Saving Frogs & Skimming Water

[SpaceDog]

I'm about to place an order for 3 frog ramps for my in-ground pool. They always seem thrilled to be rescued, but I hate if I ever miss them.

I'm also thinking about a couple of skimmer add-ons and want to know if there are pros or cons to either.

Vortex Skimmer basket: I'd like to have more movement towards the skimmer, but don't want to put frog lives at risk.
Skimmer basket Socks: tiny leaves tend to get enmeshed into the skimmer basket, and I wonder if socks will help keep these cleaner.

Open to any other advice for improving the pool experience.

Thank you,
John

 

[kefjens]

I started only running my pump during the day because of the frogs. I rarely get them in the skimmer now.

Also, I keep the solar cover on most of the time which gives them a chance to jump out it seems.

 

[HeyEng]

I'm about to place an order for 3 frog ramps for my in-ground pool. They always seem thrilled to be rescued, but I hate if I ever miss them.

I'm also thinking about a couple of skimmer add-ons and want to know if there are pros or cons to either.

Vortex Skimmer basket: I'd like to have more movement towards the skimmer, but don't want to put frog lives at risk.
Skimmer basket Socks: tiny leaves tend to get enmeshed into the skimmer basket, and I wonder if socks will help keep these cleaner.

Open to any other advice for improving the pool experience.

Thank you,
John

Instead of the skimmer socks, try hairnets. They are much cheaper (about 7 cents a piece on Amazon) and work just as well.

 

[SpaceDog]

Instead of the skimmer socks, try hairnets. They are much cheaper (about 7 cents a piece on Amazon) and work just as well.

Brilliant Thank you. Are hair nets basically all the same size and all good to go?

 

[chayne]

these are the ones i bought. i got the link off of the forum here. i think alot of people use these:

Amazon.com: 100 PCS--21", Disposable Bouffant (Hair Net) Caps, Spun-Bounded Poly, Hair Head Cover Net, Non-Woven, Medical, Labs, Nurse, Tattoo, Food Service, Health, Hospital: Gateway

Buy 100 PCS--21", Disposable Bouffant (Hair Net) Caps, Spun-Bounded Poly, Hair Head Cover Net, Non-Woven, Medical, Labs, Nurse, Tattoo, Food Service, Health, Hospital on Amazon.com ✓ FREE SHIPPING on qualified orders

smile.amazon.com

 

[EdKuhn]

I will second (or third) the hairnets. I started using them over the winter and they are fantastic. Also recommend the frog ramps. We put in two of them last week, and since then nothing has shown up in our skimmer. Before the ramps we'd get 1 or 2 critters a week.

 

[HeyEng]

these are the ones i bought. i got the link off of the forum here. i think alot of people use these:

Amazon.com: 100 PCS--21", Disposable Bouffant (Hair Net) Caps, Spun-Bounded Poly, Hair Head Cover Net, Non-Woven, Medical, Labs, Nurse, Tattoo, Food Service, Health, Hospital: Gateway

Buy 100 PCS--21", Disposable Bouffant (Hair Net) Caps, Spun-Bounded Poly, Hair Head Cover Net, Non-Woven, Medical, Labs, Nurse, Tattoo, Food Service, Health, Hospital on Amazon.com ✓ FREE SHIPPING on qualified orders

smile.amazon.com

Yep, same ones I use. As far as I know, I have a pretty standard skimmer and it fits just fine.

 

[PoolFool.]

Wow, I didn't even know they made such a ramp that sits on the side of the pool.
I used this skimmer cover replacement along with a hairnet in my skimmer and no more frogs were trapped.

Amazon.com : Critter Skimmer

 

[HeyEng]

Wow, I didn't even know they made such a ramp that sits on the side of the pool.
I used this skimmer cover replacement along with a hairnet in my skimmer and no more frogs were trapped.

Amazon.com : Critter Skimmer

That looks like a pretty good solution, too. Our skimmer has a pretty high rate of suction, so not sure if they could escape the "vortex of death." I do have a couple of the Frog Logs showing up today so will see how they work before going this route. I am ready to remedy this though...two more frogs and a mouse were in there this AM.

 

[kewpie]

Do you throw away the hairnets daily or after its full of the small stuff? Thx!!

 

[kimkats]

As needed. There are times they can be left in for a long while then there are times when they need to be replaced daily.

 

[SpaceDog]

Wow, I didn't even know they made such a ramp that sits on the side of the pool.
I used this skimmer cover replacement along with a hairnet in my skimmer and no more frogs were trapped.

Amazon.com : Critter Skimmer

This is also an elegant solution. That said, our covers are integrated into the stamped concrete, so replacements would not have the same aesthetic impact.