Ambystoma tigrinum

[Bellabelloo]

Sigh.... they have managed to empty their water bowl... this one, I thought looked a little to pleased with itself.

 

[Bellabelloo]

Today the mucky pups had their tub cleaned out. Whilst they patiently waited, they had a splash about to clean themselves up.. needless to say, photo's of them looking all sparkly clean where taken

 

[AmbystoMan]

beautiful tigrinum !

 

[Bellabelloo]

I had the camera handy during feeding time

 

[Bellabelloo]

These have been spending time in the water, so I seized the moment and took some photo's of them looking lovely and clean.

 

[Chinadog]

Do you think they are mature yet, maybe they are getting in the mood now that spring is in the air?

 

[Bellabelloo]

They could breed this year.

 

[Stupot1610]

Did you try breeding them?

 

[Bellabelloo]

They all gleefully entered into water and then did nothing other than eat and hide
Over the last week I have been fishing them out and putting them into a new tub outdoors. Their outdoor enclosure is nearly finished, I'm just waiting for the soil to settle and the worms to make themselves at home.

 

[jbherpin]

Beautiful group!

What kind of water are you using? Are you adding twigs and leaves, etc.? With the outdoor enclosure, are you anticipating any maintenance or are you allowing nature to be...nature? I wish you the best! I would love to see pics of the outdoor home if available...

(Side note: 'Bellabelloo goes to 11' is hilarious)

JBear

 

[Bellabelloo]

It was water collected from my water butt, with dried oak leaves and some thin twigs from a Birch tree.

The outdoor enclosure is made using a cold frame measuring approx 120 x 90 cm. Using child labour, one of my sons dug down approx a meter . I lined the hole with a mesh cage then added a pond liner with some added holes (The area that this enclosure is, is very dry and has a number of trees close by) The soil was then returned with some added leaf litter.
One end is water, the other side has a hibernacula made from a plastic lidded box. This is about 30cm below ground level and has holes on the base, I will most likely add some leaf litter. There is section of pipe leading from the surface. I wanted the hibernacula to be accessible so that I could check the animals. On top of the box is a paving slab.
I am waiting a little while longer before I add the tigers, I think the soil needs to settle a bit. I also want to sink a line of bricks around the outside. :/ I may also use another slab to cover one end of the water. I am hoping to get this so that very little needs doing once the tigers are in.
Any suggestions for improving this will be gratefully received

 

[packsfan]

Such an awesome thread. It was quite a treat to watch the process of the salamander grow. Also its very interesting to see your breeding setup.

 

[Bellabelloo]

Best early Mothers day surprise

Four of my group have been aquatic for a week or two now. I wasn't expecting them to lay quite yet as the temperature is currently only 2 degrees C.

Fingers and toes crossed that they are fertile.

 

[xxianxx]

I feel a wave of smug washing over me from North London lol

 

[Bellabelloo]

Not smug... still surprised and shocked.. I hadn't expected to see eggs yet as it was so cold still.

 

[Bellabelloo]

I initially brought a small batch into my shed so I could monitor development, but realised ( ) after a few days that it was still too cold for much to happen, so I brought them indoors to a cool room. Still no growth so I moved them to sit on top of my tylo tank( the lamp makes the lid warm). A few more days of worry followed, until this morning I saw this.

 

[AmbystoMan]

Nice,

i put mine Outdoor in a water tank, now I'm waiting...crossing fingers ^^

 

[Bellabelloo]

A little update
After sending eggs to a number of people, I am now left with two batches, one in a tub outdoors and another indoors. There is a tiny change in the ones outdoors, the indoor eggs now have gills.

 

[AmbystoMan]

Nice !

My tigrinum laid eggs a few days ago...^^

the eggs are almost black, my m. mavortium and m.melanostictum clearer as usual...

^^

 

[Bellabelloo]

Yesterday morning the first eggs hatched. Included one of a larva backing out of its egg