newts

[stevedade]

I have an established wildlife pond with loads of frogs assortment of fish, snails etc.could anyone tell me where i could get hold of some newts to add to my pond. steve
steve.dade7@ntlworld.com

[Wild-Woman]

Newts like frogs usually find their own way to a pond, even if it takes a bit of time. Don't know whether it's strictly legal to remove newts etc from elsewhere to inhabit another pond. Others will know I've no doubt.
It's amazing how one day they'll turn up. Just make it as attractive as possible to newts and keep your fingers crossed!

[stevedade]

thanks i will have to be a bit patient as you say

[Dogghound]

As far as im aware its illegal to sell smooth and palmate newts but not move them, Great crested newts Dont even touch them

[aeshna5]

Originally Posted by Dogghound

As far as im aware its illegal to sell smooth and palmate newts but not move them, Great crested newts Dont even touch them

Yes, that's my understanding too. It's illegal to sell any native herptile. My newts (+frogs) arrived on their own in a suburban garden- have patience + if the habitat is right I'm sure they'll appear.

[stevedade]

It looks like i am going to have to be patient thanks everyone for there input i did not know it is illegal to move or buy newts. however i did know that they are a protected spieces just goes to prove how nieave i am cheers everyone steve

[Cazzie]

If you've heard they're in your area then I'm sure they'll turn up to your lovely pond sooner or later

[Kayleigh]

Our pond gets morning shade and afternoon sun. When all the pond books said build it in full sun.
We got around 10 common newts straight away and a few weeks after the pond was built they bred.. My two neighbours across the road have ponds and they don't get any newts. We accidentally provided the conditions they prefer, after we built it I read somewhere newts like shaded ponds. There are lots of shallow sheltered bits where the young can hide. We also get toads breeding in there but no frogs.

[rocknanny]

can anyone help me, my husband recently drained a pond and was given all the fish from it, which we put in our pond in the garden, in with the fish were a few newts, the old pond was at ground level, but ours is a raised one, the newts are in the pond will they be ok or should we transfer to a pond at ground level, we do have plants and areas which they can get out of the water but not the pond
any advice would be helpful
cheers

[dampflippers]

Stevedade: Hopefully they will find their own way to the pond. I believe it isn't unknown for them to travel up to a kilometre. But the spread of newts is much faster and easier if there is a network of garden ponds every few gardens.

I have heard of people buying oxygenators which newts have laid eggs on in the nursery. When I had just built my first pond (and was also desparate for newts) I spotted a newt eft in a tank when I was fishing out bundles of oxygenators to buy. The garden centre staff were bemused, but really nice and lent me a little net to rescue it (and no they didn't sell it to me).

Originally Posted by rocknanny

can anyone help me, my husband recently drained a pond and was given all the fish from it, which we put in our pond in the garden, in with the fish were a few newts, the old pond was at ground level, but ours is a raised one, the newts are in the pond will they be ok or should we transfer to a pond at ground level, we do have plants and areas which they can get out of the water but not the pond
any advice would be helpful
cheers

Rocknanny, you defintely need to put in some sort of ramp into and out of the pond. Logs, and or piles of stones and rocks will work. You will also need to make sure you have places for the newts to hibernate in the winter, and to live when not in the pond- log piles, rock piles, compost heap, drystone wall, rockery etc.
Do you mind me asking a few more questions?

Firstly, do you know why the pond was being drained? So many ponds are lost due to worries of danger for young children or building works.

2. Are there other ponds near the old pond? The reason I ask is because only breeding adults will actually be in the pond at any one time. Far more of the population will be living terrestrally ie on land. They will be spending the days under logs, rocks, planks of wood etc and only come out at night to hunt. It would be a great shame if these are left without a pond to return to to breed.

3. Do you know what sort of newts they are? Froglife - Amphibians