Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

I'm curious if anyone has any experience with newts? Do you think they would work in a aquaponics setup and coexist with the fish? I think I remember reading that some pond keepers use newts to help eat algea although maybe that was salamanders....
I came across them for sale here which got me wondering, because they seem like cool little creatures
http://www.carolina.com/product/living+ ... y=ourPicks

Delilah, I'm not sure you'd get enough nutrient out put from them to really grow much.

Are you talking about adult newts, or the larvae ? Many adults are capable of producing tetradotoxin when they're frightened/disturbed - I'm not sure I'd want that in a system I'm growing veges from.

If you're talking about the larvae, they have pretty slow metabolisms, hence low waste/nutrient output.

And, after all that, you can't eat 'em

I got turned into a newt once by a witch

I got better

I think axylotyls are the permanent 'larvae' form, and non toxic. They are probably fine but require meat/fresh food.

I thought they the things that live in blokes jocks and make them scratch

Anyone know anything about newts?

She was on the second alien movie with Ripley

Delilah, go ahead and order your newts. Carolina Biological Supply is one of the largest suppliers of live specimens for schools. I don't believe they will ship you poisonous newts. Just ask when ordering to be sure.

As far as putting them with fish. I would advise against it. They are often used for bait. Most predatory fish will eat them, such as, catfish, bass, bluegill and trout. They may make a neat addition to a sump tank. Or possibly a depression in a growbeds that is flood and drained (they are amphibian) with some kind of rocks or wood for cover). Be careful they will climp out. Cool idea.

Don't take any notice of their silly jokes Delilah, they can all get newted.