Has anyone got a resident population of any of the native Triturus species?

Kingfisher

Our pond has had newts in the past, although I have to admit I haven't seen any recently. I'm not sure if they were the native Triurus species. It's difficult to tell from pictures as I only ever glimpsed them underwater.

They are pretty rare today from what I've heard in the UK so we were very lucky to have some in our pond. There may well still be a colony there so I'll keep a lookout for them.

Would they not be hibernating now? Perhaps that's why you have not seen them lately. It would be interesting to see at least the most common newt (the Great Crested Newt).

Kingfisher

I thought that they were protected in this country as they were endangered. If I am not mistaken development permission has been refused or amended because of colonies being in residence.
There is a farmers ditch behind my mothers house to this day which has smooth newts in it ,not very far from where I live. I used to catch them when I was little. I have to say the ditch is not as clean as it should be but suffers very little pollution now but they seem to be fine.

My old pong had newts, I have to say I'm not sure which type. Each year there were at least two or three in a smallish pond. Of course, they were completely outnumbered by the frogs but they didn't seem to mind.

Not only would they not mind, the newts would think it wonderful. Newts prey heavily on tadpoles, and other small aquatic life. In fact, newts lay their eggs about the same time that frogs lay eggs, for good reason.

Kingfisher

Plenty of common newts in my local pond. With regard great crested, they are more numerous than it is believed. There is a local area here that has plenty, in fact a professional ecologist that I was talking to recently reckons that it is more difficult to find areas the DON'T have them than places that do!

Where are those photos, wild canon? I am envious of those with newts. There are hordes of the rough-skinned newt just 40 miles down the road from me (that's a short distance in the US), but not one in conditions which would appear to be ideal just one mile away.

Kingfisher

Okay, so here are some pics, taken on a dull day 2 weeks ago and in very murky water. It's just a small pond which dries up quite quickly. I'll go and have a look tomorrow (Tuesday) to see what the situation is now. Anyhow, here is the link: http://www.rkmas.co.uk/smooth_newt.html
I've not included these pics into my web site as they're not very good.

The water is a bit murky indeed! Nevertheless, at least it's possible to see the newts with their spots.

Kingfisher

It is murky but you can still make out the the newt pretty well. Did you manage to go back there yesterday and have another look?

I've always thought netws were quite rare as I haven't seen them that often, but I must of been wrong!

Skippy went put to feed the Koi today & rushed back for the camera. He thought the little fella was dead as he was just floating on the surface of the pond but it started moving after I caught it in the net. We have never had newts in the pond before & although they are not ideal with koi, we don't mind sharing it this little fella for a bit.

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It is about 3" long nose to tail so to show you the scale

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We were unsure whether he was trying to get out of the pond or had only just got in, so after we had put him back , we made a newt ladder & he climbed up & disappeared into the garden.

This post was last modified: 22-06-2007 09:18 PM by tibbar.

Congratulations on your firs tnewt in the pond! That's interesting that he was just floating on the top of the water, maybe he was trying to find a way out. It'sa good idea to put in a little ladder like you did to help frogs and newts get in and out.

I haven't heard anyone say it is not good to have koi and newts in the same pond, why is this?

Thanks Richard, we thought that he was trying to get out also. It isn't just newts but frogs & toads also.
Last year we lost half our fish some of whom were nearly 30yrs old , when tested some of them had flukes which they can catch from wild amphibians.

That's a great shame about your fish last year, have you taken any steps to try and keep wild amphibians out of the water at all? I would imagine it would be nearly impossible to stop them getting in.