Newt in my small garden pond

[Mercury00]

I had tadpoles in my small pond a while back, so I switched the filter off to stop them being sucked in. Every few days I'd fish some out with a net to see how they were doing, and in doing so I one day caught a really healthy-looking newt. I don't want to disturb it, but the pond is getting a bit manky now and could do with cleaning out, or at the very least switching the filter on. Is it safe to do so?

Thanks.

[Simon_GH]

Newts are lovely little creatures. At risk of being completely unhelpful, it all depends on how strong the suction is on the pump for your filter. I suspect the newt will be fine because most filters must be compatible with fish.

[tvrolet]

This is Newton from our pond. We also have Canewt and many others. No idea how they got there as we’re miles away from any natural pond.

[hidetheelephants]

Any pumps I've seen have strainer/filters that are fine enough to stop tadpoles getting minced unless they've literally just hatched, the flow rate is usually low to prevent it clogging quickly anyway.

[Mercury00]

Thanks for the advice, I did switch the filter back on after checking the pump inlet. It was completely covered with a fine grate, so no chance of him being sucked in

Edited by Mercury00 on Sunday 3rd May 15:57

[hidetheelephants]

Remembering this from last week; you're sure it's definitely a newt and not something more exotic?

[Smint]

Gussie Fink-Nottle is the chap to ask.

One of the 3 large ponds on the estate my father worked at was stocked with newts, they didn't look quite like that little chap though a somewhat lighter in colour.