hole with water in it and about a billion mosquito larvae. No one wants this. So you’ll have to make some decisions.

FISH
The first consideration is fish. Tadpoles don’t usually eat wrigglers (mozzie larvae). They are mainly herbivores and will feed on algae to a certain extent and pond plants as well as other microscopic bits. An interesting bit of information is that taddies will eat their own refuse, including dead mates and other stuff floating on the bottom. So to combat your mozzie problem you will need fish of some sort.

Gold fish, comets and other pond fish look nice. A little warning though; hungry koi will eat tadpoles. I found this out when they desimated my introduced taddies. They will need a filter system to keep their water clean and oxygenated. Gambusias caught from the local swamp are good because they keep the mozzies at bay and will live in appalling conditions. But both of these will probably eat most of your frog spawn once you get to that stage.

Another alternative is a native Western Australian fresh water fish called a pygmy perch. You can get them from specialist fish stores, but they tend to be expensive (around $4 for a tiddler). I found that they simply disppeared from my pond at a rate of about half that I bought, and they weren’t that effective on the mozzies. I was assured that they would not eat frogspawn, but as yet this hasn’t been tested in my pond. Minnows are another native fish which will not eat frogspawn, but I’m not sure where to obtain these.

I have a mixture of my remaining pygmy perch and gambusias in one pond and koi and goldfish in the other pond. So for one of my ponds at least there is the issue of filtration.

FILTERS
The sound of running water is music in a backyard. Therefore a filter system of some sort for your pond is a great idea whether you think you need it or not. A small filter will not set you back too much. It will clean your water to keep it looking clear and appealing. You can also rig it to create a waterfall of sorts. I use an old bucket and pipe the water from the pump up into the bucket. The bucket is tilted toward the pond and as it fills the water overflows back into the pond. It has a very quaint effect, and the sound is really soothing. Some pumps also have little sprinklers you can set up to give the tinkling water sound.

A little tip I picked up from a guy at Watergarden World to calculate the cost of electricity for a year of running your filter 24 hours a day (recommended for koi and goldfish) is to multiply the wattage of your pump by 1.24. This will give a princely sum of about $30 for a 24W pump, ample for filtering a pond about the size specified as a minimum.

PLANTS
The next thing to consider is plants. Frogs will use these to shelter under, on and within while enjoying the water and they will use them as an anchor when laying their spawn. There are a seemingly endless variety of pond plants available, so have some fun with it. I have pond lillies. These are a good water oxygenating plant, good for the health of your pond. Also some umbrella grass and dwarf papyrus; these give my pond height. Water iris is another one. I can’t wait for it to bloom!

Most pond plants propagate themselves and can be easily divided when they out grow their pots. So if you have friends or neighbours with ponds you can help each other out there. Make sure you use pond soil to re-pot though as normal soil washes out too easily and mucks up your pond.

With your fish, filter and plants now installed you are really set. Just one last tip. Tadpoles are very sensitive to chlorine so don’t introduce them for about 7 days after you have filled your pond. Have fun with your frog pond!

Start by choosing a site. If you have some good plants growing already in your garden you may want to locate your pond in and around these. The frogs will be able to find refuge and food in a well established ecosystem.

Climbing plants are great for Motorbike frogs. They will dwell as much in the complex vine system of a passion fruit as they will in their watery den.

If you are starting from scratch there is so much scope for the imagination.Start by designing and digging the hole for your pond. If you are planning to line your hole with black plastic or pond liner, the sky is the limit.

You are the designer of your pond and can go with what ever shape you like. Try to make it at least 50cm deep and about 80cm long by about 40cm wide.

When you are happy with the dimensions of your hole, measure the length, width and depth and calculate the amount of liner you will need to purchase.

The length + two times the depth = the length of the liner and the width + two times the depth = the width of the liner. Add about 20cm for overhang and you should be right.Hardware stores like Bunnings have black plastic in pre-cut amounts.

If these sizes don’t suit you can get pond liner by the metre from stores like Water Garden World in Balcatta or Victoria Park. Pond liner is more expensive but is very supple and great quality.

Don’t get me wrong, though, black plastic is more than good enough. Hold your liner down with anything you can find.

Rocks, bricks, building rubble, if your family is anything like mine, you will have collected favourite rocks from all your holiday destinations.

So there you have it – your pond shell is ready for the next stage water and planting.