Frogspawn?

In the wild most of the tadpoles will get eater! Those that survive...most will get eaten as baby frogs...they have a much better chance of sutrval in captivity!

I have to say that the thought of dozens of little green lizards leap-frogging about on Liana's livingroom carpet searching for rivets - with the kids in hot pursuit trying not to tread on any - has me smiling.

The coal bunker is at the back of the house, but on the OUTSIDE, do not fear jon... We have been watching them this morning, some of them have broken through the globules and are wriggling around. They look very strange... Jude, the budding biologist says are you sure about finely chopped meat? She says she read that they feed on algae, pond weed and mould. Is she right? She has phoned the bloke who donated them and demanded that he bring some stones and weed from his pond for the tank. He may be regretting his generosity shortly.

Here's a link to raising American tadpoles, Liana ;o)

You can also boil them into a broth...add Worcester sauce to taste and serve with grated cheese and croutons... (Tip: be ready with supply of toothpicks in case globular brain matter gets wedged between dentures)

I remember as a child leaving a jar of tadpoles on a windowcill before going off to play. It was a lovely sunny day and I had a great time - but I was a bit disappointed when I got home and there was a dirty jar and no tadpoles :o( I suggest that you keep the water topped up in spite of dehydrating sunshine appearing unlikely to be an imminent danger.

we definitely used to feed ours on cooked mince ground up! They do eat algae and stuff as well... try a few things and see what they go for.

Suggested Science Experiment: Tip some Becherovka into their water and report on what happens..

Is tap water ok to top them up with? There are masses of them, quite disturbing really...

I am really worried that Liana's horny cat will mate with the frogspawn, making Burmogs.

have you considered putting them back in the pond so they'll live and be happy frogs?

Tap water used to work fine when I was a kid and I doubt they put anything that deadly in the water in the meantime. Although......

Best fried in olive oil with onion and garlic...then spread on a warm baguette with lashings of Old Pigweed chutney...Yum...

See, you're going to get those tadpoles killed. Keep Bob away from them.

No I havent Radio. The owner of said pond puts the majority of the spawn through his waste disposal unit, as he has too much and it clogs his pond. Incidentally, he said he found an enormous writhing green blob shaped thing heaving and spinning all over his pond a few weeks ago... fearing a dr who type explanation he advanced cautiously (sorry, couldnt resist) but it turned out to be in excess of three or four hundred frogs all joined together in some sensuous and heated reptilian orgy. Poor man had to be sedated. So, given the option of returning the spawn to his pond to face waste disposal, or taking a chance in a tank balanced on my coal bunker, I reckon the thirty or forty little potential freddos would opt for the bunker every time. Plus, middle kid is an avid reptile and dinosaur enthusiast, so I think it's good for her to witness a life cycle.

It's worth pointing out that you will have to expand the froggy premises as they mature, Liana. Oh, the survivors often come back the next year to visit you, croak hello and spawn in the nearest suitable puddle :)

ha ha... my dad actually made this huge glass tank for them, as the bloke dropped them off in a jam jar, (which was the preferred observation vessel when i was a kid - dont recall my dad every getting so enthusiastic when we wanted to watch the transition from wiggly thing to croaky thing). The tank has a bloody LID on it even... so freddo and friends can pop in and out at their whim. If any of them pop out when I'm on my hammock, there'll be big trouble I can tell you.

So, there is only one pond in England then? If chicken's didn't exist, what would frog legs taste like?

England is a small place Radio and we are all on first name terms.

Well, Wyoming is bigger than England and I've been there and it's not that damn small.

Tap water is fine but rain and pondwater is okay...it needs trace iodine in it. after the tadpoles hatch they feed on the remaining jelly goo they hatched from so leave it in the water. after a couple of weeks small pieces of finely chopped meat is good food. When the legs start sticking out of the tadpoles you need to rebuild your tank with rock/turf islands and shallower water. The frogs will want to climb out of the water. Thety will still eat chopped meat but small water fleas. /daphnia are best!

I seem to remember that England was over the pond.

Oh but you said "put them BACK in THE pond" radio... not just any pond, where they might feel distraught and alienated. Besides, my daughter is thrilled at the prospect, so I wont be taking them anywhere. When they've hatched Im sure that theyre more than capable of hopping next door to the neighbours pond... But how touching that you are the Champion of Frogs! I learn more about your sensitive side every day!

and lizards...

Thanks Jude, really helpful xxx

Well, it's all scientific and a learning experience, but my own personal choice would be to hike the tikes to the pond and let them observe the frog world in a natural environment. It's far less work and far more healthy for everyone concerned, including the frogs. I don't like disturbing the little creatures for the pure enjoyment of killing them by accident. I have a very deep and honest respect for natural wildlife. The kids can learn everything first hand in my view.

I have no intention of killing them by accident, and if we do, we promise we wont enjoy it.

You and America are not going to send over storm troopers to 'liberate' the taddies from England now are you Radio? *trembles*

How can somebody have an intentional accident?

We have a lot of it here, Denver, they do it for the insurance.

We are recruiting an army of Lizard men now (GWB is in charge); the goal is to form an entire elite group of amphibian commando's to liberate the worlds threatened reptiles in underdeveloped countries such as Great Britain.

Wont be the first time they make a big noise liberating frogs will it. (sorry)

International Incident... aren't you taking this all too seriously Radio?

No, there just frigg'n frogs man. C'mon. I used to stab them with spears and cook them.

I have it on good authority (Mykle) that George Bush is a changeling alien lizard, is that true?

Actually it was that nice Mr Icke chap who said that Gerry. I wonder what he's up to nowadays.