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Quick answer
No. Newts are a natural predator of tadpoles and it's best not
to interfere - it's likely a 'boom-bust' relationship will
establish.
Further
information
Garden ponds are often home to more than one species of
amphibian; this is a healthy situation and indicates the pond is
functioning well. There is no need to remove newts or other
natural tadpole predators. Amphibians lay large numbers of eggs
because the chances of them surviving these numerous predators
are so slim. This adaptation means that they form a
vital part of foodchains.
Tadpoles can be an important food source for newts particularly
in the weeks following frog-spawning when adult newts are in the
pond laying their eggs, but we would advise that newts should
not be removed. By relocating the newts to another pond you
could be accidentally transferring invasive plants and diseases,
as well as leaving the way open for more newts to enter the
pond. If you have great crested newts in the pond then you could
also be unintentionally breaking the law by handling a protected
species without a license.
In most cases where newt predation takes place, some tadpoles
will survive to become froglets. A 'boom-bust' relationship often forms between frogs and newts - with larger numbers of
newts leading to fewer frogs, then fewer frogs leading to fewer
newts, leading to more frogs in following years (and so on).
Other tadpole predators also exist in ponds, including water
boatmen, diving beetles and dragonfly larvae - it would be
impossible to remove them all! In some situations newts can
dominate and if this happens it's just a case of learning to
love newts instead! Your pond may become a 'newt pond' but it's
likely near by there will be a 'frog pond' where the frogs are
thriving.
Adding places within the pond for tadpoles to hide could help
increase their chances of survival. Potential hiding places
include rocks, pebbles or aquatic planters.
Just Add Water.Making your garden amphibian-friendly.
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