Frog question!

[enrico]

I have groups of frogs lying in the bottom of my pond. Some are upside down, there about six frogs in a group. To start with I thought they were mating then I found that they don't mate like that! After four days of not moving I decided they must be dead so I hoiked them out in a net. However they are still alive, their legs still moving so I presume this is some sort of thing that frogs do! So I have put them back in, where they just sank to the bottom again. They are all entwined together.
Can anyone help!

 

[drstitson]

frogs hibernate. where did you think they go over winter?

they can't bury themselves as they need to have exposure to oxygenated water. they may move around a bit. they don't freeze completely as they have natural anti-freeze to protect vital organs.

you have disturbed their "winter cluster". lucky it's mild.

 

[VEG]

Perhaps they are a bit tired after all that mating

 

[Luminos]

frogs hibernate.

where did you think they go over winter?

you have disturbed their "winter cluster". lucky it's mild.

Frogs generally hibernate in the mud at the bottom of ponds

 

[drstitson]

on or in but not under.

 

[Apple]

http://www.arkive.org/common-frog/rana-temporaria/

probably hibernating

Has been research on responses by fish to levels of dissolved oxygen in deep water lakes, that have a winter thermocline, with deoxygenated water mimicking a pollution event.
Frogs seem to select shallow ponds and ditches to overwinter in, may be worth checking your pondwater for pollution, do you have fish in it?

Doris has a friend who breeds carp, he apparently has huge airstones running to oxygenate the water, possibly you could try that if you suspect a problem?

I should think if the fish in the pond are not gasping for air on the surface, the water would be oxygenated enough for frogs!

 

[yeogi75]

if there is no frog spawn in your pond, then they are getting ready to ball the first female to enter the pond

 

[drstitson]

they were fine and hibernating

frogs can even have frozen extremities and no heart beat but wake up fine when things warm up a bit. True reanimation.

 

[enrico]

Thanks everyone, they have been mating already which is why I was confused by these groups laying on the bottom! Maybe they were just having a lie in! No problems with oxygenation as the pond is fed by a constant spring which flows in at 10 degrees so it never freezes either. Thanks again though, just never seen it before and always had ponds!
E

 

[yeogi75]

if you say they have been mating you should have frog spawn already, if not and you have seen a ball of frogs all tangled up then they are all males resting after balling and are awaiting females

 

[oliver90owner]

Don't worry too much. The temperature will be low enough to make them very lethargic! But it will not go below 4 degrees Celsius unless all the pond freezes. The bottom is often at 4 degrees C in winter as thaft is the maximum density point for water. How lucky it is, that water has that peculiar property, for life on Earth as a generality!

RAB

 

[drstitson]

"How lucky it is, that water has that peculiar property, for life on Earth as a generality!"

and to allow the production of eco-friendly fridges!!!!! so long as you keep the top frozen a water jacket will stay happily at 4C.

 

[Itchy]

Upside down frogs=dead frogs

 

[enrico]

Upside down frogs=dead frogs

That's what I thought but these are upside down.... And at the moment alive!
E

 

[Cazza]

frogs can even have frozen extremities and no heart beat but wake up fine when things warm up a bit. True reanimation.

Wow. Never knew that, quite incredible.
Thanks Dr S.
Cazza

 

[Heather]

Were they smoking a fag.. usually indication of mating timing??

 

[enrico]

No but I think the female was crying!

 

[Heather]

Was he so rubbish! Move on, girl

 

[VEG]

Pond full of frogs in a garden we were working in today loads of frogspawn in there as well