Cynops ensicauda ensicauda eggs

[henk]

Since some weeks the females are starting to set off eggs one at a time and I feel like a cherry picker getting them out (as much as I can)

And here's one of the active males

 

[cameron]

Good luck with the babies!

 

[TJ]

Nice pictures, Henk.

After a few month's respite, my C. ensicauda ensicauda tank is again filling with larvae. I haven't been going in and actively removing eggs, as it's quite a chore. But I do try to remove larvae to a separate tank once they reach a respectable size. Otherwise, I later end up finding skinny morphs starving in the land area of the tank where there are awkward-to-check hiding places.

I wish somebody would do an academic study on Cynops adult predation on larvae. It doesn't seem to be very high. I'm tempted to add heaters to my tanks to lower their urge to breed as my hands are really full now carrying for last year's crop. Well, if I could get my P. laoensis to breed, I'd <u>make</u> time for them

 

[henk]

Well Tim , I kind of like these guys too. Have never kept this subspecies. Now I think I may actually try to get my hands on some green popeis again too (just to make the loaensis jealous !). Indeed it seems that larvae predation is pretty low, but eggs on the contrary ???

 

[jennifer]

Currently, I'm raising all my C. e. popei in the tank with the adults - I see no sign of significant predation of eggs or larvae. I think that egg predation is a learned skill - once a particular animal learns it, he/she will eat them with every chance they get. But many adults remain "naive" to this tasty treat, and leave them alone.

I'm still waiting for my nominate C.e.e. to produce offspring. Some day....