newt food

[GiddyGoat]

I have a couple of 1.5inch baby smooth newts in a small, make-shift pond in my garden. They were given to me by accident with some tadpoles and, though I now know they shouldn't have been moved, the donor has gone to the USA, so I can't take them back!

My tiny pond is now 3 weeks old and alive with rat-tailed maggots and midge larvae. Are my tiny newts feeding on these? I tried adding frozen blood worms at the outset, but they showed no great enthusiasm for them.

[Dogghound]

Your newts will be fine, i would avoid feeding them as it can upset the ponds balance. They will feed on small invertebrates in and around the pond. If there is not enough food they will leave.

They can get out of the pond carnt they?

[marvin]

hi

are they really only 1.5 inches long including tail? if so did the donor say he found them in or out of water. it's just that they sound like they might be juveniles in which case they would be happier living on land.

if they can get out themselves fine. if not i think you should take them out and let them go somewhere suitable. they will find their own food.

cheers
tim

[Kayleigh]

If they are young they will have gills do not put them on land at this stage as they need water.
Juvenile or efts normally leave the pond when fully developed around August/Sept time depending on the food, some stay in the pond if there is not enough food and hibernate till the following spring/summer so best give then a means of escape and leave them alone.

[marvin]

yes sorry, as they were described as baby newts i assumed they were full metamorphs but as kayleigh rightly points out if they are not then leave them to find their own way out.

cheers
tim

[GiddyGoat]

Yes, they are undeveloped as yet and are definitely uninterested in leaving the water. I have provided an easy escape route for when the time comes, but at the moment I rarely see them - they are hiding beneath bits of broken pottery I put in the bottom.

I am a little concerned about getting oxygen levels right (espcially given the hundreds of new midge-lavae occupents that must be breathing a fair bit!). Since the pond is a plastic bowl (so no earth to root plants), I introduced a clump of the kind that you use in an indoor fish tank. I am changing approx a third of the water every few days and dropping in an oxygen tablet about once a week, just in case.

Am I doing right?

[Kayleigh]

Originally Posted by GiddyGoat

Yes, they are undeveloped as yet and are definitely uninterested in leaving the water. I have provided an easy escape route for when the time comes, but at the moment I rarely see them - they are hiding beneath bits of broken pottery I put in the bottom.

I am a little concerned about getting oxygen levels right (espcially given the hundreds of new midge-lavae occupents that must be breathing a fair bit!). Since the pond is a plastic bowl (so no earth to root plants), I introduced a clump of the kind that you use in an indoor fish tank. I am changing approx a third of the water every few days and dropping in an oxygen tablet about once a week, just in case.

Am I doing right?

You should not need oxygenating tables put more oxygenating plants in that should be enough..
I have had a small barrel pond for 4 years and never need to add oxygen or change the water as the plants do this for you.
Is it possible to get something a little bigger my barrel is about 12" deep.
The trouble with a bowl is it will very quickly heat up in the sun and in winter it will freeze right through killing anything that's in there.
More plants will increase the food as more insects will be attracted.

this is my barrel pond..

[GiddyGoat]

Your pond looks so sumptuous! Mine is just a make-shift to raise this batch, while I dig a proper pond.

There is no soil, just the thin layer of accumulating gunk at the bottom, so I haven't bought any proper plants yet, just the few sprigs of goldfish-bowl style stuff as a stand-in.

I thought everything would likely be fine with that, but the water is now thick with the little midges, so I was worried they might be using all the oxygen up - it goes a weak tea colour quite quickly, hence the tablet and water-changing.

[Kayleigh]

Originally Posted by GiddyGoat

Your pond looks so sumptuous! Mine is just a make-shift to raise this batch, while I dig a proper pond.

There is no soil, just the thin layer of accumulating gunk at the bottom, so I haven't bought any proper plants yet, just the few sprigs of goldfish-bowl style stuff as a stand-in.

I thought everything would likely be fine with that, but the water is now thick with the little midges, so I was worried they might be using all the oxygen up - it goes a weak tea colour quite quickly, hence the tablet and water-changing.

Oxygenating plants dont need soil as the have roots in the water.
I think you mean Elodea crispa. This it what's in mine and the newts lay eggs in it.
I know its not native and some say its invasive but I have never found this.
Its a very good oxygenator the midges wont use up all the oxygen but do throw a few more handful's in as this will help keep the water fresh.
you could put a small aquatic plant in a pot in aquatic compost it but dont put soil in as it contains too many nutrients.
As the pond is so small you will trouble with water quality I wouldn't use oxygenating tablets as if you had enough oxygenating plants they won't be necessary.
here are some native oxygenators.
Oxygenating Plants
Just so you know what to look for..


http://www.honeysomeaquaticnursery.c...a%20Crispa.jpg

[alfif]

hi everyone
I am keepind 2 smoth newt tadpoles and don't know what to feed them
thanks to any one who helps