Afternoon all. Just some minor questions really.
I know Newts are protected in the UK. I've got 2 ponds with stream (water cycled to top pond where fish are) and in the lower pond i've left it as a "swamp" pond, purley for the newts. We noticed them when we moved in a couple of years ago, and each year we seem to have about 10-20 newts come and go.
This years batch are still growing. Some look like large tadpoles still, others are full size newts. Thing is i had to pull out some moss n such as it was clogging the pump in the pond, of which i think i've removed some eggs??? I can't find much online, they are small yellow eggs embedded in the weeds. I've left a load in there, mainly for feeding, playing etc. Are they newt eggs? Probably about 2mm in size.
I don't want to change the pond at all, but is there anything I can do to help the little things? The pond is covered in wire fencing also, so its perfectly safe, but i do need to clean it up every so often, so is there anything I can do to not ruin their home (I HAVE to clear the pond to stop clogging up a £200 pump!)?
Also, in our top pond in the last few days i've spotted a yellow looking newt. Its not like all the other normal ones, anyone know what this one could be? Brave little sod, was swimming around a frogs rear legs the other day, seemed like he was just playing.
Anyone answer any questions?
Ta..
I know Newts are protected in the UK. I've got 2 ponds with stream (water cycled to top pond where fish are) and in the lower pond i've left it as a "swamp" pond, purley for the newts. We noticed them when we moved in a couple of years ago, and each year we seem to have about 10-20 newts come and go.
This years batch are still growing. Some look like large tadpoles still, others are full size newts. Thing is i had to pull out some moss n such as it was clogging the pump in the pond, of which i think i've removed some eggs??? I can't find much online, they are small yellow eggs embedded in the weeds. I've left a load in there, mainly for feeding, playing etc. Are they newt eggs? Probably about 2mm in size.
I don't want to change the pond at all, but is there anything I can do to help the little things? The pond is covered in wire fencing also, so its perfectly safe, but i do need to clean it up every so often, so is there anything I can do to not ruin their home (I HAVE to clear the pond to stop clogging up a £200 pump!)?
Also, in our top pond in the last few days i've spotted a yellow looking newt. Its not like all the other normal ones, anyone know what this one could be? Brave little sod, was swimming around a frogs rear legs the other day, seemed like he was just playing.
Anyone answer any questions?
Ta..