Newts

Moonmoth · #1 (**permalink**) 26-02-2010, 08:25 AM

More of my newts are in pond saw 5 just now .One of them a female carrying an egg and waving her tail at the boys !

Dogghound · #2 (**permalink**) 26-02-2010, 08:32 AM

Great news. I hope you have plenty of pond vegetation (broad leaved plants) for them to lay eggs on. Its usually the males which wave their tails at the females, they do this to attract the female with pheromones. She then approaches where they drop a small packet of sperm (spermatophore) which she takes up into her body.

Are they smooth newts? Its always great to have them breeding in a garden pond.

posie · #3 (**permalink**) 26-02-2010, 08:32 AM

How exciting that must be to see that, I'm goin out to have a look, saw 3 skinny frogs last night, but no newts.....

Moonmoth · #4 (**permalink**) 26-02-2010, 09:13 AM

Hi Guys ,Yes of course I'm being daft ,It was a boy waving his tail around . And yes they are Smooth or Common newts and I have plenty of good plants for them in fact took some out yesterday as was a bit congested . Last year I had over Sixty of them so hoping for so fingers crossed will have even more this year . My pond is only 4 (in old money ) by 5 and about 3 deep but it has No fish in it . House work or watching pond aaargh the world is full of difficult decisions !

posie · #5 (**permalink**) 26-02-2010, 09:33 AM

No Moonmoth, you've got that a little bit wrong, not a difficult choice at all, the pond-watching wins it every time...after all the housework will keep but the daily changes in behavior of your newts won't keep.Gotta be seen NOW... of course you could get indoors all clean, then shut door, pitch a tent near pond then housework would disappear...Keep us up to date with proceedings 'cos I haven't seen any newts yet, but hope I've got some./Posie

brilee · #6 (**permalink**) 26-02-2010, 09:53 AM

Good stuff Moonmoth,leave them chores for a while ,sounds like great viewing.regards Bri.

posie · #7 (**permalink**) 26-02-2010, 09:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by brilee

Good stuff Moonmoth,leave them chores for a while ,sounds like great viewing.regards Bri.

Have you any Pics , moonmoth ?

Moonmoth · #8 (**permalink**) 26-02-2010, 11:07 AM

Hi All ,Sorry no Pics but can work on that

Actually have very funny story Re pitching a tent in the garden

My son was v keen a couple of summers ago when he was 9 or 10 and so I said yes dear I'll get the old tent down from the attic for you .So dont have very big garden and had to pitch it near a tree ,in the night was quite a storm and all the pears fell on us and frightened me half to death! but my little angel slept through the whole thing while I was a nervous wreck from lying awake trying to anticipate where the next rocket was going to land . The joys of parenthood

Yes I agree Newts win every time over house work ,pity I can't afford slave to do my dirty work for me, better still Why can't it magic itself done then No one would have to do it .

frog123 · #9 (**permalink**) 26-02-2010, 06:31 PM

Its Great The newts are breeding have the frogs spawned there yet

Moonmoth · #10 (**permalink**) 26-02-2010, 06:48 PM

No, I have seen only one frog so far that has been in residence for a month .Keep popping out in the night but no joy yet , now have come to decision that maybe if I dont put them in the spotlight they might appear faster so have decided not to disturb them for a couple of days .Probably will make No difference whatsoever !!!!