Compulsive pet keeping, or

[joseph]

Again, just applying fishkeepin to newts...

Thing with eggs is that fry are delicate and take a long time to grow(compared to the time it takes for the mailman to get you a package for impatient people). I have often been tempted by killie eggs, but never have bought any. I would much sooner buy juveniles or a pair of the same species. Suppose you hatch the eggs, and you fail! Even if you wet only half...you only have one more chance to raise little fry. If you have a pair of adults, they will produce many eggs for you(unless, of course, you fail at keeping the adults too...but thats another can of worms). The
only killies I've kept are Aplocheilus lineatus, and of course I started with adults. While the fry were quite straightforward to raise(I experimented when they started to overrun me and realized they would eat flake...they also grew to saleable size in like 2 months in an outdoor pond)I'm sure that couldn't be said for all the species.


Going back to newts, 2-3 years is a considerable amount of time for people who just want adults, but then again it certainly isn't time wasted is it?

 

[edward]

Hi Joseph,
I've kept various killie species and bred them in the past and hatching the eggs and raising the fry is pretty easy and straight forward for most of the species such as A. gardneri, A. australe and most Nothos. If I get back into them at some point I have no hesitation about buying eggs mailorder.

The problem I was considering is that as long as wc newts of the species you are breeding are available then the market for cb ones will be limited due to cost. However if I offered 10-20 eggs for $5.00 plus shipping and handling then this becomes a more reasonable prospect for someone to aquire the eggs and rear them. Even when the wcs become less available you are still limited by the price people are willing to spend.
Eggs would remain much more cost effective as the cost of investment in the eggs is much smaller than the offspring. I would suspect that the eggs that are laid singly will ship much better than eggs that are laid in strings or clumps.

Ed

 

[joseph]

<blockquote><hr size=0><!-quote-!><font size=1>Edward Kowalski (Ed) wrote on Tuesday, July 06, 2004 - 03:10 :</font>

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Compared to A. lineatus? I've heard the nothos are pretty difficult...and I'm unsure if the fry of most species come out at the size the lineatus came out as. They were bigger than many baby livebearers! Though I've seen lots of beginner species reccomendations, do you have any particular favorites that could be used in a single species community or planted tank community?

Thanks! Sorry to go off topic.


The cost thing is definelty true...but the supply is limited by the number of breeders(who as of now are WC) are available. I've also heard of people tossing the eggs.

But we DO have the USA caudata registry. Looks like lots of room for expansion.

 

[sharon]

Al & Ed, my "agreement" with my hubby is that if he screws up (starts another construction project without finishing one in progress, is HOURS late for dinner)I get to buy a new creature, pair of creature and all the stuff the creature(s) needs. AND if babies should come of said creatures, he is NOT allowed to complain.

ALSO the man is asking me what I want for my birthday, I've told him umpteen times, stuff for the animals. A gift certificate preferably or the special in the wall cabinets he has been promising for three years. LMAO! I think he is hoping I will just break down and say something simple like "clothes".

I was trying to follow the discussion between Ed, ajrfroggy, and joseph, and all I can say is, if you have the time space and ability to raise fry to juveniles to adults great. If not, gifting the eggs still benefits the herp community.

As for WC critters, I really have hopes that when these guys show up on the market those of us with experience are the first to stand up and pay for them. Then maybe in the future what we see on the market will be CB instead. Isn't that the whole point?

Um, back to compulsive pet keeping. I think the original message was for those people who buy animals on whim with no knowledge of their needs and even buy them without the ability to care for them. And fortunately I think I can say that doesn't apply to anyone here. Although "ability to care for" is certainly subject to individual standards. I.e. I am not going to pay a vet for a Sunday morning visit for case of fungus or bloat for one of my non existent newts. If the animal is still alive on Monday morning absolutely we are going to the vet to sit in the office with three kids and a critterkeeper to wait for an available appointment. Although, rotfl, like I said the vets out here know NOTHING about amphibs, besides what I get for them off the net. They have no practical experience.

With that said, I'm supposed to hunting for my Shelties' registration papers..... somewhere on/in this desk, maybe in the bedroom files...
Sharon

 

[jennifer]

I also have an agreement with the hubby. I can get another tank whenever he buys another computer or other large equipment for his hobbies!

This thread brings up another issue that looms large in my mind: the lack of people producing and shipping CB newts and sals in the US. But maybe I should start a separate thread for that lament!

 

[edward]

Hi Joseph,
The fry do hatch much smaller but they were easy to feed on microworms and then larger food items. If you want to try different species I would suggest joining the one of the clubs (the AKA if you are in the USA (http://www.aka.org/pages/whatarethey.html).

I would recommend either gardneri or australe for the next leap in killi keeping as both of these are hardy, pretty fish (much prettier than your Aplochileus (which I have at work).

Ed

 

[edward]

Sharon, I'm currently asking for a male guyana redtail boa for christmas to go with my female. So you are not the only person wanting animal(s) or animal stuff for a present.

Ed

 

[sharon]

Now that is a BEAUTIFUL snake! I've always wanted a rainbow boa. Not sure if columbian or brazilian was the way to go, but hubby made me promise, no snakes while A. the kids are small enough to be considered prey (ROTFLMAO!) B. While he is still alive.... (I personally think the last condition is open for interpretation.... oh I'm sorry that just wasn't nice!) But the man is very um,... inconsistent. He is the first one to race across the property to whatever snake the kids have found, catches it and tanks it! Then I'm stuck finding a live food source for the wild snake. We keep these guys for a couple of days then off they go. I've got a decent 40 terrarium I keep for wild stuff. Hubby is learning slowly but surely about herps. Um, first lesson, snakes in tanks can NOT go into the sunlight for their light needs, thank God I came home early!

Sharon

 

[edward]

Sounds like its time to broach getting a snake again. I would suggest seeing if he would go for one of the rosey boas as they tend to be much more handlable than rainbow boas. (Personally I prefer the Brazilian and Argentinians to the Colombians).

Ed

 

[jessica]

ok I've gotta rant too. First the dog thing. There are neighbors behind us with not one but two dogs they leave outside all day and pretty much all night even during the 100's. Besides the health issues when are people going to realize, if you don't want to be outside, neither does your dog. I only have a dog b/c my husband works part of the week 12 hour nights. The dog stays in, unless she asks or if we're out in the yard. If he goes to days, he will have 12 hour shifts and again only work part of the week, we will probably sadly lock the cats in the bedroom for those days and use one of those piece in doggy doors for glass sliding doors.

Now a rant about cats. I used to live about 3 miles from where I am now in an apartment complex. That area is near undeveloped reservation land. This means we had coyotes. You could hear them every night around 11:30 and I would see them sometimes in the a.m. going to work. No matter how many warnings you post people still let their cats out and then would cry when they were missing. This also applies for busy urban areas with cats that don't make it across a car filled street. Hello?! It's quite different if you live in a farm area and there isn't a natural predator that will get your cat.

Amphib rant. I was in one of the dreaded chain stores because I needed some crickets and I think it was before I found the other place I go. Anyway there was a guy asking one of the sales people about canned crickets. I don't remember what kind of frog/toad he said he had, but I told him that I read the toads I have won't eat the dead crickets because they can't see them and he may want to do more research. He seemed interested so I said you may want to do research on your pet, but earthworms tend to be a good source of nutrition for amphibs. Later I saw him at the register with the canned crickets.

Ok I don't really have said deal with my husband but he bought this "project" car. He's replacing the motor and interior etc. Sometimes when I buy stuff for my amphibs he kind of says or you're spending too much, but whenever he spends $100 plus on the project I go and get what I want and only point out what he spends if he gives me a tough time.

(Message edited by foltsjr315 on July 08, 2004)

 

[sharon]

Heeheeheehee! Here's where I show some restraint. I don't have time for a snake. Although living in a retirement town does pose scenarios for real entertainment when we go out and about.... I used to "borrow" the school red tailed boa (thats what they called it) for the weekends as a kid and I used to wear her like a belt or really big necklace. OH lord did people freak out!

Nah, I'm behind in training the sheltie and now I've got a good deal for a mate for him that I really want to do... So I don't have time for a new snake. Next year though....

Sharon