epyllion
Member
- Joined
- May 13, 2010
- Messages
- 31
- Reaction score
- 2
- Points
- 8
- Location
- Erie, PA
- Country
- United States
- Display Name
- epyllion
We've had newts for many years now, since 2002, and our eldest newt is a sort of Methusaleh--She was given to a friend of ours when he lived in California back in 1977--and we don't know how old she is!
She had a male companion (our friend purchased him in a pet store in the 1980s), but he died about a year or two ago. I made some posts back then as we were trying to nurse him back to health--we think he died of organ failure. :-( I know newts are not supposed to be social, but I think our old female seemed listless after that--like life was a little boring. Thanks to Jennewt, we found her a new male companion, and that really made her much more lively and aggressive--seemed like her old self somehow. (I guess she needed a companion to boss around!
We also upgraded to a much bigger tank, added plants and substrate. I'll post some pics. Our newts seem to be doing well, and we've been curious if she might lay eggs (though she's quite old). We have never seen or known of her reproducing--and that could be because she was kept in a small tank for many, many years with her old mate--maybe conditions were too stressful. (We learned coming here that newts prefer roomier accommodations and leaves so we upgraded accordingly.)
We've been observing newts for many years now, and have seen some common behavior that I'm not sure I've ever found an explanation for--we've just sort of taken things for granted! (Of course they do that throat wobbling thing, but...why?)
--So we've been seeing our new male climb up on a floating platform and vibrate his throat for a while...sometimes that produces a slight occasional chipping noise. He stays up there above water vibrating his throat for a while and then dips back down. My husband is convinced this is an expression of yearning for a mate. Is this so? Or is it something else entirely? I *think* we've only ever seen our males do this.
--We've seen our little male wiggle his tail vigorously in the old Lady Newt's presence. I take it this is perhaps mating behavior?
--Our newts eat moistened chunks of dried tubifex worm most frequently, and sometimes get a nice mass of thawed bloodworms (which they seem to relish). They also eat the occasional small earthworm or pieces of earthworm that we dig up in the garden--which they appear to take very seriously indeed. Reading the forums, I am wondering if we should be adding more variety to their diets--what do you suggest?
(I've been reading it's a LOT of work to tend to eggs and raise young, so I'm not sure I'm eager for this, but I'm curious! And I know Pyrrhogasters aren't so easy to find in the U.S. lately, so it seems like we might want to encourage any mating behavior in a pair!) Thanks for perspective and advice! I'll post pictures when I'm through grading final papers and exams by middle of next week. Good to be back in touch with the caudata community!
She had a male companion (our friend purchased him in a pet store in the 1980s), but he died about a year or two ago. I made some posts back then as we were trying to nurse him back to health--we think he died of organ failure. :-( I know newts are not supposed to be social, but I think our old female seemed listless after that--like life was a little boring. Thanks to Jennewt, we found her a new male companion, and that really made her much more lively and aggressive--seemed like her old self somehow. (I guess she needed a companion to boss around!
We also upgraded to a much bigger tank, added plants and substrate. I'll post some pics. Our newts seem to be doing well, and we've been curious if she might lay eggs (though she's quite old). We have never seen or known of her reproducing--and that could be because she was kept in a small tank for many, many years with her old mate--maybe conditions were too stressful. (We learned coming here that newts prefer roomier accommodations and leaves so we upgraded accordingly.)We've been observing newts for many years now, and have seen some common behavior that I'm not sure I've ever found an explanation for--we've just sort of taken things for granted! (Of course they do that throat wobbling thing, but...why?)
--So we've been seeing our new male climb up on a floating platform and vibrate his throat for a while...sometimes that produces a slight occasional chipping noise. He stays up there above water vibrating his throat for a while and then dips back down. My husband is convinced this is an expression of yearning for a mate. Is this so? Or is it something else entirely? I *think* we've only ever seen our males do this.
--We've seen our little male wiggle his tail vigorously in the old Lady Newt's presence. I take it this is perhaps mating behavior?
--Our newts eat moistened chunks of dried tubifex worm most frequently, and sometimes get a nice mass of thawed bloodworms (which they seem to relish). They also eat the occasional small earthworm or pieces of earthworm that we dig up in the garden--which they appear to take very seriously indeed. Reading the forums, I am wondering if we should be adding more variety to their diets--what do you suggest?
(I've been reading it's a LOT of work to tend to eggs and raise young, so I'm not sure I'm eager for this, but I'm curious! And I know Pyrrhogasters aren't so easy to find in the U.S. lately, so it seems like we might want to encourage any mating behavior in a pair!) Thanks for perspective and advice! I'll post pictures when I'm through grading final papers and exams by middle of next week. Good to be back in touch with the caudata community!
