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is this a great crested newt baby?!?!

5 replies

Fucksandflowers · 10/07/2019 12:58

Gutted to say I have so far failed to get a picture but hoping if I describe my new newt someone might be able to confirm?

Obviously I will be trying my very best over the next few days to get a good photo!

The pond currently has a large population of common newts; sandy brown colour, striped, smooth texture skin.

Today, DH saw a 'new' newt swimming with one of the commons.

The new newt is slightly bigger, wider tail and belly, darker brown and has a spotty pattern and prominent spikes going down all its spine?

PLEASE tell me it's a baby crested?!?!
I'm ridiculously excited at the thought of having them...

Though I have heard they might eat my commons...
Hopefully not.

It was hard to tell whether New newt and common newt were friends or foes this morning.

The smooth kept following it and putting its little hands on its head and bumping its underside.
Fighting?

If it is a crested, how do I go about improving the habitat so they stay?
It's a seriously tiny pool!

OP posts:
MereDintofPandiculation · 10/07/2019 17:51

A great crested newt "baby" is a tadpole.

Smooth (common) newt males have crests in the breeding season, and spots.

A great crested newt looks very scruffy compared with a smooth newt - its crest is quite ragged.

These links might help:
www.froglife.org/info-advice/amphibians-and-reptiles/great-crested-newt/
www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/natureuk/NewtIDguide.jpg
www.ruralarisings.co.uk/cranleigh-blog/how-do-i-know-if-it-great-crested-newt

If you think it is a great crested, then you need a license to handle or disturb.
www.gov.uk/guidance/great-crested-newts-protection-surveys-and-licences

Fucksandflowers · 10/07/2019 18:15

I see, are we in the breeding season now?
Perhaps it is a boy smooth, I'll have to try and get a better look at it.

OP posts:
MereDintofPandiculation · 11/07/2019 16:36

Just coming to the end of the breeding season.

From wiki: "During courtship, the male newt displays for his prospective mate by vibrating his tail in front of her in a distinctive fashion. The male then deposits a sperm-containing capsule, a spermatophore, in front of his mate, who manoeuvres herself into a position where she can pick up the capsule with her cloaca – fertilisation then occurring inside the female." Could this be what you were seeing?

YetAgainNameChanged · 13/07/2019 10:20

If it is a crested, then over winter it will want to chill out somewhere dark and damp, like an old woodpile.
If you found some old, slightly decaying logs now and put them in position then by Autumn they would be a perfect habitat.

SirVixofVixHall · 17/07/2019 14:55

Looking forward to a pic !

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