String Algae Collection Device

I'm calling this version 1.2 of my home made "String Algae Collection Device."

This thing is pretty simple which is what makes it work so well.  Not to say there are not improvements to be made... I'm already working on version 1.3.

The "big gee-whiz" of this thing is the round handle which makes it easy to spin the tool and the algae collection end is splayed out to hook the string algae.

Insert tool in the pond and let it rest on the algae. Spin the tool and the algae wraps around the PVC pipe. Remove the tool from the pond and slide the algae off the end of the pipe... sorry, you have to use your hand.

All I can tell you is it works pretty well as a first pass to remove the large masses of algae.  Chemicals are needed for the cleanup and if I owned one a pond vacuum would be nice.

When you own a pond algae will always be present.  One of the key's to having an attractive pond is clear water, some plants, waterfalls and no algae.  It's the "no algae" part that is unattainable but algae can be managed.

To manage algae all you need is lots of time, a few coins, lots of time, patience, lots of time, more patience, chemicals, patience, additonal patience.....

It's too bad Billy Mays isn't with us anymore as I would have him selling these by the thousands! Sure...

Dontchaloveit?

Whoohoo!

Polly-Wolly-Doodle Not Today

My apology to my Frog Blog Fan for letting things lapse in the update arena for just shy of 20 days.  I have a plethora of excuses and even could come up with some plausible lies for the inattention to this here blog. I won't bore you with platitudes and cliches although that might be fun.

The pond is doing OK.  Just OK.  There are 2 goldfish living in the skimmer pond.  They have been there for quite a while.  I've tried to capture them but they just have too much room to out maneuver me... Ginger and the granddaughter. They will have to swim into the skimmer or will have to call this pond their new home.

In the toadlet arena there is only one report... that is fat goldfish. I was looking for any pollywog's or toadpole, any submarine and came up with zero.  It is inconceivable to me that there aren't a couple of survivors somewhere but if they're there they are well hidden.

The woodhouses toads continue to croak their serenade to the lady toads but even if more eggs were to be laid the goldfish would certainly eat the wogs.

I'm still going to keep my eyes open as I've been fooled before... no fool like an old fool they say.

Stop by tomorrow where I will reveal my string algae eradication tool.

Whoohoo 2 ya...

Fat Goldfish

My granddaughter was over today and of course we were out back checking on all the creatures.  She noticed that there were not any tadpoles in the bridge pond and very few to be seen in any of the other ponds.  I wasn't particularly concerned as in previous years the toadpoles had spread throughout the pond (see this link for example). 

Then I got to thinking about it.  Even dispersed there were a lot more toadlets in previous years.  I've been trying to figure out what was different.

At first I was thinking there was residue of the anti-algae chemical that I put in the pond earlier this year.  You know how it is with me... I always worry about these little guys and am the first to blame myself if anything goes wrong.  But honestly I couldn't see that as the cause.

The answer came from a comment my granddaughter made... she said the black gold fish sure was fat.  And then it dawned on me... this is the first year we have had fish in the pond during the toad procreation period.  Do ya think that's it?  I thought tadpoles had a bad taste so fish didn't particularly like to eat them.

Wrong thinking apparently!  Flawed research a few years ago I guess.  From what I've been able to find by researching on the internet (and of course everything your read about on the internet is true) goldfish as well as koi enjoy snacking on the little submarines.

That would certainly explain not finding many pollywog's cruising the waters of the, of late, porn pond.  With all the rock and algae plus the ease in which the toad spawn go over the waterfall I would think there is a pretty good chance of some survivors growing up to be next years visitors.  I will, of course, have to withdraw my statement about being up to my knees in toads this year.

What a dilemma for a toad daddy.  I had no problem with Joe eating birds but feel bad that the goldfish are eating tadpoles.  That doesn't make a lot of sense as Ma Nature is going to do her thing and some will survive versus letting the country side be overrun with toads like Australia was overrun with rabbits.

So I'll sit back and let 'Ol Ma N handle this issue.  I'll watch the algae grow... it grows faster than corn I can tell ya.

Two steps forward and one step back....

Whoohoo!

UPDATE to: Bullitoad #2011-4 & A Whoohoo!

I stand corrected... It DOES get better than a cubit plus 1 or a quad-fam... I'm calling it a penta-fam.  That's right folks.. penta as in 5... count 'em 5 set's of eggs and 5 pairs of toads.  This is unheard of.  Things are changing so fast I'm almost afraid to go outside.  Wow...  some toad must have put a sign up in the men's room or something to get all these lovers in the same pond almost at the same time.

WAIT!!!!!

This just in... would you believe there are 3 couples of Woodhouse's toad mating in the pond as I write this.  Ginger just came in with this startling news.  I find is apropos that the word origin for six is sex and in sextuplets. 

This whole thing today is so unbelievable.  I'm sure there will be some additional comments soon. Stay tuned for the latest and greatest at this very blog site. 

Whoohoo!!!!!

Bullitoad #2011-4 & A Whoohoo!

I just can't sit still.  Wait until you hear this!

I walked out to the pond this morning and there, there in the lily pads no less, was Clinton and Monica but their actions were much farther along than what was reported in the news years ago.

This means, since amphibians don't have recreational sex, that we are in for a cubit plus 1 or a quad-fam. There are going to be so many tadpoles, toadpoles, toadlets, toad minnows, pollywogs and submarines this place will look like a zoo... or maybe that should be a swamp.  Whatever... we are moving at warp speed into a new era of being a Toad Daddy (I need a logo).

So we have each bird house full and I hear little peeps from their homes.  We have a black bird nest in the trellis on the side of the house.  We have an unknown owner of a bird nest in the tree out front.  New salamanders and I saw a snake in the yard last week.  No new goldfish tho... wonder what their problem is...

Folks... It don't get much better than this!

Whoohoo!

Bullitoad #2011-3

There are more toadlets on the way!

Yesterday, a pair of Woodhouse's toads were doing their thing and left a really long string of eggs.  This is the first year we have had 3 Toad mating's... I'm a Toad Daddy cubed. 

Then, in the dark of night, I hear the male calling for another mate.  I think I'll name this toad Clinton.

These eggs should hatch much faster than the previous eggs as the water is warmer now.

Glad I didn't add more algae kill juice.

Whoohoo!!

Bullitoad #2011-2

My pond is green... and it ain't "with envy" that is for sure.  On the other hand the new tadpoles that were able to hatch are alive and well.  I'll not post pictures again as once you see a tadpole they all pretty much look alike. So here is a link to previous pictures that I've taken: LINK.

My estimation of the number of toadpoles is about 500.  Not as many as in previous years but it's good they are represented in the pond.

In other pond news:

• The string algae is alive and well and we have a bumper crop... best year ever I'm sorry to say.
• Leo the Leopard Frog is still hang'n around.  No mate and Leo seems to have given up on croak'n for a lady friend... sorry Leo.
• The horrendous winds we had over the Memorial Weekend were amazing to see.  Waterfalls were blown backward.  Lily pads were twisted around each other.  Huge amounts of tree leaves and twigs were netted and picked from the pond.

That's the latest.

Whoohoo.