Egg ID?

[fairy frogmother]

I think this is a smooth newt egg but I am not sure. Can anyone confirm or deny this?

[Malcolm Banks]

Lovely photos FF, and although I am not an expert on newt eggs, they appear to match the descriptions, particuarly the one nicely curled up in the leaf. Again as a newt egg novice, is the off-white (rather than black) appearance typical, or may it indicate unfertilied eggs?
M

[fairy frogmother]

Thanks, Malcolm, I was rather pleased with how the photo turned out as I am no expert

As for the eggs, although I had young last year this is the first time I have actually seen any eggs. I have had quite a few newts in the pond this year although it was difficult to see exactly how many because it is still fairly new and as yet the water is still rather green and soupy. The frogs, tadpoles and newts don't seem to mind though. There were at least 3 pairs in there and it was interesting watching the swirling and tail waving going on.

I think that the egg not curled up in the leaf is fertilised because if you zoom in I think there has been some cell division - well I am hoping anyway. I love the newt poles, I sat for ages last year with a torch watching them hunt in the weeds.

I will hope that there is a newt expert on here who can tell us some more

[marvin]

hi

congratulations...you do indeed have a newt egg.

Froglife - advice

cheers
tim

[fairy frogmother]

Thanks for the confirmation Tim/Marvin

Great link by the way

[angwilliams1852]

Fab photo, I shall be out there tomorrow hunting my pond weeds to see if I have any.

Is it a good year for news? I had two couples ... well 4 newts anyway, and thought I spotted quite a few young ... this year I seem to have loads of courting couples?

[tugnut]

hi, if your water is nice and green, add some daphnia , they eat the alge and the newts will feed happily on them

Originally Posted by fairy frogmother

Thanks, Malcolm, I was rather pleased with how the photo turned out as I am no expert

As for the eggs, although I had young last year this is the first time I have actually seen any eggs. I have had quite a few newts in the pond this year although it was difficult to see exactly how many because it is still fairly new and as yet the water is still rather green and soupy. The frogs, tadpoles and newts don't seem to mind though. There were at least 3 pairs in there and it was interesting watching the swirling and tail waving going on.

I think that the egg not curled up in the leaf is fertilised because if you zoom in I think there has been some cell division - well I am hoping anyway. I love the newt poles, I sat for ages last year with a torch watching them hunt in the weeds.

I will hope that there is a newt expert on here who can tell us some more

[fairy frogmother]

Originally Posted by tugnut

hi, if your water is nice and green, add some daphnia , they eat the alge and the newts will feed happily on them

Oh thanks for the advice. Where would I get some daphnia?

[dampflippers]

You can buy bags of daphnia from aquarium type shops, priced between 35p and £1. Phone up first to check. If you buy several, keep them in a cool place if not using immediately.

Buy 2 extra bags.
Empty one into the water butt. They will thrive, and when you use the water to top up the pond it will have newt food in. It also keeps the water clearer. If you use the water to water plants, seive it through a tea strainer or mini mnet on the way to the watering can, and feed to newts.
Put the other bag in a bucket of water in the garden. The daphnia will breed and you can swish a net around for an instant pond feed. To feed the daphnia, allow the water to go green, or you can add a single fish food pellet or a few dead leaves.

The newt is a smooth newt or a palmate newt, but definitely not a great crested newt. They are bigger and often yellowins or grreneish rather than greyish.

[brenbee]

If I put Daphnia in my wildlife pond, will it feed my newts?