Frogs In Your Pool? Here’s How To Keep Them Out
There’s nothing worse than heading out for a dip in the pool, only to stumble across a settlement of unwelcome amphibians. But as far as frogs are concerned your pool isn’t a pool at all. Instead, it’s an invitation to make themselves at home, which makes it more than likely for you to find frogs in your swimming pool.
The problem is that the average family pool doesn’t have the same gradual slope as ponds and other bodies of water. This means that frogs can find their way in, but will often struggle to find their way out again, and you end up with a collection of frog funerals to attend.
We advise our Australian pool cleaner customers and all new pool owners to familiarise themselves with safe ways to prevent frogs and other water-borne creatures from making a home in their water.
Why Are Frogs Attracted To Swimming Pools?
This frog thinks he just scored the jackpot.
Firstly, frogs can’t tell the difference between chlorinated and clean water. With that being said, there are various reasons as to why you might find frogs in your swimming pool. Among the most common reasons is that they will enter your pool when on the hunt for food.
There’s a catalogue of insects already drawn to water, and often-featured pool lights only serve to increase the number of bugs getting trapped in your water. It’s this bounty of food that tempts frogs to take a plunge.
4 Ways To Keep Frogs Out Of Your Pool
A polite notice and the appropriate signage might not be an effective strategy in keeping the frogs away. But that doesn’t mean all hope is lost, as there are several methods to deter frogs from entering your aquatic property.
1. Install a Fence
Though it may seem a simple solution, installing a pool fence could be the answer to your amphibian problem. Not only will a fence stop you from finding frogs in your swimming pool, but it is also an extra layer of protection for small children.
Choosing the right type of fence is vital and cannot be overlooked. Simple iron link fencing won’t do the trick only serving to slow the frogs down. Instead, you should consider a solid wood or vinyl fence, as they provide a robust barrier between unwanted guests and your pool.
2. Use a Cover
When your pool is out of use, it may be wise to consider covering it. Not only will this keep out insects and frogs but will also prevent foliage and dirt from ‘contaminating’ your pool water.
Standard pool covers are usually easy to install, but it’s crucial that you secure them properly to avoid children and pets from falling through.
For extra security and peace of mind, it may be worth purchasing a pool safety cover, to prevent anything from crawling through the gaps.
3. Turn Off Your Lights
Despite the aesthetic appeal of your pool lights, they are acting as nothing more than a beacon for frogs and insects.
By shutting them down when you’re not using them, you can drastically reduce the chances of unwanted visitors getting trapped in your swimming pool.
4. Keep the Water Heated
If you keep your water heated, there’s a chance that frogs could avoid your pool altogether, all thanks to their biology.
Frog skin is permeable, meaning they absorb oxygen through it. As a result, frogs seek out oxygen-rich cold water and avoid warm pools.
Depending on your location, your pool may be sufficiently heated by the climate. However, if the hot air isn’t enough to heat your water, then there are a few other options available.
Different Ways To Heat Your Pool To Keep Frogs Out
- Pool Heaters – Though they provide no additional barrier and can be an expensive investment, pool heaters are the most effective way to warm up your pool water.
- Solar Pool Covers– Solar pool covers are an inexpensive way to transfer the heat of the sun directly into your pool water. Though they may not be as good a solution as pool heaters, they are a cost-effective way to increase your pool’s temperature.
- Solar Rings – Much like solar pool covers, solar rings are a great way to transfer environmental heat into your pool water. They don’t create a solid barrier for your pool and are instead scattered in your water to spread the heat.
Is it too good to be true?
Now You Know How To Keep Frogs Out Of Your Swimming Pool
Now that you know how to warn frogs that your pool has no vacancies, it’s time to take action. It’s important to remember that there is more than one good solution. As such, incorporate a few of the strategies outlined above to maximize your chances of never finding a frog in your pool again.
Pool water isn’t good for frogs. Their skin is permeable and the chemicals in your pool will harm them. So if you are a lover of frogs, and even if you’re not, why not set up a small pond or some lush greenery for them in another area of your garden for them to ‘hop’ free in and out of? Doing this, you may never have to ask yourself what do frog eggs look like in a pool? And you’ll avoid having to look for solutions for frogs in your swimming pool. The barrier works great, so give it a try and see how it works for you!
As for cleaning the bottom parts of the pool that hopefully won’t have any dead frogs (but likely to have their “layings”) – the RX-Tank robotic pool cleaner or any of our other professional Kreepy Krauly pool cleaners, such as the VTX series or the Sprinta Plus, are all more than able to take care of any frog remnants at the bottom of your pool.
Next Up: Another very unlikely cause of swimming pool problems is, believe it or not… water. Have you ever dealt with an overflowing skimmer box or other issues caused by rainstorms? Learn how to maintain a perfect swimming pool water level through the rainy season.
