Collecting pond critters

[caudatadude28]

I have a vernal pond near by(150 yards away from my house) and have been using it for food for my triturus dobrogicus larvae. It is a roadside vernal pond, but is rich in life. I collect fairy shrimp, some daphnia/copepod things, masquito larvae, and what I believe to be bloodworms. Is it ok to collect food from it for my larvae even though it is a road side pond. Lots of frogs and ambystoma laterale use it for a breeding pond so it must not be too polluted if at all really. Just wondering. My larvae love it. One of my larvae died since I started but I doubt it is connected. I usually put the food in a brineshrimp net and pour clean water over it before feeding anyways. I still use baby brine shrimp but the larvae are starting to get bigger.

 

[taherman]

I think that would be a good source for food. Just be careful not to use any nets/equipment in the pond that have been in your newt's tank, so as to prevent introducing any diseases into the pond.

-Tim

 

[caudatadude28]

Okay. Sounds good.

 

[DR]

there are always risks with collecting from the wild, especially if it contains amphibians or fish, on your own head be it.

 

[Darkkrystyl]

There are a few issues I can see from this;
one is that though you rinse off the specimens from the pond, if the pond is contaminated with anything toxic, the food that you are collecting probably have ingested or absorbed some of the pollution. Your assumption that because other amphibians breed there that it is unpolluted is a poor 'constant' as if frogs have been there for a while, they may have built up an immunity to possible toxins - on the other hand, Amphibians are a good indicator of the environment, as they are very sensitive because of their skin.
Before I contradict myself further (I doubt this post helped).
I would just say watch the larvae closely - maybe seperate the larvae into 2 groups and only feed one group the pond specimens.
Anyway - good luck & I wouldn't worry about the one Larvae that died... it happens.
GL