Welcome

Welcome to Crested Newt, my own personal blog about the keeping, rearing and upkeep of these most interesting of creatures. Here in the UK, the Great Crested Newt has sadly been in decline for some time, with many of it’s natural habitats destroyed in the name of progress and population expansion. Perhaps that’s one reason why the breeding of newts and their increasing popuarity as a ‘Pet’ has come about.  I personally have been breeding, rearing and selling Newts for many years and get as much pleasure from them today as when I first started 2 decades ago.  In this country the former Mayor of London is known to be a keen Newt afficianado so I’m not alone – newts have friends in high places.

Great Crested Newts

Great Crested Newts come in a variety of colour schemes but most common is the grey-brown back (and flanks) variety. These creatures are also covered with dark-coloured areas (or spots) so look almost black from a distance or in poor light. Their bellies are yello or a light yellow-orange colour and covered in dark patches. these patches are unique to each individual and, with practice, each creature can be quickly recognised in a group.

Females are identifiable from their Male counterparts by the absence of a ‘crest’ during their breeding season. The male Great Crested Newt sports a jagged (serrated-like) crest along his back which often joins a second, smoother crest, along the tail region.  In some Newts, however, the serrated crest can run right the way to the tail. There is a grey stripe that also runs along the tail.

Great Crested Newt Habitats

These lovely creatures inhabit areas close to an expanse of still water. While the Great Crested Newt is a land-living creature it returns to the pond to breed during the breeding season. As noted above, the natural habitats of the newt are slowly disappearing – to the extent that protection orders have been issued in the UK and large parts of Western Europe.  In the train of this expansion has come the introduction of Newt Fencing which is designed to prevent the Newts from encroaching onto development land. Elsewhere, this Newt fencing is used to create a ‘Safe Haven’ for an indigenous Newt population under threat.

Great Crested Newt

 

Recommended Reading

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