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Quick answer
No! They form an important part of the foodchain and it's best
to let nature take its course.
Further
information
Amphibian eggs and their tadpoles make up a vital part of the
foodchain; the reason amphibians produce so many eggs is that so
few of them survive. You should
expect that over 90% of the eggs, tadpoles or young amphibians
in your pond will be eaten throughout spring by numerous
predators, including: dragonfly larvae, water boatmen, grass
snakes, birds and hedgehogs. Larger tadpoles may also prey on
smaller, weaker tadpoles.
Tadpoles are an important food source for wildlife, including
other amphibians - newts are a predator of tadpoles, especially
in the weeks after frog spawning when adult newts are in the
pond laying their eggs on pond plants. Garden ponds are often
home to more than one species of amphibian - this is a healthy
situation and indicates that the pond is functioning well.
Normally a cyclical predator-prey relationship will establish -
while numbers are high for one they are low for the other until
a critical point and the situation becomes reversed.
There is no need to remove newts or other predators though we
would advise against deliberately introducing fish to a wildlife
pond.
Adding places within the pond for tadpoles to hide could help
increase their chances of survival. Potential hiding places
include rocks/pebbles, plants and aquatic planters. We don't
advise that pond-owners use pond-netting to keep potential
predators out - sometimes the animals
you're trying to attract (like grass snakes or hedgehogs) can
become caught and die.
Some people opt to remove some tadpoles from the pond and raise
them in captivity, to give the local frog population a helping
hand. It is entirely up to you if you wish to do this.
Newts are eating my tadpoles, should anything be done to
stop them?
Keeping tadpoles in captivity.
Can
I keep fish in my wildlife pond?
Making your garden frog-friendly.
Just Add Water.
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