Fire Belly Newt Eggs

[23matt3]

Hey guys! Since getting my newts acclimated i noted that one of them laid eggs last night, she laid about 6 eggs i put them in a breeder box beside the tank. What other advise would you recommend? I am new to the breeding process. any advice will help.. thanks

 

[Chinadog]

Congratulations, it's a sure sigh of happy newts when they start laying eggs.
Here's two articles from Caudata Culture that explain the ins and outs of raising them. The second one relates to H. orientalis, but the method is very similar for most juveniles.
Don't be afraid to ask questions if you're stuck with anything, good luck!

Caudata Culture Articles - Raising Newts and Salamanders from Eggs

Caudata Culture Articles - Raising Juvenile Newts

 

[23matt3]

Hey thanks for the links.. my problem is now is that she produces about 10 eggs a day and i am the most careful when i transfer the eggs from the newt tank to my egg tank. i notice that in a day or two they all become cloudy and die.. any idea why this is??

 

[Asevernnnn]

Hey thanks for the links.. my problem is now is that she produces about 10 eggs a day and i am the most careful when i transfer the eggs from the newt tank to my egg tank. i notice that in a day or two they all become cloudy and die.. any idea why this is??

They're just not fertile, my H. orientalis laid infertile eggs for months before I got fertile ones, I generally leave the eggs in the tank to get eaten, and ones that dont get eaten that are fertile generally do well living with the parents(parents generally, but not always, eat eggs and not larvae) eating microinverts that are in the tank.

 

[Nioa]

I would guess that your temperatures are too warm or that something is wrong with your water, but I don't think your newts would even be laying if that were the case. I'm not too experienced myself, but that's my input. :x

 

[23matt3]

Okay so whats your suggestion? I just put them in the fridge and was going to leave them in there for about an hour? like i said im new to the breeding stage of the newts and not really sure what im doing wrong? as soon as the mother laid the eggs i carefully took them off the plant leaf and put them in a separate container and change the water once a day. I just dont know what else to do to keep them alive..

 

[23matt3]

Should i keep the eggs at a certain temperture??? I know the newts need cold water but do the eggs need cold water as well? I dont know i just didnt want to freeze the eggs in the process.

 

[jewett]

The eggs will need cool water just like their parents. The only time I have removed eggs was when I wanted to share them with others. In my experience, it is very difficult to remove eggs from plant leaves without damaging them. if I were you I would leave the eggs in with their parents with the assumption that well fed parents won't eat all of their eggs OR I would place some other egg laying surfaces in the tank that are easy to take out. Here are some instructions on making egg laying strips: Caudata Culture Articles - Egg Strips

I have had hit or miss luck with clear plastic strips but this year I am going to try acrylic yarn spawning mops. A quick google search for DIY spawning mops will yield lots of how-to instructions - it seems they are very popular in the tropical fish breeding hobby and some old threads here on this site also report positive results.

I do think the easiest way to raise larvae is in the same tanks as their parents - the parents' tank should already be well established with good, stable water quality and lots of tiny invert starter foods to get the babies started on. As the larvae age and grow you can add supplemental food like daphnia and blood worms. Most of my healthiest larvae grew up in their parents' tanks. And with the interstate ban in effect it may not be advantageous to raise large amounts of eggs, so if a few get eaten by mom and dad it should not be a big deal.

HJ

 

[23matt3]

Thank you for the advice guys, that makes sense about leaving them in the parents tank. My newt has laid over 30 eggs and all have become cloudy as soon as i took them out after a few days. I will leave the rest of the eggs she hatches in the parents tank and see how that goes. Im somewhat dissappointed that 30 havent made it so far

 

[23matt3]

I have three in a 10 gallon tank and the tank is covered in plants so just hoping they wont eat the rest because everytime i take them out they die it seems and im super careful when i take them off the plants.. just dont know what to do

 

[Chinadog]

I agree with Heather, the best way to go until you're more used to dealing with newt larvae is to leave them whare they are. My Japanese firebellies know their tank layout off by heart and are expert egg finders, but they always miss a few. As Aaron said, once the eggs hatch the parents seem to actively avoid the larvae when feeding, so I always end up with a few healthy larvae living along side the adults until they morph.
If the eggs you remove are fertile and undamaged but still dying maybe there's a problem with the water in the tank you're putting them in? Are you certain the new tank is fully cycled?

 

[23matt3]

100% sure. I've had this tank going for about a year

 

[23matt3]

So i left the remaining eggs in the tank and none of them made it

 

[Chinadog]

What a shame, do you think they starved to death, or did all the eggs get eaten? It.If they're not laying more eggs at the moment it gives you a bit of time to come up with a plan for next time, it probably won't be long before they start again.

 

[23matt3]

None of the eggs were eaten because I've been keeping my newts well fed so that they won't try to eat them they were just not fertile

 

[23matt3]

Fire Belly Newt Eggs not fertile

Hey guys,
I have 5 fire belly newts, 4 females and 1 male in a 55 gallon tank
I really wanted to breed them and keep a couple babies. and i have multiple friends who are dying to have a couple of these precious creatures!
In the last couple months the females have been going crazy and producing eggs like crazy.
No matter what i do or try none of the eggs become fertile,
Whether i take them out and give them their own tank so the bigger ones don't mess with them or even just letting them be, they seem to become cloudy looking eggs within days. I've read as much as i can and i don't know what to do,I have no clue as to why ALL the eggs are infertile... do you think it could be the females??
Thanks guys!

 

[Blackbun]

Re: Fire Belly Newt Eggs not fertile

Maybe you should point your finger at the male!
How old is he??
There are many and varied reasons for lack of egg development. Fertile eggs can die in the early stages and become cloudy. The biggest killer, in my experience, is warm water.

 

[23matt3]

Re: Fire Belly Newt Eggs not fertile

He is actually fairly young compared to the females now that i think about it. He is smaller than the rest and much younger looking as well, the females colors are starting to fade to a grayish color. I got him about a year ago and have had the females for about 5 years.. Maybe he is just too juvenile?
I don't think its the water i usually try to get it as cold as possible i try to keep it in the 60's as much as i can control it.
Thanks again for your reply!

 

[23matt3]

Re: Fire Belly Newt Eggs not fertile

After a couple days this is what they look like

 

[Asevernnnn]

Re: Fire Belly Newt Eggs not fertile

I would just give them some time, I had mine for at least a year before I started getting any fertile eggs.