My Pleurodeles Waltl still going strong

So, it's been about a year since I first posted about these guys, and it's been a long time since I've been on this forum. Anyway, as a newcomer to the world of newts I tried to research hard before getting them. But like all the best laid plans, some things need to change. My newts have been enjoying their tank for about a year well enough, but they really seemed to want more room to swim and more hiding holes. So I decided to upgrade them. Here's the original thread if you want to see their old tank evolve. http://www.caudata.org/forum/f46-be...er-help/95841-my-first-pleurodeles-waltl.html

Their old tank is a 20gallon tall tank that I had set up with some accommodation for "land", which was never utilized and seemed like a waste of space. Their new tank is a 20 gallon long filled almost to the top. I am hoping to move the newts to their new tank at the beginning of April. You can see they aren't too far away already. The new tank has been set up for about 3 weeks. Most of the "stuff", plants and hiding holes, came from the newts current tank so it's a little bare in there now. The driftwood has actually been in my big tank for about 2 years so hopefully it will help get the tank going as well. It's hooked up to a Fluvial 406 canister filter which is much larger than their current filter so I think the newts will be very happy in their new home. The output of the filter goes into a pot full of gravel so the heavy current won't be shoving the newts around either. One cool thing that is kind of hard to see in the photos is I buried a "cave system", PVC pipes, under the sand and I'm really curious to see how the news will react to that. I think they will like it. Anyway, thanks for taking look, and any notes on the tank would be appreciated.

Hi The setup looks good . I hope you don't mind as I have few tips I have had a colony in my living room for 10 years. They are not shy and if you go to the tank the usually come out to watch what your up to so hiding places as not much used . The only time is when an egg hatches and it gives the lava somewhere to get away from the biggest tank mates. I don't have a land area but during the hottest summer they will try to escape. They love lots of plants and will wrap themselves in them to sleep close to the surface. They also love big pebbles 2 to 3 inches if you feed worms they will stick their wedge shaped heads among them to listen for the worms they will hunt like this for days. A thing to watch with hidden places is this will most likely be the place where the newt will go when sick or to die. Give them an open place in the middle of the tank as when they mate they dance together allot . Also my oldest are now just under 12 inches so they need some room . They are the best newt for watching and have so few problems I hope you have as much fun with yours as I have with mine. regards KB

they are awesome newts! i picked up a pair of luecistics about 6 to 8 months ago and i have added a normal wild type female to the group and now have about 60 baby newts and about 100 more larvae about to morph out . good luck with them i love mine they are great

Interesting, these two seem to breed here and there, but I've never seen eggs or anything. I have this feeling like maybe they are both male or something, they look very similar in appearance, but I read that it is hard to sex this type of newt. I don't know.

I've rearranged things a little, and there seems to be plenty of swimming space. They swim back and forth with their arms tucked in and it reminds me somewhat of watching old Godzilla movies.

The set up looks nice! They're adorable!

Never kept newts but I want red bellied newts eventually.

They seem to enjoy the new tank very much. I was trying to get an accurate measure and they both seem to be just around 6" long at this point. I have read they can get to 12". They do shed pretty regularly. I have had them for about a year already, how long do they grow for? Thanks.

A little bit of algae, but otherwise the tank is going very well. The newts seem to like it a lot as well. They are very active and swim around quite a bit. Here are some updated photos.

Hi they grow all their lives but slow down after year 2 they can get to 12 inch and I have some that are but they are about 10 years old and been in the same large tank for the last 5. Old newts like old people don't do change very well. You have a good looking tank and they should do well regards KB

kettering bloke said:

Hi they grow all their lives but slow down after year 2 they can get to 12 inch and I have some that are but they are about 10 years old and been in the same large tank for the last 5. Old newts like old people don't do change very well. You have a good looking tank and they should do well regards KB

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Wow, that's pretty large. I had read they could get that big, but I didn't know if they really did. I'm thinking sometime this summer I'll try to put them into a 46 gallon bow front, but then I don't think I'll move them ever again. If they get that big, this tank probably isn't big enough for them, they're only about 6 inches right now and it seems just about enough space.