Brought 4 Taricha home

[Beach Newts]

Brought 4 Taricha home w/ photos

Hi everyone. I just brought 4 adult taricha home (about 6-7 inches each) and set them up in 60 gallon tank by themselves. I fed them bloodworms and they loved them! I also set some crickets in the tank and they were eaten up very quickly. All four are light brown with gold underbellies. I would say they are Torosa but for the fact they spend all their time in the water. They do have very protruding eyes. I will try to get pics up.

Everyone seems very happy and they constantly watch me... Are there any things I should be concerned with?... What kind of filter should I use?.. Since I raised the water level I'd like to get a stronger filter. Also, are there any other breeds that can live with them or should I just get a couple of more Tarichas?

Also, they are pretty healthy (fat bellies) how often should I feed them?

Any help would be appreciated.


[URL="http://www.caudata.org/photoplog/file.php?n=165"]
[URL="http://www.caudata.org/photoplog/file.php?n=166"]
[URL="http://www.caudata.org/photoplog/file.php?n=168"]
[URL="http://www.caudata.org/photoplog/index.php?n=167"]

 

[Beach Newts]

I just added photos.

 

[Kaysie]

That's a toughy. It looks as though there are two definite T.grans in the mix, but another two are questionable.

I keep 3 T.grans in a 30 gallon tank and use a Duetto 50 for their filtration. I have the flow facing the wall, and an airstone on the other end of the tank, and that seems to be fine. The tank is also overrun with java moss. I feed mine approximately an inch of earthworm two or three times a week.
Other species are not recommended. Taricha should only live with other Taricha, preferably of the same species.

If you could get some pics of the two light ones, especially from the side and closeups of the face, that would be great.

 

[Beach Newts]

That's a toughy. It looks as though there are two definite T.grans in the mix, but another two are questionable.

I'll try to take some other photos but I really do think they are Toroso... I "rescued" them from a family in the Topanga Canyon area of Southern California. Their kid picked them up while they were doing construction on their property... saved from a bulldozer... He had them in a tank for until the parents learned of their toxicity.

I didn't think we had T Grans in Southern California. Since they all came from the same group they'll have all one species, grans or toroso.

 

[Kaysie]

Well, since you're in California, you should be aware of the herp laws there. I believe the law states that you can only have 4 native herps. You might want to look into that before trying to acquire more.

Other than that, I don't know. T. torosa is plausible, especially if they were wildcaught and not from the pet shop. But those first two REALLY look like T.grans. They could be intergrades, or just dark individuals.

Also: The aquatic nature could be due to breeding. Torosa will be terrestrial during the winter months.

 

[Beach Newts]

Well, since you're in California, you should be aware of the herp laws there. I believe the law states that you can only have 4 native herps. You might want to look into that before trying to acquire more.

Other than that, I don't know. T. torosa is plausible, especially if they were wildcaught and not from the pet shop. But those first two REALLY look like T.grans. They could be intergrades, or just dark individuals.

Also: The aquatic nature could be due to breeding. Torosa will be terrestrial during the winter months.

Thanks for pointing that out... I did not know of local laws, I will look into it...

I took some more photos of each indvidual and posted them in the gallery. Here they are:


[URL="http://www.caudata.org/photoplog/file.php?n=173"]
[URL="http://www.caudata.org/photoplog/file.php?n=171"]
[URL="http://www.caudata.org/photoplog/index.php?n=172"]

I caught one riding the back of the other when I went over with the camera... The one on top is the "fatty" and was clasped onto the other as it walked along the gravel... Mating ritual maybe? They seperated when I got close with the camera.

 

[rigsby]

the first and last i would say torosa..not sure of the other two...then again looking at the first pictures i'm not sure they aren't all torosa...