What could this be?

[kaitkaitkait]

I brought some pond plants back from a friend's very healthy but rather neglected pond last week. Because they were covered with duckweed I put them in a container of pond water to pick through later.

This morning, I found this:



There are 4 or 5 of them, either attached to duckweed or tucked in the leaf of a piece of pond weed. Could they be newt eggs? Or fish eggs, as she has goldfish in her pond.

Sorry about the quality of the photo - I'm not that good at macro!

[Ukwildlifeo]

I think they are newt eggs. The female tends to tuck them under leaves and in similar places. Plus it looks like a mostly devloped newt tadpole inside. I reckon that will hatch soon

[smartie]

That's what it looks like to me, too. I'm envious. Though we have a breeding colony of newts in the pond, I've never managed to see an egg or a tadpole - there is just too much cover for them and they stay hidden. Newt tadpoles are lovely - they shine golden in the sun and have very delicate gills.

[kaitkaitkait]

Originally Posted by Ukwildlifeo

I think they are newt eggs. The female tends to tuck them under leaves and in similar places. Plus it looks like a mostly devloped newt tadpole inside. I reckon that will hatch soon

Oh, I'm so excited! But should I leave them where they are until they hatch, or put the whole lot into the pond? I don't want duckweed in my pond but I also don't want to cause them any distress.

Originally Posted by smartie

That's what it looks like to me, too. I'm envious. Though we have a breeding colony of newts in the pond, I've never managed to see an egg or a tadpole - there is just too much cover for them and they stay hidden. Newt tadpoles are lovely - they shine golden in the sun and have very delicate gills.

I can hardly wait to see the newtpoles! I never would have seen this if I hadn't put the plants into a container... wow. I'm really glad I transported them in water too, or I might have killed the eggs!

[smartie]

[quote=kaitkaitkait;126810]Oh, I'm so excited! But should I leave them where they are until they hatch, or put the whole lot into the pond? I don't want duckweed in my pond but I also don't want to cause them any distress.

Newt tadpoles are carnivorous and will normally eat insects and invertebrates in the pond, frog tadpoles - anything that moves, basically. If nothing else offers they will eat each other So you would probably be better putting them in the pond unless the container they are in has enough other edible life in it.

[kaitkaitkait]

Originally Posted by smartie

Newt tadpoles are carnivorous and will normally eat insects and invertebrates in the pond, frog tadpoles - anything that moves, basically. If nothing else offers they will eat each other So you would probably be better putting them in the pond unless the container they are in has enough other edible life in it.

I've just had a look and there are a few little flatworms, baby pond snails, quite a few water fleas (daphnia?) and some mozzie larvae. In the ponds we have toad tadpoles. I'm not sure which is better really?

[smartie]

You could probably let them hatch where they are so you can get a good look at them, but I'd not keep them out of the pond for long. You'll be surprised how much they can eat. If you keep them where they are you may need to top it up with your pond water regularly to increase the potential food offerings.

[kaitkaitkait]

I think that's what I'll do - wait til they hatch and then put them into one of the ponds, and in the meantime top up as you suggested. Many thanks for all your help, Smartie!

[smartie]

Pleasure. Just keep practising the macro photography - we'll want to see some pictures of the hatchlings.

[kaitkaitkait]

Originally Posted by smartie

Pleasure. Just keep practising the macro photography - we'll want to see some pictures of the hatchlings.

Well, Smartie - here's one I took today!



There is a distinct "tadpoley" tail that doesn't come out too well on the photo. I can see one egg still to hatch and no sign of the others, but there's a ton of weed in there for them to hide in, and plenty of waterfleas for them to eat. I'll put the lot in the pond tomorrow, I think, but it has been such fun to observe the way they move!