Molch's Marbled Morphs

[Molch]

Molch's Marms turned One Year Old today.

Well, sort-of; one year ago the first ones hatched from the eggs sent to me by the very generous Otterwoman kiss

all 10 are doing great; they now live in a 20 ga long forest-floor setup with moss, cork bark and some wicked moss-covered moose vertebrae to climb around on. They are about 10-11 cm long and very voracious. At night, they all come out and wander around like hungry beasts on the prowl. I can lie in bed at night and watch them by the light of my headlamp.

I think I'll keep them terrestrial for the summer, and then next winter/spring introduce them to water. I can't tell sexes yet.

 

[evut]

Happy birthday, Newts! You've obviously done a great job raising them - they look lovely. The bit about the moose vertebrae is a little disturbing. You should check to see if activity around them increases with full moon, who knows what could be happening...

 

[Neil C]

The bit about lying in bed watching them with a headlamp on worries me even more


Regards Neil

 

[EasternNewtLove]

Great, now I have another newt to add to my "Wants List."

 

[TomaszJanulewic]

Hi !
Very nice newts!
my marms are 6cm and 8 cm - how old proppably they can be?
Cheers Tomasz

 

[Molch]

Tomasz - they can grow at different rate, depending on temperature or food. But most likely yours are less than a year old, I would guess?

Below some pics of the newts crawling around on those wicked moss--covered moose vertebrae I mentioned

 

[TomaszJanulewic]

OK thanks, Molch!
and wo more questions - how do you feed them and how temperatures is in they tank?

 

[evut]

Tomasz, they obviously eat meat - moose is best, judging from how well they cleaned it off the bones...

My adult marms are now also kept terrestrially and eat earthworms (whole smaller ones and portioned nightcrawles) and little slugs (their favourite).

 

[Tappers]

Tomasz, they obviously eat meat - moose is best, judging from how well they cleaned it off the bones...
QUOTE]

I think the well-camouflaged newt in the first photo is waiting to pounce on a vulture!

Lovely marms Molch, my 2008 bred adults are having the first breeding season where they all want to be aquatic. Last year they were tricky to sex but no such issues this spring - five females and one lucky male!

 

[Molch]

OK thanks, Molch!
and wo more questions - how do you feed them and how temperatures is in they tank?

Hi Tonasz - the temperature in their tank is currently about 55-60 F (ca. 12-15 C)

They have some isopods and earthworms living in their tank that they hunt down at night. They also ate fruit flies when younger, but now they are getting too big to be very interested in those.

Twice a week I feed them by laying down some wet paper towels on which I make small heaps of thawed-out bloodworms, blackworms, and chopped earthworms. They will come out and pick the worms off the paper towel, and then they will **** on the towel when they are done. It's amazing how they clean everything off by morning. Then all I have to do is remove the towel with the poop and the (usually few to no) leftovers and bingo - clean tank, fat newts

I love these guys. Love me a newt with a healthy appetite

 

[Kelbrina]

Oh my goodness, they are such adorable little guys! Congratulations !