Photo of our semi-pet frogs outside in their winter home
Last edited Tue Feb 18, 2014, 02:10 PM - Edit history (1)
We have two frogs that moved in to occupy the cool, wet, and dark alcove under our fountain last spring, right after we bought it and put it in use.
We used bricks under it to level the fountain, which created the space. We were always careful around the front steps to look for them when walking, mowing, etc. One dark morning before I headed off to work one of them surprised me. I went out to fill the fountain. He was out in the grass hunting for breakfast. He jumped his way back to his home under the fountain, and I carefully filled it up with the hose.
Last fall Marta was raking up leaves around the fountain in front of the house. She raked out one of the two frogs we watched over all summer; he'd buried himself in the leaves and was apparently waiting for winter. The frog wasn't hibernating yet; he turned around and hoped right back into the leaves. Marta packed a lot more leaves around the fountain and tamped them down, so he would be safe. Every time we go by the fountain, we worry about the poor guy and hope he's okay. It makes waiting for spring that much harder, hoping he'll show up again.
Technically they should not be able to survive the untreated water in the fountain, but there they were. Our local water system uses (http://water.epa.gov/lawsregs/rulesregs/sdwa/mdbp/chloramines_index.cfm) chloramines. They seemed to be attracted to the spray of water the
fountain continually put out. Here is the winter home photo.
OS & Marta.
http://www.stocktongov.com/government/departments/municipalUtilities/chlorEnvir.html
Are Chloramines Safe for My Salt and Freshwater Fish?
Both chlorine and chloramines are toxic to fish and aquatic life. Chloramines are harmful to fish and amphibians when they enter the bloodstream from water that passes through their gills. Therefore, like chlorine, chloramines must be removed from water used for keeping fish, amphibians and other aquatic animals. This includes: fish, lobster, shrimp, frogs, turtles, snails, clams and live coral. To protect fish and amphibians, use treatment products to remove chloramines from tap water. These products are readily available at most pet supply stores and aquarium dealers.
Why Can't I Let My Tap Water Sit for a Few Days to Remove Chloramines?
Chloramines last longer than chlorine and will not dissipate from tap water like chlorine. You must remove chloramines from your water prior to use for fish, amphibians and other aquatic animals.
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\Where I live, there is such a chorus of little frogs croaking in the spring, it's almost deafening. The first little "rivet" of the season almost brings tears to my eyes, as it means winter is OVER!
I had a large pond built on my property (200' x 150' x 17' deep) and the frogs quickly showed up! I named my road "Frog Hollow Lane" in their honor!
Hope you see them soon and I hope spring arrives soon for you too!
Keep us posted on their well-being please!
"Frog Hollow Lane". Nice touch.
and there is no better day than that day in the spring when the peepers start peeping.
They dig in to the ground below the wells in the winter, and pop back up in the spring. I've seen the same one for two years running (has that same spot on his head.)
Or at least, if it does, it's an exceptionally well-camouflaged frog, or I am just being obtuse.
I was hoping for a picture of an actual frog, not just a picture of some logs which may, at some point, contain frogs 
I was hoping for a picture of your frogs, outside your winter home
No sign of any frogs. We removed all the leaves and found nothing.
