Recent Questions
     General

Q .Hi there: Some toads have laid strings of eggs in my koi pond. Are there any concerns about this and any impact on the fish? The toads haven't hatched yet.

Thanks, Bruce

A. Hello,

Frog eggs and tadpoles are edible for fish, BUT toad eggs and tads are poisonous!

If the fish eat the toad eggs and don't burp them up (which they usually do), it can be toxic to them. Toad eggs are supposed to taste horrible to fish. Although Goldfish seem to have discerning palettes, Koi don’t seem to have the same taste buds, and have been known to eat the toad eggs, to a disastrous end. L

Just to be safe, I would recommend cleaning out the toad eggs, you can do this by hand, using a skimmer net and a good pair of rubber gloves!

Another alternative is to apply a pond salt solution, directly to the egg area – to a ratio of 4Kg salt to every 1000 liters of water. The frogs will then not go near the water as the salt burns their skins. Any eggs laid will not hatch. The salt will not harm the Koi in anyway, in fact it’s good for them, but be aware, salt can give your aquatic plants a hard time. They will bounce back after 2 weeks, but it is rough on them.

If you can get them out by hand that would be ideal!

The Pond Dr.

Q. Hey Doc!

There's his girl I met during the Parade of Ponds last summer - I really like her a lot, but I don't even think she knows I exist.  What should I do to get her to like me?

A. Hello! George McFly!  Build her a pond, with lots of water lilies.