FAQs about spawn and tadpoles: unsuitable place

Frogs sometimes lay spawn in unusual places (Mark Rowe)

WILDLIFE INFORMATION SERVICE

Frequently Asked Questions about... spawn and tadpoles:

I've found spawn in an unsuitable place, should I move it to a pond?

Frogs often choose to lay spawn in small water bodies including puddles, buckets and even watering cans. This strategy can be beneficial for frogs - such 'ponds' often lack predators meaning the chances of tadpole survival could be higher. The strategy can be successful if the tadpoles can develop and leave the 'pond' before it dries up. Often, however, the strategy fails and tadpoles are left without enough water to survive.

To a degree this is a natural phenomenon, typical of amphibians around the world. However, you may want to 'rescue' such tadpole populations. If you choose to do this we advise introducing tadpoles to a pond as near as possible, ideally to a garden pond within one mile. Moving tadpoles or spawn around can accidently transfer wildlife diseases or invasive plants, so for this reason we do not recommend that you release tadpoles into the wild or in public water bodies (such as rivers, canals, parks or streams).

You may decide to raise these tadpoles in a tank - if this is the case please see: 'I would like to raise tadpoles in captivity, what do I need to know?'. The froglets that the tadpoles develop into should be released into a suitable habitat near to where they were found.

More information:

I would like to raise tadpoles in captivity, what do I need to know? >>>

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