Keeping T.dobrogicus terrestrial?

[xMIDNIGHTx]

I am interested to see how many or if any members who keep T. dobrogicus keep them terrestrial or offer them a 50/50 setup. I have been seriously considering giving them a highly terrestrial setup and seeing how they take to it. They stay aquatic all the time, although they do hang out really close to the surface sometimes breaching the surface at times. Last year I had temps around 75 and the female would consistently hang out on the cork island at night.

I am considering this for their well being but also because of breeding reasons. I cannot subject my newts to really low temperatures (below 58) and was wondering if the switch from a terrestrial setup to a aquatic setup will trigger a breeding response. When I did see temps in the low 60s my male developed a HUGE crest and tail fanned the female for literally months. He spent several weeks leaving sperm spores all over the tank but with no luck, I believe the female never even produced eggs. Her size and appetite did not change, she ate great and with alot of excitement. I have talked to several members about dropping or rasing water level or separated them. If there is any breeding advise you would like to share, feel free.

My intention is not to force these dobros into a setup that does not suit them. This consideration came after reading the care sheet and pass posts about this approach and hearing positive things. I just wanted to see what present members are doing and their feeling toward this.

Thanks,
Mitch

 

[damien]

I've heard that T. dobrogicus stops eating when terrestrial. I haven't done it myself, but I hear bad stories about it.

 

[Azhael]

I too have heard such stories. And once i had to keep my adult pair terrestrial for a few days, they refused to eat. I suspect they just need some time to adjust though.

I wouldn´t force them to be terrestrial, they really seem not to like it at all. If you give them the choice, just let them choose...if they don´t go terrestrial then i thinik it´s safe to assume they just don´t need to.

As for breeding, keep the female particularly well fed and nourrised(specially nourrised), as that will reflect hugely in her ability to produce eggs. Deficiencies will take a toll on both numbers and quality of the eggs.

 

[xMIDNIGHTx]

Last thing I want to do is make the situation worse by decease their eating habits anymore than it already is. It seems that in the last couple of weeks both have lost some vigor in eating. Volume has gone down alittle and they seem a bit picky.

I have put them into a tank that is heavily planted and actually has a land area (above 6" of water) now instead of just cork islands. I also have the water level quite a bit lower than I usually have for them. We will see how they react to it. I am definitely not going to force them into anything.

Last year my female was well fed (both were) during the late summer/Early fall months (got them last August) and then as the temp started dropping I slowed down the feeding. The male basically stopped on his own, his only interest in life was fanning her to death. The female never seemed phazed at all. This year I am trying a more agressive appoarch to see if I can trigger a response in her. The male just needs a drop of 5 + degrees and he knows what time it is.

Thanks for your input!

Mitch