Pond Boss Forums STOCKING A NEW POND Creating the food chain Bull frogs!

I am curious as to what anyones opinion about bullfrog tadpoles. I seem to have thousands in my 2.5 acre pond. last night a loud noise set off a chain reaction accross the pond with whatever was at the surface, it literaly made 80% of the pond boil.

Question; Does anyone know if these tadpoles will compete with the bluegill for food, or just what are they eating?

Thanks!

great question fishhead, i never really thought about that. mine (and i have alot too!) seem to be concentrated in the FA and weeds along the shoreline, and i've never seen them "prey" on anything but plant material, which doesnt mean they dont, i just dont know.

also, in different (open water) areas of the pond i see them rising straight up to the surface, breaking the surface, and turning right back straight down again into the depths what are they eating?

From the British Columbian Ministry of the Environment:

Bullfrog tadpoles are primarily herbivorous, grazing on algae and detritus. Although they have been observed eating eggs and newly hatched tadpoles, this was probably general browsing rather than deliberate choice on the part of the Bullfrogs

DIED, bullfrog tadpoles gulp air at the surface, plus they have gills.

In the American Museum of Natural History web site it also claims they will consume insect larve which would compete directly with small fry of the BG and LMB. Also if they eat frog eggs they would eat bass and BG eggs if not fought off the nest.

I'll have to catch one tonight and look for the gills, I didn't realize they have them and it is another reason for me to remove some. I knew they gulped air from the surface.

I remember telling my story a couple years ago and having someone from Texas respond, wishing I was closer, so he might get some. If your willing to drive to central Iowa I'll help you seign all you can carry, feed you, give you beer (Better make you spend the night), give a friendly pat on the back, a firm hand shake, and wish you a safe trip back!!

FH

Tadpoles are primarily bottom feeders, but will come to the surface to graze on floating algae (and sometimes gulp air too). Mine are pellet trained, but are not bullforg tads. Tadpoles are harmless in ponds, but I suppose they can get into a little mischief. Bullfrogs, otoh, are swimming, hopping bellies. They will eat anything they can catch and swallow. I view them like turtles and snakes: 1 or 2 per acre is OK, but no more.

I would usually catch some in a fish trap baited with fish or dog food. That was before I stocked LMB. Have not seen any BF tadpoles since.

thanks burger, thats what i figured.

they (bullfrog tadpoles) might eat insect larvae, but if you have alot of weeds (FA, pondweed, elodea, whatever) they seem pretty glued to the plantlife and probably only eat insects out of opportunity (like they yawn, and a bug goes in their mouth). i dont see mine as having much of an impact on the fish life.

honestly, i like having as many as possible, why?, based on my observations here, the herons, egrets, and kingfishers seem to enjoy eating all phases of the bull frogs (from tadpoles to adults) much more than the "harder to catch" fish. i watched a green heron the other day work an area in the shallows picking off about half a dozen young bullfrogs before flying off satiated. for me, they've become an important part of the pond ecosystem....in general, they dont seem to impact the fish population much at all, everything preys on them so i dont wind up with tons of adults, and they help keep things interesting.

I do admit being low on my LMB pop so stocking more might be the answer. I also have watched the herrons consume them along with water snakes. The most intersting sight was watching a Barred owl land in the water and grab a couple smal frogs.

I did watch a bass smash a small Bfrog the other day while feeding the BG. He was on a death wish as he took off hopping accross the water and back to shore, he made it the first time and either he or one of his peers didn't make it back a few seconds later, what a thrill being 10' from the carnage

BoBad, 1 or 2? You'd be beside yourself at my pond.

FH

FH,

My pond is 1.5a, so I will allow about 2.25. The big ones can really eat a lot. They eat smaller frogs and toads that are 95% insectivorous.

Thing is, you don't really know how many you have until you go out at night with a light, and count eyes.

i reckon i have a nightly frog march from the upper pond, with lots of tadpoles and frogs but with no bass (i think), to the big pond, where packs of bass appear to circle the shoreline in ambush mode and there are not many frogs or tadpoles in the big pond.