giant tadpoles

[mjulian]

At the weekend, I discovered 20+ what look like giant tadpoles in my pond - black and 2-3" long. Can anyone tell me what they are, where they have come from and are they good or bad to have in a pond please?

[gravitate]

they are lumpy head eels

[Jules001]

Great Crested newts appear to be black in colour, so could be those, if so they are protected by law and it is illegal to catch or handle them or disturb their habitat in any way. They would be good to have in a pond and if they are great crested newts, there's not a lot you can do about it even if they weren't good for the pond.

[ethandron]

they could be ordinary newts too. we used to get a lot in our pond. i'd leave them there, they show your pond's doing well.

[mjulian]

Thanks one and all. Gravitate - what are lumpy head eels? I can't find anything on the internet. I did think about great crested newts but the young of an ordinary newt is a miniature version of the adult - i.e. it has four feet and a tail but about an inch long. These have no legs - just a large head and a very long body/tail. Anyway, it doesn't sound as if they are dangerous - someone did mention cane toads to me so I was a bit wary. I will watch and wait to see what happens to them.