Great crested newts eat small invertebrates and, in the breeding pond, tadpoles and other small amphibians. On land they eat earthworms, insects, slugs, snails, and woodlice. In water they eat water fleas, aquatic insects, and the tadpoles of frogs and toads. They hunt mostly at night.
What adult newts eat on land
Most of the year, adult newts live on land in woodland, hedgerows, scrub, and rough grassland near their pond. They shelter under logs, stones, and bark, and come out in damp weather to hunt. Their food includes:
- Earthworms and other worms.
- Insects and their larvae, such as beetles and caterpillars.
- Slugs and snails.
- Woodlice.
What they eat in the pond
In spring, adults move to ponds to breed and feed on water creatures, including small crustaceans, aquatic insects and their larvae, small snails and bivalves, and the tadpoles of frogs and toads. They also eat smaller newts, including young of their own kind.
What the larvae eat
Newt larvae live in the pond and feed on tiny water animals such as water fleas, then on larger invertebrates and tadpoles as they grow. Bigger larvae will also eat smaller ones. The larvae turn into small land-living juveniles in late summer.
How they hunt
Newts use sight and smell to find prey and snap it up. They are mainly active at night and in damp weather, hiding by day. Good pond habitats have plenty of underwater plants, no fish, and surrounding rough habitat on land.
Legal protection
Great crested newts are strictly protected in the UK and across Europe. It is an offense to capture, disturb, or kill them, or to damage their ponds or resting places, without a licence. Do not take newts or eggs from the wild. If you find them on your land, contact your local wildlife authority or a licensed ecologist for advice. You can help them by building a wildlife pond without fish and leaving log piles and long grass around it.
Related guides
Bottom Line
Crested newts are night hunters that eat worms, insects, and slugs on land and small pond animals and tadpoles in the water. They are protected, so enjoy and help them but do not collect them.
