Granulosa and Rivularis

[jeff]

I'm about to put the finishing touches on a 55 gallon terrarium- 1/2 land & 1/2 water with a running stream running from land and into water (Pictures of this terrarium will be posted shortly). I currently have 10 granulosa which will be transferred into this tank ASAP. I will also be obtaining two pairs of rivularis within the next few weeks. I know I may take some heat for this, but I'd like to keep both species in this set-up. I know ideally I should keep both in separate set-ups, but I don't exactly have the most room in the world, and keeping both in the same tank would be ideal for me in my current situation. I know they both inhabit some of the same regions in the wild, and that they've also been known to hybridize where their regions overlap. Keeping them together may not be a good idea, but is it necessarily a bad one? Thoughts/advice from experienced Taricha keepers would be much appreciated. Please, be gentle.

 

[paris]

rivularis are a shy and delicate compared to granulosa -if kept together i am sure they would be bullied; into hiding, and out of food by the more assertive and active granulosas. rivularis do best for me in a more aquatic environment -they eat poorly on land and are picky on food and scared of crickets-so i keep mine mostly aquatic and will kick them into the water when feeding-time comes. the best items they like are blood worms and cut worm chunks. on the pure density level - 10 would be high for a 50/50 set up, so the additional 4 would be an overload. i had a hybrid of them years ago-it was a red belly with gold eyes.

 

[jeff]

Thanks for the input, Paris. Having not kept rivularis before I was unaware that they weren't as bold as granulosa. I've decided to go seperate tanks with them, especially since I caught my granulosas doing this last night:

NO NEED FOR HYBRIDS!

 

[corey]

I'm most interested in pictures of your tank for these Oregon newts. I'm current making a 20L tank for my Oregon newts; however I have a 55 gallon with Warty newts in it currently. I would like to see your tank for ideas if you would specially for the stream. I'm at albear28@yahoo.com. Thanks and it's cool to find another with a love for newts like myself. Later.