Frogs vs Newts

[Shawit]

I had to empty my pond around Easter. We removed approximately 150 Palmate Newts. The 2 ponds I have, have had a large newt population for 8 years but I was surprised that there was this many of them in 1 pond approx. 8 foot by 3 foot. Frog numbers increased year upon year until this year, when rather than counting 25 - 30 clumps of spawn we only had 8. During this Winter we lost most of our frogs and it was the same story in the local park pond.

The tadpoles from 1 clump of spawn were put back into the pond along with the newts. There are now at least 20 + froglets around the edges of the pond.

Large numbers of newts do not on their own stop frogs reproducing in my experience.

[Lymmguineas]

No sign of the yellow newt in the last couple of days, but did spot a dark brown coloured one yesterday. If I can find them again over the weekend I will try and get a photo.

[shotski]

Originally Posted by Shawit

I had to empty my pond around Easter. We removed approximately 150 Palmate Newts. The 2 ponds I have, have had a large newt population for 8 years but I was surprised that there was this many of them in 1 pond approx. 8 foot by 3 foot. Frog numbers increased year upon year until this year, when rather than counting 25 - 30 clumps of spawn we only had 8. During this Winter we lost most of our frogs and it was the same story in the local park pond.

The tadpoles from 1 clump of spawn were put back into the pond along with the newts. There are now at least 20 + froglets around the edges of the pond.

Large numbers of newts do not on their own stop frogs reproducing in my experience.

Hi, Could I ask how old your pond is ?

[bigdave60dog]

Is it a Palmate thing? I had excellent populations of Smooth and Crested Newts when I lived in Warwickshire (I lived in Crested Newt stronghold).True, it would have taken an enormous quantity of newts to eat all of my frog taddies. The ponds were at least 10metres in diameter. I had good stable populations of all three amphibians- no toads- . I have never seen a Palmate Newt in my life.
Dave

[Shawit]

We moved in 8 years ago in response to Shotski's question. The pond was at least 8 years old before I changed it over Easter by making it much shallower but wider.

[GCN lova]

Originally Posted by bigdave60dog

Is it a Palmate thing? I had excellent populations of Smooth and Crested Newts when I lived in Warwickshire (I lived in Crested Newt stronghold).True, it would have taken an enormous quantity of newts to eat all of my frog taddies. The ponds were at least 10metres in diameter. I had good stable populations of all three amphibians- no toads- . I have never seen a Palmate Newt in my life.
Dave

smooth newts are rather predatory of tadpoles but sometimes they try to catch them but only injure their tails and let them go because they're too big. the newts will eat newly hatched tadpoles alot and their spawn so i wouldnt blame palmates alone. GCNs are very predatory and can even hunt our smaller newt species! and tadpoles of all sizes wouldnt be a problem for them.

lampton park (hounslow) had a very good population of smooth newts and common frogs but this year the huge number of newts had consumed all the frogspawn but now no one wins because they cleaned the pond out and probably dumped them somewhere...

[Lymmguineas]

I think the two newts have moved on or at least found somewhere very good to hide - no sign of either of them.