First time grandmama - water currents, mould and tiny insects

[harleyquine]

I got my three Chinese fire-bellied newts in May and I thought they were still babies till I started seeing eggs. Once the eggs started coming I bought a couple of 160l tanks and got my big newts set-up nicely in one of them where they continued laying and seem quite happy.

Anyways I put the eggs into the ex-big newt tank. When I was changing out some water I noticed some small insects (look like tiny spiders, don't think spiders can swim ) scurrying around the bottom of the jar, should I worry about these things eating the eggs?

I lost the first six eggs to mould and there are a few mouldy looking eggs in the tank now but have spotted three developing ones (hard to see cos of the gravel). I now have three plants and a weak filter with a pot in front of it in case it sucks up the eggs. Don't have a spare bubble machine. Does this sound alright?

How do I minimise the mould getting to the eggs?

Just spotted one well-developed egg in the main tank, should I risk moving it so the big ones don't eat it?

Also why does it seem like a million years before the eggs hatch Thanks to anyone who can be bothered reading and replying :happy:

 

[Azhael]

It does seem like an eternity xDD

Well, you can minimize mould growing on the eggs by quickly removing any egg that shows signs of being infected. If you are having a high percentage of mouldy eggs it´s probable they are not fertilized, which means they are doomed anyway. Those who are fertilized, just keep them away from infected eggs.

Do you intend to raise the larvae in a 160l tank??? Wow....xDD
Sadly, i don´t think it´s the best option, since you´d have to provide HUGE amounts of live foods so that the larvae would find it without problems. Not very practical. I´d remove the filter entirely.

I have no idea what creatures you are talking about, but if they are like tiny spiders, they are likely to be mites. Aquatic mites are not a problem, generally speaking, i don´t think you should do anything about them.

 

[harleyquine]

Nahhh the eggs are in a 60l tank, my three big newts are in one 160l and I'm planning on setting up the other 160l with mostly land and a wee bit of water for the babies when they're terrestrial.. if I can manage to raise some. I think this could be their first clutch (is that just the term for birds?? so from what I've read on here then most of them could be unfertilised.

The store where I got them was pretty surprised that they're breeding but it's their own fault for only giving them one plastic plant and no bubbles mwhaahaha.

Wish those tiny kidney beans would get a move on.. saw the yolk sacs today though, was very excited. I have some brine shrimp eggs ready to crack open and get going as soon as something hatches.

On another note I have two females and one male (I think). The male is Fernando and he's tiny compared to the other two but has been strutting his stuff around the front of the tank for the last hour or so, such a ladies man pfft.

 

[Azhael]

Since they are wild-caught there is no way to tell the age nor if this is the first time they reproduce. If you haven´t had them long then it´s very likely the females were already gravid when they were caught.

Good luck. The larvae are dead easy, specially if you keep them in a well stablished big tank. The morphs are the difficult part, but i´m sure you´ll do well.

 

[harleyquine]

These guys were bred here in Finland, saw the certificate, come to think of it if I can get some raised I'll be needing one of those things myself before I can find homes for them. Couldn't have been gravid unless they're wee elephants had them 4 months now and they started laying two weeks ago. Well.. time to feed the zoo and get my bum off of the computer. Thanks for all the info

 

[Azhael]

Ah, since you said you got them from a store, i just figured.
First time i ever hear of a store selling CB (certificated) C.orientalis.

 

[harleyquine]

Wooooooooooottttt first hatchling It's called Benny, looks like a few more are ready to pop also. Thought I saw something move this morning but I figured it was just my imagination but nope.. lil baby with his yellow sack is going around so proud