Morphing and temperature

[AuSu]

Hi!

I think I read it here somewhere but now I'm too busy to check the threads again...so have I understood right that cynops and hypselotriton morph later (and grow bigger) when they grow in cooler conditions? I have three h. orientalis which morphed at the age of three months, now the next ones seem much stronger and no evidence yet they'd start to morph (age about three months now and they've had it cooler). Also, c.pyrrhogaster babies seem really small and oldest ones are soon three months. I wish they'd morph only later this spring since I have some difficulties dealing with fruit flies (fruit flies crawling all over our kitchen when I try to move them from box to another... )

 

[Chinadog]

I don't keep Hypselotriton, but pyrrhos will morph later if there's plenty of food in cold temps. They are small though, whatever you do. My sasayama are usually about 25-30mm. when they morph. I feed them small chopped earthwors or live bloodworms with calcium supplement (Vetark Nutrobal at the moment). They will take food from a small shallow dish, or if there's only a few its fun to hand feed them with food on the end of a a cocktail stick.

 

[AuSu]

Thanks! So they are really tiny, I've thought they should grow bigger than hypselotriton but sounds about the same size. I guess I should try raising them aquatic but now when snowy and ice I get worms nowhere. Let's hope the babies stay in the water a long, long time

 

[Chinadog]

Yes, they seem to reach that sort of size and almost stop growing until they morph. Just keep them cold and well fed. Mine really hate the water for the first couple of months, but then seem to be quite easy to turn fully aquatic after that. Your animals look very similar to mine, so try and be prepared for at least a short terrestrial period immediately after they morph.

 

[AuSu]

I'll try to do my best yeah, I've noticed the similarity, too!

 

[AuSu]

Update: We got our first morph two days ago! It's so Tiny...only two cm. Age about four months from hatching. Orientalis that I have in cooler conditions (15-17 celcius) are twice that size...now I changed some youngsters downstairs to see if they grow larger than this one. Springtails are the only option I could think it eating, fruit flies are way too big. But it's an active guy so I hope the best...

 

[Chinadog]

That sounds a normal size to me. I've found even the smallest morphs can manage live bloodworm served up on some wet kitchen towel. Small chopped earthworms are probably better, but when I can't find any I feed the bloodworms with some multivitamin suppliment sprinkled on top. The bloodworms will stay alive for much longer than chopped worm as well, so even the shyest babies have plenty of time to notice them, even if you don't see them feed their fat bellies will be obvious the next morning.

 

[Asevernnnn]

Update: We got our first morph two days ago! It's so Tiny...only two cm. Age about four months from hatching. Orientalis that I have in cooler conditions (15-17 celcius) are twice that size...now I changed some youngsters downstairs to see if they grow larger than this one. Springtails are the only option I could think it eating, fruit flies are way too big. But it's an active guy so I hope the best...

They tend to shrink a little in size when they morph. For food, I always fed white worms while in a shallow aquatic setup, because black worms were kinda pricey, and I fed that until they recognized frozen bloodworms as food, after moving in front of their faces all the time. Hopefully there will be big enough for chopped worm soon.

 

[AuSu]

Quess what?! I got the baby to eat a bite white mosquito larvae from wooden pick!!! I'm so amazed and excited, I had to come and tell it to you straight away I think I wouldn't even have an idea one can feed them that way, if i didn't have your help and studies on Caudata threads Thanks guys!

 

[Chinadog]

I told you hand feeding them is fun!

 

[Aplestris]

Congrats I kept my larvae (H. Orientalis) outdoors so the cool kept them unmorphed for longer (about 4 months) I think they reached about 3.5cm but unfortunately they didn't eat when morphed

 

[AuSu]

Even our h. orientalis are bigger than pyrrho baby, I'd say about the same size than yours (3-3,5 cm), they seem to be harder to get eat. Of course I tried the same pick trick after it went so well with the little guy, but I got only one of three to eat, or just taste...I assume they are eating fruit flies and little creatures living in moss since they've grown, anyway. But I hope it'll be easier with the pyrrho