A few questions for my juvies

[elizabeth]

First question: What's a nice substrate than can keep the water in, but not hide the bugs? I tried dirt in my juvie's enclosure, but their food could easily hide in it, and handfeeding they're afraid of. I tried no dirt, and it got too dry. I was thinking about giving them a watery enclosure, but their food might drown! -sigh- I want them to have the simplest substrate, without dying out the newts or drowning the food.

Another question, are millipedes good food? I find itty bitty baby ones all over my yard, and my newts will try and eat them...but mostly spit them out. They dont bite, and they're not poisonous, so are they ok?

All thats in their enclosure are very tiny baby woodlice, and very tiny baby millipedes. Occasionally this includes baby slugs and earthworms. What other yardly bugs would be ok living in their home that they could just hunt down?

 

[joseph]

Millipedes secrete a distasteful chemical which protects them from many enemies. Very strong smell and I doubt caudates would like them.

I haven't been following your posts but what species are these newts?

Springtails would be a good option.

 

[ian]

Try to culture Fruit Flies. I havent started yet. But my newtlings are taking these flies very well.

Yes, I agreed that Millipede is a bad idea.

 

[elizabeth]

They're C.O. juvies. I can't culture fruit flies because they'll fly out of the tank, and the wingless variety will just climb out.

First: There are live bugs living in my juvie's tank. I was wondering if there is any good groundcover that traps moisture so my newts wont dry out, but at the same time wont flood the bugs living in there and keep them in sight so the newts could hunt them. Like, for example, I tried dirt, but prey could easily hide in it, even though it trapped moisture to keep the newts wet. And a tank set up so that the newts are always in some level of water (that doesn't go over their head) would keep the newts wet, but drown their prey. You can see I'm having a big issue on groundcover. I've been experimenting with set-ups, and already lost two juvies due to drying out. -sigh-

 

[jameswei]

Elizabeth, i do not think you should give up on fruitflies, they are a good food source. While it is true that wingless/flightless fruitflies can climb i have still seen my japanese juvies and chinese juvies succesfully eat them. But you are right, fruit flies can be somewhat unreliable. However, i made their enclosure small and place a large number of fruit flies to ensure that there is a high probability of encounter. If by chance, you do change your mind be sure to "dust" the fruit flies. They arent very nutrioous by themselves. Another option to consider, besides wood lice and fruitflies, are white worms. they are small, cheap, and easy to culture and nutrious but very fatty. Black worms are an EXCELLANT option but they can foul the water easy and are extremely tricky to culture.

Lastly, instead of choosing a different substrate why not try including a feeding dish into your setup? This way, you can keep the tank normally as wet as you want. While having a controlled environment for food without having to worry about the rest of the tank setup. You can place a small number of blackworms in a dish at a shallow water level for access for the newts and to avoid newt drowning. If you try this becareful of black worms entering the substrates and fouling the substrate. adding rocks should help.

(Message edited by newtron on November 16, 2005)

 

[jennifer]

Hi Elizabeth, some of the photos I posted on this page might help:
http://www.caudata.org/people/JM/Cp_juv.html
I use a dirt substrate with a feeding dish for blackworms. I put a piece of cloth over the tank to keep the flies in. Even with a real tank, I think using a piece of cloth should work. If you use a dark color, it would be more attractive than mine.

If they are willing to stay semi-aquatic, you could just raise them entirely on blackworms. That's the easiest way.

 

[john]

I use styrofoam lids on all my tanks with small air holes punched in the middle. this helps prevent the flies from climbing out through holes in a screen.