Equipment and resources:
- Healthy pond water that is quiet and still is critical for frog ponds. Muddy green water is suitable, however pollutants such as heavy metals, detergents and other chemicals are harmful. Frog ponds in the natural environment fill with seasonal rains and then slowly dry out. When rain falls, many frogs come out to breed in natural waterholes. Tap water may be used initially to fill the frog pond. Let the tap water stand for 5-7 days in sunlight to allow the chlorine to dissipate prior to using it in the frog pond.
- Plants are critical for successful frog ponds to provide shelter from strong sunlight and protection from predators. The will attract insects and organisms that frogs feed on. Grow algae and softer leafed water plants, for feeding tadpoles. It is best to use native water plants such as nardoo or reeds.
- Rocks and Boulders placed at the edges of the water are important for frogs to climb in and out of the pond. Use a flexible pond liner to build a frog pond that gradually slopes from shallow to deep water to assist the frogs with entry and exit. The pond does not need to be large as frogs only need the pond to breed.
Construction
As a guide, a pond should be constructed to 30cms deep, in a shaded area, with pond liner and a few shallow edges for entry and exit. Tadpoles are heat sensitive so it’s best to position the frog pond in a shaded area that is covered for 75% of the day. Fish are predators of frog eggs and tadpoles, so it is best not to include fish in the pond.
Attracting frogs
Once you have built the pond, it may take a while for local frogs to find it. It is important to let frogs arrive at your garden pond on their own. If there are frogs within 1m, and the pond is suitable, they are likely to visit your pond. Resist the temptation to catch frogs to put in your pond, as adult frogs have established a home and may try to return to it Never add captive frogs to your pond or release them to the wild. Non-native and non local species can carry foreign diseases, and become invasive species.
Areas of the garden, such as leaf piles, rocks, logs and garden debris, provide areas in which frogs can forage and hide. Place partly buried clay plant pots on their side to provide extra shelter, shade and protection. Avoid using chemicals if you hope to have frogs in the garden.
Making it Safe for Kids
Water holds a particular fascination for young children and the inclusion of a frog pond is an exciting adventure however, the pond needs to be made safe to minimise the drowning hazard for young children.
Important points:
Place boulders and rocks on the bottom layer (bed) of the pond to minimise the overall depth. This will reduce the drowning hazard yet still provide crevices and nooks for frogs and tadpoles. Remember young children have been known to drown in as little as 5cm depth of water.
- Locate the frog pond in an area that is not readily accessible to children. You may like to consider fencing off the frog pond and create an ‘excursion’ in your outdoor learning environment.
- Ensure that interaction with the frog pond is a planned, supervised activity.
- Consider the ages of children that will be accessing the frog pond. Young children under the age of three years are particularly vulnerable to drowning in small amounts of water.
- Discuss with children the rules when engaging with the frog pond.
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