Newts

[plocket]

Do newts lay their eggs in clusters like frogs, or in long strands? Dad says that it's toads who lay strings of eggs, but I had a feeling it was newts ;D

[madonplants]

Newt's eggs are laid singly, normally on a plant, sometimes folded in a leaf. Toad's spawn is strings, so your Dad is right, sorry.

Keith

[plocket]

No worries! Thanks Madon! ;D

[seanmckinney]

I had NEVER EVER seen newts until I put my ponds in, I think they dont exist around here but when I was plant hunting I saw fast moving fish fry in the plant tanks at two garden centres, on closer inspection these 'fry' turned out to be newt tadpoles, efts?. With permission I 'rescued' them and put them in my ponds. Last year I saw my FIRST EVER adult newts and yesterday I happened to see 1 or 2 or more in the wildlife pond and at least 3 in the lily pond



My brother is here and I dragged him down the garden last night to see them, they probably are not such a big deal to the English and he said his son, who lives near Oxford, has to rescue them from an out door swimming pool near his house but to me they are a really BIG DEAL and I am quite pleased or proud that these 'cuttings' seem to 'have taken'.
I think I will have to look for some more "fast moving fish fry" to establish a good colony.

[Sleepy]

seanmckinney said:

I had NEVER EVER seen newts until I put my ponds in, I think they dont exist around here but when I was plant hunting I saw fast moving fish fry in the plant tanks at two garden centres, on closer inspection these 'fry' turned out to be newt tadpoles, efts?. With permission I 'rescued' them and put them in my ponds. Last year I saw my FIRST EVER adult newts and yesterday I happened to see 1 or 2 or more in the wildlife pond and at least 3 in the lily pond

They are great, aren't they Sean. I seem to have dozens this year. I moved some weeds in one corner of my pond on Saturday and I reckon there were about 8 or 9 within a squarefoot of shallow. later in the summer they will move onto land and look like black lizards in your flowerbeds, seeking a dark sheltered spot - so be careful when sticking that spade in

[sweetleaf]

I would love to see them in my pond, but I doubt they would turn up here, and if they did, they might just pass me by like the frogs did.
I did get to see them in sleepys pond though, they seemed to be everywhere!

[seanmckinney]

Sweetleaf, go round the garden centres and check their plant tanks for newt tadpoles, its how I got mine, I certainly rescued newt tadpoles and I dont think the adults I am seeing are 'wild' locals.
Just spent 20 almost motionless minutes by the wildlife pond and it looks like there are actually quite a few newts in there. I had 3 in sight simutaneously and may have seen as many as 6. I saw one feeding, on a tadpole, oh well, and reckon it was a female. It had a big belly, carrying eggs perhaps? and didnt seem interested in the other two who were darker and seemed to be squaring up to one another.

[sweetleaf]

Ill do that Sean, I need to refresh my memory about what Newt tadpoles look like first though, dont want to bring home a bad guy

Im sure theres a site posted on here somewhere.......

[The witch]

Some good photo's here SL www.countrysideinfo.co.uk/pnewt.htm

[sweetleaf]

Good link The witch

Ill walk up to the aquatic centre and see what they have in the tanks.