Pond Boss Forums INTRO Questions & Observations Kinda Wierd problem.

I have a .7 acre pond in Virginia. Well there is ALOT of spotted newts in it. The bluegill and bass don't eat them becuase someone said on here that they don't taste good to them. Is there a Fish that DOES eat them, maybe a catfish or chain pickeral? i'd Like to stock maybe 1 of these fish to eat some of these newts to control the population. or is this not a good idea?

What's wrong with newts? I can't imagine they would bother anything. Just wondering why you would want them gone.

Some interesting facts I just read, they have a three stage life cycle, starting as aquatic larvae with gills, then go to land where they are called terrestrial efts and spend 3 to 7 years there. They go back to water as adults. They are only poisonous during their terrestrial stage. They feed on insects and invertibrates.

Nothin's wrong w/ them there's just ALOT of them? isn't too much of anything a bad thing? or Newts are ok?

I can see your point about too much, I did not intend to defend newts specifically, but you sparked my interest. I can remember catching them as a kid.
I would gladly trade ya a whole bunch for one great blue heron, shipped prepaid.
Wood

VaP
My pond was full of newts when I bought the property 15 years ago. My sons stocked it with catfish first, then bass, bg, crappie. Anyway the newts completely disappeared.
Ric
ps: I hunt in Floyd co.

I have read or heard that newts will raid fish nests to eat eggs. I would think that you would be a good cantidate to dispell this rumor. Let us know what you think.
Robert