We have 2 smooth newts in our pond, normally they seem to be quite happy at the bottom and occasionally coming up for air. But today we witnessed some peculiar behavior on the part of one of them: at about 9:30 this morning it climbed onto the lining not quite under a rock and stayed there untill about 5:00ish this evening. The it (she i think) went to perch on a lilly pad for about 10 mins, then swam to near the edge and sank. Occasionally she wriggled a bit but then will go motionless and sink again. She is now lying under another rock but is not totally conciealed again.
Is this normal behavior?????

sorry wrong place!!!

I think its ok. The mods might move it for you.

I wish I could answer your question for you, but alas, I know nothing about newts.

hi steve...well i have newts too and they are normally long gone by now.

Have just had a poke around in my pond,found one newt thats all..nothing like the amount that were there earlier in the year. Dont know that much about them,they just arrive one day,do their newty stuff and vanish again.

It must be very boring being a newt! I see them at nights mainly, loads of them, even now & lots of baby one's too - sounds like normal newt behaviour to me! Will move this thread now into the pond section!

Wriggling and sinking does sound a bit strange and worrying, doesn't it? Still, if Skylark's newts do it to it must be normal. As I have neither newts nor even pond I have no idea though, sorry. I would be interested to know why they do it though! RJ x

Thanks every1! we saw 2 newts today and a little baby newt (it had big fluffy gills!!!!!) and havent seen the 'queer' newt. But if its the norm for newts as skylarks said i can stop worrying! Thanks evry1!!!!!!!!!!

They usually leave the pond after breeding, but of there is alot of aquatic food they may stay longer.
When they are hunting in the pond they will dangle motionless stalking prey.
If they hear or see you or a predator they will quickly disappear.
Newts are largely nocturnal, especially when they are out of the pond. Try going out with a torch and looking into the pond, and also looking around the grass and planting beds. Watch out you don't tread on any!

Adult newts like to bask around the pond, stevernismyname. Maybe yours was doing this. You have to be quick to see them, as they usually dash into rock crevases or plants when they hear you coming. As dampflippers says, night time is the best time to see them.
We had 27 in a pond we accidentally drained not knowing they were there 3 years ago. We quickly re-established their habitat and last year saw loads. This year the adults over 3" long seem to have disappeared. I've seen a few in the pond recently (it's overlooked by our shed - great for spying on them!)
but there don't seem to be as many as last year.
They don't need supplementary feeding, but I occassionally toss in a little fish food. It always goes, so the little ones will stay for this year in the water. The adults will probably be back for shelter in the autumn and to breed.