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Below are some common causes of spawn dying / breaking down. If
a small amount of spawn has died it's fine to leave it in the
pond as it will naturally break down or get eaten by other
creatures, however a large amount of decomposing spawn can
overload the pond with nutrients so it may be a good idea to
take some out and put is on your compost heap.
Warm periods of weather coming out of winter can cause frogs to
spawn early. If the weather rapidly changes and overnight frosts
occur the spawn can freeze and kill the developing eggs. Usually
dead eggs will have grey or white centres. If it is a light
frost sometimes only the spawn closest to the surface will be
killed, the rest may survive as it is more insulated from the
cold. You may decide you would like to protect the spawn from
heavy frosts.
Spawn relies on a certain amount of sunlight and warmth to
develop - frogs often lay their spawn in the shallowest part of
the pond - so if the pond has become overgrown with vegetation
or shadowed by trees / shrubs then this could be having an
affect on the spawn surviving. Try trimming back overhanging
vegetation and keeping pond plants in check with annual
maintenance.
Some spawn is laid partly or completely unfertilised and so will
not develop at all; the centres may be grey or white rather than
black / brown. The spawn will have a normal “jelly” appearance
but will become cloudy and fungus may infect it as it rots.
If we have a particularly cold spring you may find spawn in your
pond covered with a white thread-like feathery fungus that looks
not unlike cotton wool. It often occurs when spawn has been
killed off by late frosts, although it occasionally grows on
healthy spawn; this will not necessarily kill it. This fungus is
not related to the chytrid fungus that is killing amphibians in
other parts of the world.
FAQ:
There is spawn in the pond but
icy weather is due, should I
protect it?
Chytrid
fungus.
Spawn has died year after year.
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