Help with triturus larva?

[jim]

I’ve got some Italian crested newt larva and they are now about 1 month old and the bigger ones have just started to get their back legs. They where ok up till last week then some died over about 3 nights so I made the water deeper, changed it to pond water, and put in an aerator and more pond weed. I’m now hoping the deaths stop as they’ve got plenty of daphnia and I change about two thirds of the pond water every day and take out any bottom build up out with a straw. The only thing that worries me is that the bigger ones seem to pace up and down in the corners of the tub as if they want to get out and I don’t see them eating as much as I used to. Is this normal theirs about 14 of them in the tub. Oh yeah, should I leave them all in the tub until they transform? (If they make it +)

(Message edited by TJ on June 15, 2005)

 

[jim]

This is a great site by the way (especially for complete amateurs like me) Id probably have none by now if it wasn't for you lot!

 

[joseph]

According to tim in the marmoratus thread it seems the larvae don't like water changes. I think I had what you have happen with T. karelinii only they barely had front legs. Simply found them dead with fungus on them. Unlike in your case they all dissapeared in a few days. The next batch I raised nearly identically and they grew very well with no deaths.

(Message edited by fishkeeper on June 15, 2005)

 

[jim]

Hi Joseph, thanks for the help, I haven’t changed their water for 2 days (pond water) and the deaths stopped, I just added a bit of spring water and took out the same amount. Would it be possible to now put them in a large fish tank with the aerator or can I raise 15 in this setup until they morph?