Pond Boss Forums INTRO Questions & Observations Dead Frogs

The ice is just starting to melt off the ponds. Was about 8" thick and covered the water from DEC until the perimiter started to see receeding this week.

There are 2 ponds, conneceted together with a culvert, total water surface area is approx 1.3 acres.

I only have open water 2ft-3ft wide along the northern shorelines of both ponds. I count 10 dead frogs, 1 bullfrog and the rest lepard frogs, all big ones.

Is this the sign of some kind of problem?

This is the second snow melt since the ponds have been completed.

Since frogs hibernate in the pond sediments and the sediments are the first zone to loose the dissolved oxygen, then frequently the frogs sufficate and or die due to hydrogen sulfide poisoning that is produced when dissolved oxygen is depleated. It is common to loose some frogs during winter hibernation.

Actually Bullfrogs and Leopard Frogs do not hibernate in pond mud or sentiments but lay on top of them or may actually move around from time to time. They even have a natural form of anti freeze. However they do require oxygen, which is readily absorbed through their skin. I agree, these guys probably died from lack of O2.

Now that the ice is almost gone, I counted about 30 dead frogs.

At least I still see the schools of fatheads all over the place.

You're not out of the woods yet. Fatheads are very tolerant of low dissolved oxygen. Much less than most other fish.

Are you sure those frogs are dead? Many years ago I thought I had a bunch of dead frogs on the top of my pond ice. They weren't dead. As the day warmed up and water melted on top of the pond, they limbered up and disappeared. Here is just one of many links about Frozen Frogs.

I don't have any other fish in the pond right now...



They are upside down...

If this is a new pond most likely the frog deaths had nothing to do with D.O. levels.

Don'tcha know that they sleep on their backs!

Are you sure? Today I pulled one out of the soil of my pond bank when I slid my ladder down after draining the trout pond. The frog had burrowed right into the bank and was hibernating in there until I disturbed it with with my ladder.

Cecil - Maybe our frogs do not read the book of proper hibernation techniques? As usual, I think all depends.

Not sure why of all places but I had a toad hibernating in a flower pot on my back patio this past winter. At least I am assuming that is what he was doing buried under 1" of potting soil. I darn near lopped him in half when I was planting new plants a few days ago...

CJ I'm not sure toads hibernate underwater. Any herpitologists out there? Wikapedia anyone?

Most Hoosier frogs are illiterate don't ya know?

I think Travis was referring to an above ground flower pot or garden, not underwater.