Frogs in my Pennsylvania Koi Pond

Here at Dreamscapes Watergardens, we get asked the same question about frogs: "how do I get my frog to stay in my backyard pond?"

Whether you're introducing frogs or tadpoles into your backyard pond on your own or if they're finding you by chance, frogs definitely add a new dimension to the pond lifestyle through sights, sounds and splishy splashy. All frogs start their lifecycle as an egg in the water but frog habitats go well beyond the pond. They're found above and below ground, above and below water, in trees, grasses, jungles, cities, numerous other combinations of habitats, and they're even invading our homes.They always stay near water, though.

---

Frog as Predators and Frog Predators

Adult frogs will hunt and eat insects, worms, snails, dragonflies, mosquitoes, and grasshoppers. Larger frogs will also go after small animals like mice, snakes, birds, other frogs, small turtles, and even small sick/weak fish from our ponds if they can fit in their mouths. Healthy backyard pond fish like koi, goldfish, and orfe shouldn't be worried about.

Herons, raccoons, snakes, turtles, fox, big fish and possum (on the other hand) all want to eat frogs, while dogs and cats often play too rough with them.

Frog Breeding Season

Antisocial creatures, frogs are only generally seen with other frogs during breeding season. Fish love to eat the eggs which look like round, clear jelly-like clusters while toad eggs are laid in long strands. It is not unusual to find the inside of a skimmer box or lily pads covered with eggs during breeding season. As a pond owner, you don't have to do anything to help them survive--- just let Mother Nature run it's course.

Frog Habitats

To help make your frogs want to stay you need to create the right home for them.  Add aquatic plants, like grasses in the pond to hide in and lily pads (classic thought) but even rocks around the perimeter allowing the frogs to bask in the sun. Frogs are amphibious and can easily transition from skillful swimmers submerged below water to fully adept land rovers navigating around. If you have a fully shaded pond, you may have a harder time finding frogs that want to stay. Landscaping plants around the pond are ideal for when they want to hop out and explore---they make the waterfeature feel more natural for a frog. If you have a loud gushing pond with a waterfall, consider providing areas with slow water flow because frogs like quiet water, too! If you don't have koi caves already in your pond, consider how to provide some shelter within the pond with a simple clay pot. Lastly, frogs do not like the pond “too clean” because they can't blend in as well for protection. Algae here and there is OK! Frogs may get curious about what else is "out there" and hop away to check it out.

---

Fall/Winter Care for Frogs in Pennsylvania

Be sure to check pond netting for the occasional frog stuck on top of the net who is trying to make his way inside. If he can't get into the pond, he has to find a home elsewhere! It is even recommended to add a 6″ deep tray of compacted soil covered with gravel mulch as a place to dig in for the winter months. If you keep your pump running over the winter, resident frogs are known to climb into pond skimmers to enjoy the warmer pocket of air inside the skimmer box. So keep your eye on the water flow because sometimes frogs get stuck and end up  clogging the pump!!

For most homeowners, Dreamscapes recommends to pull the pump over the winter and do a full pond shutdown. More information on that service can be found by checking out our waterfeature maintenance page.

---

So Now What?

Dreamscapes also carries a full line of pond supplies from water treatments and fish medications to pond pumps, heaters, fountains, plants and fish! Tadpoles and snails are also available at our Aquatic Retail Center in Lebanon, Pennsylvania seasonally while supplies last from May-August.  If you think you need it, we have it!

Retail Hours:  April 5th-October 27th 2018:
                           Monday-Wednesday: By Appt
                           Thursday-Friday: 10am-5pm
                           Saturday: 9am-12pm
                     October 28th-April 2019: HOURS BY APPT


Contact Us
2155 State Route 343, Lebanon Pa | 717-272-6555 | info@dreamscapeswatergardens.com

Dreamscapes Watergardens services koi ponds and waterfalls in the city of Lebanon, Lancaster, Harrisburg, Mechanicsburg, Camp Hill, Cleona, Cornwall, Fredericksburg, Indiantown Gap, Jonestown, Kleinfeltersville, Mount Gretna, Myerstown, Newmanstown Palmyra, Quentin, Reistville, Richland, Schaefferstown of Pennsylvania,