A whole lotta nothing
Jan. 12th, 2026 12:13 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
merrileemakesMy New Year's resolution is to work softer. This year I want to do less, be less, because I've been learning that when I put in less effort things actually turn out better and I feel better. My psychiatrist has also added a mood stabiliser to my mix of anti-depressants and they make me feel a bit dopey, at least while I'm getting used to them. So I've been doing a whole lot of nothing, and even the stuff I am doing is pretty piecemeal. It's hard to get used to.
So I have nothing crafty to share. But I do have a tadpole update!
I heard back from Frog watch, who advised that transporting frogs and tadpoles was illegal due to the disease risk. Which makes perfect sense. They suggested that I let the tadpoles grow out in my pond where the eggs were laid and the frogs disperse under their own remit when they're ready. So my plan of maturing tadpoles for a few weeks is now a couple of months! And honestly, I'm loving it.
I transferred the tadpoles from their nursery tub to the pond when I felt like they were big enough to cope with the filter. I also put the filter in a mesh laundry bag as an extra precaution. The tenacious buggers still got in the bag though, and one tadpole ever ended up inside the filter itself - but all still alive!
Every evening I go and lay down next to the pond after I feed them and watch them (they're most active when the water is warm). They're so sweet and growing so fast. The biggest is now the size of a grape and the smallest about the size of my pinky fingernail. I counted 60ish the other night so there's lots still surviving.
And they love watermelon. They were dining this chunk around like a little toy car they were nibbling away with so much enthusiasm. Snail passengers and all.
The pond is a lot harder to maintain with its new denizens. I can't scoop out leaves and algae because tadpoles. I can't fill it up with chlorinated water or use algae treatment because tadpoles (it says it's fish safe but baby amphibians are a whole different ball game). I worry about the ammonia level in the pond, but have to keep reminding myself that Spotted Mosh Frogs will breed in anything, including puddles and ditches. Surely they can survive a moderately maintained pond.
I'm looking forward to seeing the tadpoles grow, but I'm also looking forward to when they're gone.
So I have nothing crafty to share. But I do have a tadpole update!
I heard back from Frog watch, who advised that transporting frogs and tadpoles was illegal due to the disease risk. Which makes perfect sense. They suggested that I let the tadpoles grow out in my pond where the eggs were laid and the frogs disperse under their own remit when they're ready. So my plan of maturing tadpoles for a few weeks is now a couple of months! And honestly, I'm loving it.
I transferred the tadpoles from their nursery tub to the pond when I felt like they were big enough to cope with the filter. I also put the filter in a mesh laundry bag as an extra precaution. The tenacious buggers still got in the bag though, and one tadpole ever ended up inside the filter itself - but all still alive!
Every evening I go and lay down next to the pond after I feed them and watch them (they're most active when the water is warm). They're so sweet and growing so fast. The biggest is now the size of a grape and the smallest about the size of my pinky fingernail. I counted 60ish the other night so there's lots still surviving.
And they love watermelon. They were dining this chunk around like a little toy car they were nibbling away with so much enthusiasm. Snail passengers and all.
The pond is a lot harder to maintain with its new denizens. I can't scoop out leaves and algae because tadpoles. I can't fill it up with chlorinated water or use algae treatment because tadpoles (it says it's fish safe but baby amphibians are a whole different ball game). I worry about the ammonia level in the pond, but have to keep reminding myself that Spotted Mosh Frogs will breed in anything, including puddles and ditches. Surely they can survive a moderately maintained pond.
I'm looking forward to seeing the tadpoles grow, but I'm also looking forward to when they're gone.
(no subject)
Date: 12 January 2026 02:27 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 12 January 2026 02:32 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 12 January 2026 10:14 am (UTC)