Pool Care Archives - Page 6 of 6 - Pool Owners Academy

Natural Ways To Keep Frogs Out Of Your Pool If you have a swimming pool, then chances are that at some point in time, it will become infested with frogs. While they may look funny and be entertaining for you kids to see, the fact is, frogs in your pool can cause a real number of problems as well as be a nuisance. Luckily though there are ways to keep frogs out of pool naturally. Clean Your Pool Regularly Cut Down Areas Of Water Source Make Sure You Have No Toys Or Plants Around Your Pool Area Prevent Water From Getting Into The Pool Area Preventing Frogs From Climbing The Pool Ladder Here are just a few tips on how to keep frogs out of pools naturally and safely: 1. Clean Your Pool Regularly If you want to keep those frogs out of your pool, then the most important thing which you need to do is clean it on a regular basis. If your pool has not been cleaned in quite some time, then there is a good chance that it's got all kinds of debris including dead bugs, leaves, and even animal excrement floating around. If you allow these items to sit in your pool for an extended period of time, then they will end up attracting frogs who are looking for a place to lay their eggs. Once the frog does this, it is going to be incredibly difficult for you to get rid of them and remove them from your pool completely since they will simply jump right back in when the pool is filled with water again. 2. Cut Down Areas Of Water Source In order for the frog to get from one place to another, it will need water. This means that if you can stop the water from coming into your swimming area then you will essentially stop the frog from entering your pool as well. The most common areas where water is brought into a swimming pool include the hose, sprinkler system, or other irrigation systems. What you will want to do is make sure that these areas are cut down as much as possible so that no water comes in anymore; this way the frogs won't have a water source to breed from. 3. Make Sure You Have No Toys Or Plants Around Your Pool Area If you have any toys around the pool area, then that is a prime breeding ground for keeping frogs out of pools naturally. The same can be said about having plants and flowers around as well; this will make a great place for them to hide and breed from. This means that you should take all these things away from your swimming area if you want to keep the frogs at bay. 4. Prevent Water From Getting Into The Pool Area A way to prevent the water in your pool from getting into your yard and potentially attracting the frog is by installing an automated pool cover. This is because even though it does not seem like much, even a small amount of water can create a water source for a frog. So don't think that just because you have the pool cover on, will keep the frogs out; you need to make sure that there is no way any water can get in as well. The second area of water that you want to eliminate is the one from above, but this time around it comes in with the rain. Since frogs are small and can hop from place to place very easily, they will be able to get into your pool if you don't have a cover on it. Obviously, not everyone can afford to buy a brand new pool cover at this time because of the cost involved, so instead what you should do is simply use a tarp or sheet which hangs over the top of your pool and ties down to keep the frogs out. 5. Preventing Frogs From Climbing The Pool Ladder One other way that you can prevent the frog from getting into your pool is by installing a covering onto the ladder of your pool. There are several different types of covers available on the Internet, but they all work in essentially the same fashion. It is basically a piece of material that will cover your swimming area and prevent any small animals like frogs from getting into the water or climbing up onto it. This will definitely help you when it comes to keeping those pesky frogs away for good! If you live in an area that gets a lot of rain on a regular basis, then chances are that at some point or another you will have a frog show up in your swimming pool. When this happens, most people start panicking because they do not know what to do. The good news is you can actually keep those frogs out of the pool if you take action right now; just follow the tips given on this page for keeping them out! What If My Pool Is Already Infested With Frogs If your pool is already infested with frogs (which means that they are already breeding inside and jumping into the water), then you'll need another approach altogether. You can all but guarantee that your regular "frog methods" won't do much good at this point, so what you'll want to do instead is use more straightforward measures that will ensure there isn't any food source left for frogs and cause them to leave with their young ones naturally: Step 1: One thing you will want to pay attention to is the filtration system and make sure that it's functioning as well as it should be; otherwise, there could end up being a build-up of waste which will create an area for frogs to breed in. Without the proper maintenance (and perhaps some extra money invested into repairs), they can easily find their way inside where they are protected from predators like birds (which eat them) or they may even feel safe enough to lay more eggs. Step 2: You'll want to see if there are any holes around your perimeter which lead outside – these are big trouble spots for frogs since they have a tendency of squeezing through very small spaces – so make sure that there aren't any leaks that would allow a frog to swim in. Step 3: If possible, you may want to drain off the water every so often and check the reactor for any deposit build-up; if there is anything amiss with it, then you'll need to rectify that issue as soon as possible (if not, your pool's filtration system just might feed a frog population). Step 4: You may also want to try and lay down some lines of frog sticks; they are known to keep away any frogs that are smaller than about an inch in length. Step 5: Finally, it goes without saying that you'll need to eliminate any and all food sources for the frogs; this includes keeping your vegetation cut short (or eliminating completely if possible). Be aware of any excess leaves or other garbage which might make its way into your pool area. Are Frogs In My Pool A Health Hazard? If we are talking about health concerns, then the biggest problem you will have with frogs is if they decide to take up residence in your pool. This presents a number of problems other than just having a bunch of frogs floating around (and dumping their droppings into it too). There's an immediate danger that they'll be able to swim outside and spread their eggs all over the place – getting them everywhere from your lawn to the flowerbeds or even where children play! Frogs also have a tendency of laying more eggs each time they spawn which means that if left unchecked, then soon enough you could have an ungodly amount of baby frogs (which might not be good for anyone). Frog eggs – When you get frog eggs into your eyes or mouth, then you might find yourself experiencing a burning sensation followed by involuntary eye-dilation and perhaps shortness of breath as well. In rare cases, patients have reported feeling like they were going to pass out (or have actually passed out). They say that it takes about 30 minutes for the symptoms to subside completely but afterward, you'll be left with a general feeling of fatigue and mild burning sensations. While it isn't likely that your system will be permanently damaged from this, I would think twice about putting my hands into the water (or anywhere else where there could be eggs). Frogs – Getting too close to frogs can also expose you to other problems like skin infections (which are likely caused by their warts or perhaps even their urine) but they have been known to carry a number of other diseases as well. At least one disease called Chytridiomycosis has been reported to cause everything from skin lesions, swelling, damage to the kidneys and even death if untreated for long enough. Common signs of Chytridiomycosis are swollen legs and feet, loss of appetite, and skin lesions on the top of feet. If you are worried about diseases associated with frogs in your pool then I would highly suggest that you try to get rid of them as quickly as possible if at all possible. For more information about frog health problems or anything else related to them, be sure to contact your nearest veterinarian for professional advice. Nature's Swimming Pool Clean-up Crew What most people don't realize is that nature has already provided you with your very own swimming pool cleaner – it just happens to be in the form of water bugs! Yes, this simple little creature will eat all the frog eggs that end up in your pool and since they breed so quickly, you can have an entire army of them working for you in no time. All these bugs need for their well-being is some sunlight and a source of food (frogs) which as long as there are enough frogs around, then they will keep multiplying until there are enough to take care of any future damage. It sounds crazy, but it works very well and is an effective way to keep those frogs out of your swimming pool for good. It's Not Just Frogs That Can Be Annoying In The Pool If you are like most people who enjoy regular swims in their swimming pools, then you may also know that an invasion of frogs can be quite annoying as they hop around and leave their droppings everywhere. Don't worry, however, as there are other pests you can get in your pool that will make your frog problem seem like a walk in the park. If you have ever had an infestation of water bugs or another smaller member of the insect family in your swimming pool area then you know how annoying and distracting they can be while trying to enjoy yourself at the end of a long day. While water bugs may not seem to be anyone's favorite choice for a swimmer, these little guys do serve one important purpose. They clean up all those unsightly frog eggs that end up in your pool when it is first infected with frogs; yes, that is right – knock off number two on what to do about those nasty frogs is to have a water bug infestation. Don't Be Discouraged! Frogs are wild animals and barring the occasional hiccup in their life cycle, they can easily become self-sufficient as far as breeding is concerned; however, when these creatures take an interest in your swimming pool area where there is plenty of food and no natural predators .......well then, you have yourself a real problem on your hands. The fact that it's so difficult to get rid of them is what makes it such an aggravating situation. While it might be easy to catch them with your hands, getting the ones that are big enough to swim away is another story. They'd rather take their chances and stay put than leave their cozy surroundings behind. It is possible with the proper knowledge and information, however, you don't need to be made to feel helpless in knowing that there will always be frogs hopping around where they shouldn't and making a nuisance out of themselves. Take some steps today towards having all of those frogs that want to come into your swimming pool; keep them outside! You'll be glad you did. Happy Swimming!