I got newts

[Urban]

was a nice day today, I was sat out near the pond after a visit to the garden centre
and up pops a newt, and it quickly goes back to the murky depths

I'm a bit surprised as the closest water is a few miles away, and the water in my pond is really green at the moment

Ponds been in about 18mths, guess the old saying, "if you build it they will come" is true

[Nicos]

How fantastic!
We used to have one on our first allotment- we sank a bath. No other ponds for miles around!

Well done creating the pond- have you got space to make another????

[greenishfing]

I've got a newt in my little pond as well but last year all the frogspawn disappeared. Do newts eat tadpoles?

[bradlo]

That's Great news! I'm really jealous!

[Snadger]

There's frogspawn in mine and I spotted a newt last year but haven't seen any up til now this year!
Well done you for creating an environment that attracts them!

[Two_Sheds]

the closest water is a few miles away

They mostly live in leaf litter, under rocks etc, just going to the pond to spawn

Do newts eat tadpoles?

tadpoles, first day of freedom - YouTube

[GardenFaery]

That's great to see, Urban. I used to fret over my pond at first- what if the filter wasn't working properly, the fish look a bit on the surface - enough oxygen? Have I put right percentage of water conditioner in etc etc etc ;lol

Now, UV and water filter not really working properly, bit green on top - so prolly wouldn't 'look' great tto pond experts - but can't splash out and replace them but - the whole ecosystem of the pond seems oblivious to this and is thriving more than ever lol

[Peas'n'Kews]

Can't wait to have a pond again, but we have to move first!

What I'd REALLY Like in my garden is a slow worm or two, but then I don't think I've ever seen a newt in "real life" so I am very envious....

[leonmc0708]

Got a pond which is literally teaming with tadpoles right now on the allotment.

There are hundreds - and I am gonna cover with a raised net this weekend to keep the birds from eating them.

We had 18 frogs and a toad in there when we "cleaned it out" in January - but its gone back to green.

No filter or that but the frogs clearly love it and am hoping that the new little taddies do too and come back year after year if/when they mature.

When do they start being carniverous ? IS it when the second legs develop and the tail goes ?

[GardenFaery]

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No filter or that but the frogs clearly love it and am hoping that the new little taddies do too and come back year after year if/when they mature.

Yeh they they do return year after year - sure you want ALL of them? lol - one year I opened the back door and it was like Paul Mc Cartney's Frog chorus just outside back door - with what seemed like hundreds of froggy eyes staring, ribberting on the front lawn near the pond lol

[vikicats]

Now I'm getting pond envy! Wonder where in my garden I could put one?

[Two_Sheds]

When do they start being carniverous ?

yep, when the legs develop

[DGoulston]

I am currently buying a house with a 105Msq garden, wonder if the wifey will let me have a pond?.... maybe send her to stay at friends, and the pond just "pops" up over night.....

"dunno where that came from...."

[Dynamo]

I've got a newt in my little pond as well but last year all the frogspawn disappeared. Do newts eat tadpoles?

I don't know, but water snails eat frogspawn. Most of my spawn disappeared before the tadpoles had emerged so I saved some in a bucket. I'll save a whole lot more in a bucket in future years methinks.

Quote Originally Posted by leonmc0708 View Post
When do they start being carniverous ?

yep, when the legs develop

Mine become carniverous a long time before any legs develop. I like to chop up any juicy slugs and snails that I find for them and they really have a feeding frenzie, legs or no legs.

[Urban]

Yeh I love having a pond in the garden, adds an extra dimension to it, would love a bigger one but out of space now

Life is teeming in it, even though it's green, I lifted a stone out that had been in there for a day and it was covered in all sorts of bugs, the likes I've never seen before

I have added a solar air pump this year though to try and make sure it does not go stagnant. And also last summer I bought some water daphnia, and the pond seemed to clear up after adding them, I'll get some more when they are available, maybe the decendents of the ones I put last year will show up once it gets warmer though?