HOW TO - Identify British Newts by Pondguru

[@pondguru]

I'm glad you use the word 'experts' in the same way as me. As far as the 'experts' who lead these groups, I just keep thinking of the saying "In the land of the blind, the one eyed man is king'. A local group of 'environmental experts' recently gave me a plant list for a great crested newt pond building scheme of 20+ ponds and didn't even have water forget-me-not for them to lay on - their favorite plant. Luckily I supplied the plants and put loads in for them - they laid within a week. D'oh!

[@turockandar]

I used to breed newts and repopulate nature reserves (as well as save the populations from ex gravel pits; turned into ponds that were being filled in). The alpine newts are very special with their blue coloured undersides and speckled sides. I have been surprised to find them in areas of France recently at quite low altitudes 600 meters. I would love to have a pond like yours and the magic of newt observation has never warn off with me every time I see one I am filled with a sense of wonder.

[@pondguru]

No worries. Thanks for watching.

[@pondguru]

The pond does get heavily predated by the great crested and I'm suprised that the other native species still thrive there. I saw some beautiful Alpine newts in Austria way up in the mountains but I haven't seen the other two species yet.

[@LJsReef]

The most beautiful newts in my opinion is the Iranian newt. Super bright colors.

[@pondguru]

I'm in the process of doing a pond which has all 3 species of newts in so there will be s feature on them in that upcoming video. Female smooth newts can be very light brown as can young smooth newts. Thanks for watching and appreiating the video.

[@pondguru]

The pond I'm doing has Norfolk reed going under the liner so we are killing that off with weed killer prior to lifting the underlay then spraying it again so the end of this job is a few weeks away unfortunately but I will record the process, no worries.

[@pondguru]

Groovy. We're doing a pond at present which has a nation of newts in so that will be a big feature of the next pond video, no doubt.

[@pondguru]

Most of the ones in the video were at a customers pond, around my polytunnel and in my garden. I think habitat loss is the greatest killer as during the 1980's, the Common Agricultural Policy (from the European Union) was to drain swamps, remove dry stone walls and generally destroy suitable habitat in favour of large fields with fence dividers. We have gone the other way now but maybe it is too late for many populations. There are fungal problems with frogs globally, yes.

[@turockandar]

Great video thanks for posting! I have never seen such a newt-rich pond and the density of newts does not seem sustainable in terms of their respective territorial needs. In Switzerland we have the crested, Heveticus and alpine newts from aprox 800 meters upwards.

[@pondguru]

Myosotis is suited to great crested newts and the smooth (common) and palmate newts will definitley use elodea no worries.

[@pondguru]

Most parts of the UK will have newts but some species favour certain habitats and areas. If you search Newt Distribution Map on the internet you should find some good information on distribution of the three native species.

[@pondguru]

Most have a base colour which is a neutral tone but some species have some really nice colour highlights.

[@rosmarinusofficialis]

The best time to clean out - or dredge a large pond - is mid-October when most of the newts have left for hibernation.

[@FilMandolin]

Today I slowly and carefully removed 50% of surface green stuff. After things settled down I spotted now what I know to be (ta for your vid!) a female and male Smooth. But hey there is one big fella of a frog in there and I guess it's newborn. Pond isn't the clearest of ponds, twas here when I moved in last Octember and I appreciate wildlife and all that grows, is all good :)

[@pondguru]

Just checked it out on your channel. Great crested newt - female. Excellent.

[@MissPennyhapenny]

Brilliant video,thank you! Very clear and informative without the unecessary "padding" so many videos have! New subscribers here!🥰👌

[@pondguru]

I'm glad you found the video useful - thanks for watching. I forgot I even made this video since it was uploaded in my early days when I still had some hair.

[@MissPennyhapenny]

​@pondguru I noticed how long ago the video was after I commented ,so didn't expect a reply!☺️ I always think men look fine without hair. It's when they try to disguise the loss it can go badly wrong! Such as practically combing 12 strands up from their armpits and winding it three times around the top!🙈 All the best.

[@pondguru]

@@MissPennyhapenny To be fair I could comb my back hair over my head and pretend to have a vibrant head of hair but when I get found out people may accuse me of being a werewolf, lol

[@MissPennyhapenny]

🤭😂🤣 Brilliant! I was bitten by a werewolf, but I'm alright Naoooow!!😂

[@pondguru]

To clean out the pons sometimes you have to remove everything so provided they are loused in a temporary pond / water storage container then returned as soon as the work is done they will be fine, no worries.

[@pondguru]

Tadpoles from a toad are similar but are much smaller and darker in appearance.

[@wildsuburbiauk152]

Very useful film and enjoyable Newt footage. I am lucky enough to have Smooth Newts in my pond.

[@pondguru]

I'm glad you enjoyed the video and it is great to hear you have newts in your pond.

[@luannalovell]

we have a tub buried in garden about 200 litres and the newts have been breeding for 5 yrs :) feel so blessed

[@pondguru]

Best to return it to a nearby pond, yes.

[@pondguru]

Good to hear.

[@pondguru]

Salamanders and axolotl can - not too sure about newts though.

[@pondguru]

No. There is an Alpine Newt which is basically a european version of a great crested newt. It would be great if thats what it was. I would love to have them fellas in my ponds.

[@pondguru]

In a pond they will eat daphnia, midge larvae and other small invertebrates. Outside the pond they will eat small invertebrates, insects etc.

[@pondguru]

The one problem with them is that the more you find, the longer it takes to clean out and maintain the pond, as they've all got to be saved and returned.

[@pondguru]

If you do get a vid, send it to me - it'll be interesting to see what it is.

[@FilMandolin]

Thanks for replying. The light brownish ones are slightly smaller than the green ones so maybe they could be offspring, will have to train them to swim side-by-side to get a comparency! I'm looking forward to seeing your upcoming vid :)

[@pondguru]

Hot dogs and popcorn. In a pond they will eat daphnia, midge larvae and other small invertebrates. Outside the pond they will eat small invertebrates, insects etc.

[@pondguru]

I'd personally not put them in the pond as they generally hibernate away from ponds in compost heaps, under logs etc. Would be worth making some sort of makeshift hibernaculum in the polytunnel out of old potato sacks, logs, weed membrane, leaves etc. for them to hibernate in. Its not ideal to move them but if they are in the way of essential work moving them locally to a good hibernaculum should be fine.

[@cliveatvagg]

Thanks for posting, very informative and helpful.

[@bardofely]

The head of Cardiff Naturalists asked me to catch some specimens to show him. He and his wife came to my parents house and were amazed when I showed them 2 newts in a bucket. They said could I show them how I found these newts and we went up the park. I waded out and in minutes had caught one and then another with my bare hands by parting the vegetation and grabbing them. They couldn't argue with that. When they 'improved' the pond they ripped out the plants and made big spaces of clear water.

[@pondguru]

I'm hopeless with computers and a butcher when editing so I can't be of much help unfortunately...

[@EdmondX79]

Very interesting, I've just wounded one female Smoth with the lawnmower, but is just a cut in a leg, now the leg looks very bad but I hope it will recover, I've read that they can regenerate whole parts of theyr body, do you think she will be ok?

[@FilMandolin]

Excellent and most informative vid there sparra. Have found newts in my pond and am wondering if the very light brownish ones are this years young ones? Thanks to your vid I now know a little regarding newts :) Cool lil critters aren't they!

[@Naturallyskeptic]

Great vid. What’s happened to them all? As kid newts were everywhere, nowadays you have to actively track them down. Is it just habitat lose, predation or what? Also I hear there’s a fungus attacking amphibians all over the world is that true? Thanks.

[@LJsReef]

I live in New York and I just caught some bewts the other day. I love these guys! I've caught newts since I was a kid. Id love to keep some British Newts. I wonder if I could find them for sale. 🤔 Those smooth newts look similar to our Eastern Spotted Newts when full grown. The ones i have now are called Red Efts. Its a land stage. They live on land like a salamander for a year or 2 then their color changes and their tails get broader to swim with and they take to water. I wonder do any British newts have this Eft stage?

[@henty101]

I started to clear and tidy my Polytunnel today (which is 10m or so from my pond), I started to lift up some of the Black Weed Suppressing membrane and have come across a few Newts (so Far) which after watching your video would appear to be great crested newts...I have a large natural pond which we built 15+ years ago and had noticed newts last year...would moving these guys be damaging to them at all ? is it best to place them into the pond ?

[@FilMandolin]

So to date there's a few males and females Smooth, sharing with frogs. Yes I "could" net the newts to inspect them close up but there's not a chance I'd interfere and traumatise them. So, that's why your vid helps big time sparra and good on ya!

[@wildlifeboy753]

if your all looking for where to find newts in uk dartmoor has a pond full of them (and tadpoles) and usful video

[@pondguru]

It is a customers pond.

[@DavidJHarrisonEssex]

Hi, Good video. I didn't think different tyoes5of Newts would live together, nice to see they are. At what time of the evening were you viewing the Newts? I know a few ponds where they live & would love to watch them.

[@ibwaheemi]

@ga222a there must be another pond within half a kilometre if you got a newt out the blue

[@Shayde268]

According to this video and my pond, I have very confused newts. I have one female smooth and two males that look like smooth, but have no crest!

[@UkAmphibians]

Great video do you still keep your newts ?

[@turtlegod98]

Where exactly in the uk can newts be found? anywhere or certain parts of the uk?

[@JonBrollin]

cool vid! pretty cool lookin little guys arent they! *****

[@pondguru]

probably a very young smooth newt.

[@tony1234872]

love how this guy does shootin' too :) ace....I made a 1mx1m pond and I have a few smooth newts

[@brummyfishing]

what do they eat ??????

[@kylestark1655]

Was it ur pond that the newts were fond

[@ChrisAndCats]

I rescued a really pretty newt out of a swimming pool today, I spotted it just before the chemicals were about to be dosed but I cant decide what type it is. Its nearest to the great crested female shown here - it's black (or possibly very dark browny green) with no ridges on its back, dainty hardly-webbed toes with orangy tips and a pointy, not flat, tail, with a spotty orange and black tummy. It was a good 4 - 5 inches long. Can anyone help me to decide please?

[@arandommewontheinternet7986]

Definitely great crested, but you need a liscense for handling them.

[@Noodles37UK]

Why are British aquatics always brown or grey?

[@shapumawildcat]

hello I live in Plymouth, I have had newts in my fish pond (ive no fish just newts) for around 5 years now, one type are a greeny/grey in colour with a reddish stripe down there backs ( I also have a almost white one) , I cannot find out what type of newt they are, they look nothing like the ones you have shown nor like anything ive googled, any help would be appreciated

[@pondguru]

The almost white one could be a female smooth newt but look for Alpine Newts. Feel free to send me pictures to [e-mail]

[@outpostflags]

Pondguru a red stripe could be a transplanted notophalmus perstritus

[@pondguru]

outpostflags Could be looking at the Google image search. I'm not sure I ever had a reply from my reply above so I don't know what those newts were. Thanks for watching and appreciating the videos.

[@vishalpanesar23]

i thought newts were poisonous so you shouldn't hold them and wouldnt our skin interaction with theirs hurt them because of the oils? please answer

[@pondguru]

vishalpanesar23 Not as far as I know but I think the great crested variety don't taste nice to predators.

[@jean-lucchessher7065]

+Pondguru Outdoors if you can avoid it you shouldn't really hold them like frogs and I didn't realise they were protected as a kid we used to collect them in a pond rund the medowel with skhool

[@bardofely]

Many years ago I regretted seeing what a team led by 'experts' did to a pond in Cardiff after I naively alerted Cardiff Naturalists to the fact that Great Crested Newts lived there. At first they didn't believe me because 'pond dips' had not found any and until I showed them. Later they ruined the pond by ripping out vast amounts of vegetation in it. It has never been the same.

[@dotas698]

what is that in 7:00 large newt or what? ;D

[@pondguru]

Yes large female Great Crested Newt.

[@louisejade724]

Are there any breeds of newt you can keep as a pet in the uk?

[@pondguru]

Not legally, no as they are all protected. The nearest would be fire-belly newts which are commonly available in aquatic shops.

[@louisejade724]

Ah cool how big does a fire belly grow?

[@pondguru]

They only get around 4" but are quite nicely coloured.

[@ddshootingnfishing2638]

How did you get those great crested newts how!!!

[@pondguru]

They were in a pond which I had to pull out and renew - we kept them in a huge container along with all the plants then put them back when the new pond was built.

[@pondguru]

The temporary disturbance of newts + other amphibians does not require a license, man. When I clean out a pond I house all creatures (and pond water) in a sectional pond along with plants etc. Once the cleaning is done, all life is returned with original water. No species is any more important than another to me - they all go back safe. When I see volunteer groups, led by 'experts' going at it like demented morons, my heart sinks. I am a specialist, not an 'expert'. Big difference.

[@saturns1220]

I found two female palmate but they won't eat I don't know what to do , help!

[@pondguru]

Best to put them in the nearest suitable pond as they're not one to keep indoors.

[@christinepollock4264]

Do you ever find lizards near your pond?

[@pondguru]

Christine Pollock No it is not a suitable environment for them around my place but I do see them on the moor edges about 10 minutes drive away.

[@newtlife1591]

Cool

[@Dk-li9tn]

The female palmate newt you showed was a smooth newt female...opposite goes for the female smooth newt you showed...u swapped em...but very good video

[@pondguru]

Unfortunately I don't know anyone who knows enough about newts to weigh in on this as I'm convinced I got it right. Where is David Bellamy when you need him?

[@Dk-li9tn]

You can see it on the throat...palmate newts dont have dots on their throat...smooth newts have

[@pondguru]

Awesome spot - I have learned something new about a subject I thought I was well up on so thanks for that. I'm sure there will be variations among individuals but the spotted throat is an ID that I did not know. Its great to learn new stuff so thanks for the comment.

[@Dk-li9tn]

No problem m8. Nice to hear that i could help you out. I was out in germany and i looked at them so often...some people say i am crazy but its relatively easy to differenciate them...even the eyes are different...the belly colour and the Body shape. I keep newts for 7 years now and the species i first found in the Nature was a smooth newt...i was so excited that i bought lots of newts...now i got about 9 species!

[@pondguru]

I'm presuming that you also have Alpine newts - they are very nice and we saw plenty of them in Austria a few years ago. One pond up a mountain was crawling with them. Just as well I never tried to breed smooth newts or palmates in captivity as that would have been a total failure, lol

[@aakashodedra9295]

illegal to hold great crested newts

[@Dressagevids]

Unless you are a licensed newt fiddler or it will die if you don't handle it, ie newt on road

[@pondguru]

Jesus wept. I suggest you check what the law is.