There is a danger when buying plants for your frog pond. They may harbour the deadly frog fungus which is decimating frog populations world wide.
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.
