Hi Everybody
The weather here in Ontario,Canada has been crazy.My pond has had ice on it now for awhile.The last wk the temperatures have been above avarage and the ice is starting to melt.This morning I looked out the window and saw puddles of water on the ice in the pond.I also saw something swimming across the puddles.I grabed my camera and took this small video.Hope it works.
Has anybody eles seen this before?Is this something strange?Let me know if this video works ok.

Thanks swampview

The video worked when I clicked on it. I've never seen a frog swimming in the water on top of ice. When it's really cold, the frogs should be in the bottom of the pond and pretty dormant. I don't know how they got up there. What is the water temperature (if you have the thermometer in a liquid area)? If it's warm (over 50 degrees F), then the frogs might be active even though there's ice on the pond. I would use a net to move the frogs from on top of the ice and put them down into the water above the deep part so they can go down. I'm surprised the frog could move that well in such cold water. It's important to get them down under before the water refreezes as it could trap and freeze them.

Hi Robyn
I took the temp of the water on the pond at the warmest part of the day.The water was 30F at 2 o'clock this afternoon.When I took the video it was 9 in the morning , I'm sure the water was a lot colder.The temp. outside today feels like spring.It got to 40F at 2 o'clock this afternoon.When I went back outside this morning to help the frogs they were already gone.I don't know if they went back into the pond.They may have climbed out and gone into the gardens around the pond.If they did climb out they will have a better chance of making through the winter.
I was also surprised to see them swimming that well.Has any one eles seen this before?
swampview

Some species of frog hibernate under water while others hibernate on land. So, if the kind you had hibernates on land, it would indeed be better off if it got out of the pond. If, however, it was a species that hiberates under water (like green frogs, bullfrogs, and pickerel frogs), then it won't do so well on land.

Robyn

I do have a problem with the frogs(green).They think they can hibernate in the pond for the winter but they don't make it.Last spring I don't know how many I pulled out.I guess they think they can burrow into the liner.We have so many frogs around here.It's great to see them going in and out of the pond in the summer but I don't know how to keep them out when it's time to hibernate.Any ideas?

Thanks swampview

Are you sure they are the species called green frogs (and not just frogs that are green)? Green frogs do hibernate under the water. I used to have a high mortality with them in my 153 gallon pond until I started putting an air stone in the bottom over the winter. I think low oxygen kills most frogs that hibernate under water (in ponds that don't freeze solid). My bullfrogs and green frogs and pickerel frogs all hibernate on the bare liner. They'll go under leaves and debris if it's in there but they don't have to. You might try adding an aeration system to your pond too.

Hi Robyn

I did get the heater working in the pond.The next thing is aeration.We did try a small bubbler but it froze up already.We have removed it and need to come up with a better plan.I could see the fish in the pond under the ice and they look fine so far.I could also see 1/2 doz frogs moving around on the sides of the liner.I know there are leaves in the bottom so maybe they will go under them for the winter.I can only hope for the best at this point.I can't get under the ice to remove them.

swampview

Hi Swampview. I did see that happen in my friends large pond with his koi several years ago. He lost several koi that day. He attributed it to a lack of oxygen in the pond and the fish coming to the surface,on top of the ice and froze to death.(sad)

Hi wayne r

I did see some of the fish swimming around the surface the other day.I also looked into the water and saw some frogs moving around. I think the heater is working so far but it's so hard to tell with this crazy weather.I has to be a certain temp before it comes on.The bubbler we had wasn't strong enough and the hose going to it froze.I am in the process of setting up something different.
I will worry about the fish all winter.I really don't want to loose any.Funny how we get so attached.
How is the weather where you are?Isn't it crazy for Dec.? Are you a snow lover or could you skip winter and go right back into summer?

swampview

One year I made a pond vent useing a 4'x 4'x2"thick piece of styrafoam . Cut about a 16" hole in the center of it , and let the bubbler or heater work inside the hole as the foam floats on the surface. That works quite well.For added protection take the 16" cutout and suspend it 1/2" above the hole on three sticks layed across, to allow gases to escape. I hope to cover my pergola this week to protect the pond. I got a new tarp 40'x60'. I will post pictures of the inside when its up. You asked if I like snow. Snow is like visiting inlaws. Its nice to see them come, but feels sooo good when their gone.

soooooooooooo cute!

What a neat video... :D and of course more great information to read..gee I'll be reading about ponds forever now..lol...