Danube Crested Newts

[Dobro033]

Hello

I have 4 T. dobrogicus (1 female, 3 male), born in March last year.
I have let them hibernate in the fridge for about 5 weeks at 3-7 degrees centigrade.
I took them out of the fridge on the 31st of January.
I placed my female with 1 male in an aquarium with plants, and large stones. No gravel.
The male has quite a large crest and swollen cloaca. I have seen the male try to impress the female on the 1st day after i've brought them out of the frige
Now i would like to know, how long does it usually take for Dobrogicus to have succes in breeding? Anyone with experience?

 

[otolith]

Expect to find eggs anywhere from a week to a month after courtship behavior. I have been surprised with fertile eggs in the fall when males aren't even in breeding condition so egg deposition timing can be erratic.

 

[Azhael]

It's still early, it wouldn't be that surprising if you didn't get eggs until march or maybe even later. Also, make sure the female has a variety of options to lay her eggs. Not having a laying substrate that she likes can delay egg deposition or interfere with it entirely. Microsorium is almost always a favourite choice, give it a try if you don't have it already.

One thing to note, though, is that even though this species can certainly be mature and fertile in significantly less than a year, this is not absolute and depending on a variety of factors it is possible for them to be a year old and not yet mature (or even 3 years old..), specially for females. It's also possible for females to achieve maturity on their first year but produce a clutch that is very reduced in number and with very poor fertility.

 

[Dobro033]

Thanks for the info
What exactly is Microsorium?
Anyway i've made some egg laying strips from plastic bags and secured them to some small stones, i placed those in their tank when they got in.
I will just wait and see

 

[sde]

Microsorium is the genus in which Java fern are in. So basically he is saying that newts usually prefer to lay eggs on Java ferns, and if you don't have some you should get some.

 

[Chinadog]

For their first breeding season I would provide a selection of places for egg laying. As Seth says Java ferns are good and so are many other plants, but your plastic bag strips are sometimes preferred over anything else. You'll soon get a feel for what your females like the most, so in future you can provide more of one than the other.

 

[Dobro033]

I will buy soms Java fern if I can find it :happy:
Googled it, nice looking plants!
Her is a pic of HIM

and HER:

 

[chaimdov]

I am in NY, it is now freezing. I have two breeding groups of DCN (eight females total) and they have been breeding. Probably have almost 1000 eggs so far, and more coming. about 100 have hatched. Never had them breed when it is this cold. I keep them in a basement. only a small night light burning 24/7. Maybe you will be lucky.

 

[Stupot1610]

Your Dobrogicus are beautiful! They look great.

 

[Dobro033]

Thank you!
I have seen the male try to impess the female a couple of times, but I have not seen spectacular changes.
Pics:
http://www.caudata.org/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=41351&stc=1&d=1423940652

http://www.caudata.org/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=41352&stc=1&d=1423940652

http://www.caudata.org/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=41353&stc=1&d=1423940652

 

[Dobro033]

So far my female laid 15 eggs, of which 4 hatched.
They are growing quickly.
About 10 days old:

About 2 centimeters long, belly full of artemia & bloodworm