Mesotriton size and care

[patrick]

I have always wanted an alpine newt, but I am scared because they are so expensive and I am not sure I have the resources to care for them. They are pretty small and I really only have access to large food like earthwormms and grubs and stuff like that.

but I just realized that the N. v. v.'s I am currently caring for are actually the same size as the caresheet says M. alpestris are.

would it be foolish of me to assume that I could pretty much care for the two species in the same way? if not, what kind of major differences are there.

The only two things I can find are that alpine newts like cooler temperatures and they hibernate. does anyone have any examples of how high the temperatures can get for this species or whether it is absolutely necessary to hibernate them?

 

[william]

alpestris cannot tolerate high temperatures. and although hibernation is not necessary, it is recommended as it helps with overall health and breeding success. I find that mesotriton can also take larger prey items than notos, though that may just have been the preference of my particular animals.

 

[patrick]

yeah, I should probably wait until I get a house with a basement that always stays cool, or an air conditioner. I have a fridge for hibernating and hot summer days, but I would hate to have to keep them in there all summer too. Sometimes it can get pretty hot here in the summer.

Maybe in the spring I can find an air conditioner, and someone will have some cheap juvies.

 

[sergé]

Expensive? In Europe you can get CB for less than 10 dollars...don't buy them in stores but from someone who has bred them. They will probably be in better condition as well.

 

[steffen]

@Patrick: I had offered Mesotriton alpestris apuanus here in the forum but nill resonance! They are 1 year now and mostly adult size but finally all sold out. We have more alpestris (nominate and apuanus) here than people want and I have decided to stop breeding them for the next years. These are very easy to keep and breed species. I totally underwrite Sergé´s statement to buy from a breeder rather than a shop.

@ William: my alpestris apuanus tolerate 29 °C without any signs of dislike. The nominate form can tolerate this as well. The temperature sensitivity of most european caudates is highly overestimated. As long as it is wet enough they will stand even temps higher than 25 °C without any problems. Of course this does not mean they need it (some from hot arid areas may) but to not worry too much if you cannot avoid higher temps over a certain time. Some weeks will be ok from my experience but despite of that I have installed an A/C this year to avoid peaks and long time heat periods.

Personal experiences and oppinions are not neccessarily generalizable.

Steffen

 

[william]

obviously they can take some high temperatures, though it isn't recommended for general health of the animals. This summer my marms were accidentally subjected to high 30s for about half a day, but they were fine because they were healthy animals. during the heatwave i lost my female nominate alpestris in the heat an she died, because she was not well.

Also, I don't know if you to noticed, but Patrick is in America, where mesotriton tend to be more expensive.

 

[alan]

My M. alpestris apanus are aquatic year round, spend the summers at 20-25C (occasionally up to 27C during heatwaves) and winters at 10-15C. Under these conditions, they are healthy and breed well each year (new metamorphs available now if anyone wants them).

 

[roy]

I agree T. alpestris is one of the most beautiful newts but in The Netherlands you're not allowed to have them as they are indigenous

 

[patrick]

All this talk is giving me such an urge to buy some. I can garauntee that it won't get above 30 degrees in my apartment except for the hottest days of the summer, but usually it is about 25-27 for most of the summer months, it does cool off at nights, but there's always that week or two that it doesn't. still I have the refrigerator just in case. I think that once I get my tank ready I will post in the species wanted section. Two questions.

Is it true you can keep the juveniles aquatic or semi aquatic?

Would a ten gallon tank be sufficient for five juveniles since they are a smaller species?

 

[jennifer]

The juveniles being aquatic depends somewhat on the subspecies. M. a. apuanus juveniles voluntarily stay almost completely aquatic, no problem. The nominate subspecies is reported to be more terrestrial, but I don't have personal experience with them.

Yes, 5 juveniles could easily be kept in a 10-gallon tank. I would even say that 5 adults could be kept in a 10-g, as long as there is plenty of water volume and one is vigilant about water quality.