keeping newts

[GCN lova]

hey all!

ive already started a thread about tadpoles but I wanted to know how dyou look after newts (common newts or palmate)? i havent got any (as i can no longer trust two in a bucket left outside for a few mins ). I know its completely legal to keep newts (except for GCNs) and was wondering what foods they eat, how often they eat and the correct habitat for them. i will use the tank i used for the tads as they are gone ( gone as in i forgot to put the tank in the shade... ) and the correct temperature. also, where is the best place to find some in Kent? if not what are the requirements for newt tads?

thanks, GCN lova

[Kayleigh]

I dont think its a good idea cant you have a pond they might not do very well and your risk loosing the rest its not really fair to them is it having them in a bucket in the sun.

[GCN lova]

Originally Posted by Kayleigh

I dont think its a good idea cant you have a pond they might not do very well and your risk loosing the rest its not really fair to them is it having them in a bucket in the sun.

actually i was cleaning the tank out but they escaped as the bucket was shallow (luckily where they were found).

[solus]

Newts are wild creatures and should be left in the wild. They are NOT there for you to "keep" as "pets" in inappropriate conditions and clearly without the correct knowledge and experience to care for them properly.

If you have a wildlife pond in your garden and if you are lucky then newts may colonise all by themselves. Otherwise, leave well alone and don't interfere with them or remove them from their natural habitat as your selfish actions will like as not be responsible for their demise. In any case, newts are amphibians and will not be happy being confined to a tank or bucket.

[GCN lova]

not the replies i wanted to hear...

[aeshna5]

Originally Posted by GCN lova

not the replies i wanted to hear...

Maybe not but it is good advice.

[GCN lova]

hmmm i wasnt actually gonna keep them but i guess i should have mentioned that in the title...

[solus]

Originally Posted by GCN lova

hmmm i wasnt actually gonna keep them ...

So why take them out of their natural habitat in the first place? That would still be distressing to the creature (of whatever species) - what is wrong with just watching them in their natural habitat without disturbing them?

Wildlife is just that - wild life. It is not a toy to be picked up, moved around and interfered with just because you have a whim to keep it (however temporarily) in a tank or bucket. By your own admission you were directly responsible for killing the tadpoles you took from the wild by neglect and sheer carelessness.

[arvensis]

Originally Posted by GCN lova

hmmm i wasnt actually gonna keep them but i guess i should have mentioned that in the title...

I'd say putting then in a tank away from their natural habitat IS keeping them. You then go on to ask about where the best place to find them in Kent, presumably to grab a few to put in a tank. If I have the wrong end of the stick then I apologise in advance.

Our native herps face enough pressure as it is without people trying to collect them for their own use. Collecting a few specimens may not sound like much but it may destabilise the population.

A better idea is to build a pond and see if you can encourage newts to your garden naturally.

[werdnal]

Newts don't actually live in water long term anyway. I found 5 outside our front door after a shower yesterday evening. They hibernate under wooden plant tubs in front of our hour, and venture out to head across the garden to our pond to breed. Despite being so small, they can travel quite a long way on land, and will definately not be happy confined to a tank. Please think twice about keeping them. If you want to observe newts and frogs, build a small pond and let them behave naturally. Keeping them in captivity will not show you their true behaviour as they are in an alien environment and will no doubt be stressed, confused and unhappy.