Where do I get newts from ?

[rt]

Hi everyone

I live in Leeds, UK. I've just moved house and left a mature pond which for the last 22 years - i.e. the time I was at the house - had newts in it every year.

My new house has a mature pond in the garden, about 4 to 5 square metres. There are about half a dozen goldfish which the previous owner left, and he assures me that the frogs arrive at the appropriate time ! There is vegetation in the pond - lilies and oxygenating plants, mainly.

My question is this : I really loved the newts who used to wander around the plants and foliage in my last pond, and I would like to introduce some to my new one.

Am I allowed to buy newts in the shops ? If so what type should I get ? And will they maybe just wander off, never to be seen again, if I put them in the pond in my garden ?

If I can't get newts from the pet shop, where can I obtain them ?

All constructive advice would be very much appreciated.

Rupert

 

[ira]

maybe try getting rid of the fish, most newts only inhabit fishless ponds.

 

[morg]

As Ira says, get rid of the fish, you may have newts populate the pond naturally.
You can buy eggs of native newts[captive bred] that you can raise to release in your garden pond.
It takes a few years to get things going, but you also have the raising of the newts from eggs to enjoy.

 

[shaun]

Well, you definitely shouldn't get newts from a petshop, unless they happen to be selling native species. Just try mimicing the conditions of your old pond, and hope to have local newts by breeding season next year.

 

[rt]

Thanks for your replies. The old pond had many fish in it, but the newts seemed to come back every year - I must be ignorant in not knowing that a fishless pond is best !

 

[jeff]

My guppies really pissed off my newts, my huge tiracha the most! I only have one in there to help remove the food that gets missed or is too small. He seems quite happy and the newts rarly even notice him. Also the fish are so much worse for the water, unless you have some sort of filtration setup/plants/something to move the water through some type of medium. I have pictures of a pond that was recently setup last summer at a freinds house, who went though great lengths to make a suitible pond, which had a pump to make he water be not only filtered but came out later to come into the pond as a small creek. I feel this would be the ideal setup for your situation, and I can send you pictures if you want me too, but get rid of the fish, the newts just don't like them at all.