New pyrrhogaster tank with fake rock shelf

[Molch]

My pyrrhs are old hands - I've had them for 14 years. While they spent the last 2 months in the cold room hopefully getting ready to breed, I set up a new 29 ga tank for them:

first, I planted the tank Walstad-type and let the plants grow in for about 6 weeks. I kept the water level low so plants could grow to the surface. Here it is on the day of set-up:

then I made a couple artificial rock shelves. I got the idea from Evut's thread:
Evut's fabulous fake rock wall

first, carve desired rock shape out of foam

next, cover foam with black aquarium silicone

before silicone cures, pour sand over it.

Then, glue rock shelf in desired location with silicone. Because my tank was already planted, I used long "stilts" out of very stiff wire that went all the way down into the substrate to the tank bottom to hold the shelf in place while the silicone cured.
Also, compare this pic to the first pic to see how much the plants have grown in

After a week or so, I raised the water level and covered the "rock" with java moss and some vines of pothos and ivy.

the completed tank

Enter the newts

All four of them frolicking and courting:

Does this girl look preggers?

 

[evut]

Beautiful tank, Molch. The newts must be loving it. Hopefully you can get them to breed this year, good luck!

 

[slowfoot]

I was going to post my new pyrrhogaster tank, but yours will totally steal its thunder. So I'll wait a few days

The shelf idea is really cool. How often do they use them?

 

[Otterwoman]

I like your design a lot! So you just glued the ledge to the side without any bracing? Did you see the ledge Jennewt designed? I copied her idea but I like yours a lot. I made mine out of glass.

http://www.caudata.org/forum/f1173-...der-project-readily-available-components.html

 

[AaronK]

Great tank.
Would you elaborate on your substrate and lighting?
Thank you

 

[Helena]

Your tank looks beautiful! Your newts should be loving the rock wall! :ufo:

I am just wondering, do newts (particularly fire bellies) need a water heater?

 

[Molch]

thanks all

Erin - this is my first rock shelf, as inspired by Eva's example. But I'm now making a rock wall for the strauchii tank

Dawn - I braced it with the stiff wires while it cured, but once cured, silicone is very strong. The ledges aren't very heavy either..

snow4aaron - I use organic potting soil under the gravel as recommended in Diana Walstad's book "Ecology of the planted aquarium". The light is just a single 23 watt CFL bulb in a metal clamp reflector. I may increase light now that I have increased the water depth....

Helena - nope, no heater. They prefer it cool. At my house, their temp varies from 55 F in winter to about 68 F in summer. In the cold room, where they just spent 2 months, it was between 32 and 40 F. I think they can handle temps into the lower 70ies, but it never really gets that warm at my place

 

[Helena]

ok, well, what if the newts are born and raised in warm water and they are used to it?

 

[AaronK]

Thank you. Your newts have a great home.

 

[Azhael]

Helena, you might want to start a new thread to address your questions.

That grass like plant you have looks fantastic, and i see you are a fan of Hydrocotyle too
I envy your pyrrhos, they have a sweet place

She does look full of eggs to me, so fingers crossed!

 

[zoezakella]

Molch that is an amazing tank, love the grass type plant, think I may need to do some redesigning of my pyrro's tank after seeing this!!

 

[Molch]

the grass plant is a type of Eleocharis I think. It grows quite tall but I understand that it can be cut down like a lawn. Except, I haven't had the heart to do so yet

oh, and she started laying today. I don't know if they are fertile however. Courtship continues...

 

[SpaceCadetHayde]

This tanks is fantastic, Molch! You've got enough plant growth in your tanks to make up for the frozen tundra!

 

[Molch]

oh, and she started laying today. I don't know if they are fertile however. Courtship continues...

har har, she has started laying and I took a couple eggs under a magnifying lens and yup, they're definitely developing

Molch is happy. Last year I got only 2 developing eggs from her, all others were duds. Of all my newts, I want to see these guys breed the most, because they are old farts and I'd like some grandkids from them before they shove off the old coil.

Here is an Ode to My Fire Bellies:

I got these guys from a pet shop in Fairbanks, Alaska in February of 1998. I was a herp-deprived grad student then and that's before I wised up about pet shops and where their newts come from. Nowadays I would never buy pet shop newts again, but back then I didn't know any better. So almost certainly they are wild caught. They were fully adult when I got them, so who knows how old they really are.

I kept them in a 36" tank in my little rented log cabin. Every summer, I was in the boondocks doing field work, so I never really had a chance to breed them and raise larvae - except once: in 2000, when they produced eggs and I raised the larvae until just before metamorphosis, but then I had to go off and chase some muskoxen and a friend took care of the larvae and alas, they all died on her apparently from a bad batch of tubifex. She called me at the place where I did field work and I went off to sit on the tundra and I cried for about a day.:sad:

I've had these guys longer than my beloved dogs, longer than most of my friends (who keep moving away) and a hell of a heck longer than any boyfriends I've ever had (yea). When I moved to Nome, I smuggled them on the plane in a Tupperware box and blissfully explained to the flight attendant, "Oh, that's just my lunch in there."

Every summer I'd wade through tundra ponds in search of Daphnia and mosquito larvae and other yummies for them. I'd take along my doggie and we would play frisbee on the tundra between ponds.

So maybe this year we'll get lucky and get those grandkids. Who knows, it may be their last year laying - or they may go on for many years yet. They must be at least 16 years old, and maybe much older. Who knows, they might be older than I am. They probably had a long and epic life in Japan before they were captured for the pet trade. Sometimes when I look at them I wonder if they have ever bred before they got caught and if there are still kids and grandkids of theirs blissfully swimming around in japanese ponds and creeks...

That's their story, so far. They're good newts, and I'm quite fond of them

 

[Molch]

I was going to post my new pyrrhogaster tank, but yours will totally steal its thunder. So I'll wait a few days

I'd love to see yours - please post

 

[slowfoot]

I'll try to post them today - I can never get good shots of the tank or newts.

Your newts' story is pretty much the same as mine I think my mom got the two older ladies about 20+ years ago. They've laid eggs, but just never had a boyfriend so they were all duds. They just recently came to live with me again and Heather (jewett) was kind enough to provide a very sexy boyfriend, so we'll see how that goes...

One of my oldies is skinny (has been for the entire time we've had her) so I'm working on that before they get to meet the new guy. Anyway, I'm sure you'll get your grandkids: I bet your guys aren't even middle-aged yet.

 

[Azhael]

Congrats Molch! I´m so glad the Old Ones are laying fertile eggs. You are going to fall in love with the youngsters, you´ll see.

Sometimes when I look at them I wonder if they have ever bred before they got caught and if there are still kids and grandkids of theirs blissfully swimming around in japanese ponds and creeks...

That´s a trully lovely thought.

 

[Molch]

lil update: They did breed Both girls are laying. I am removing eggs because they are expert egg thieves. About 2/3 of the eggs are fertile. I have over 30 developing eggs already. The eggs develop very slowly at 58F. It may be 5-6 weeks to hatching. That's fine with me; the closer to May they hatch, the more wild-caught Daphnia I can supply while they grow.

So there's good hope there'll be some pyrrh babes this summer.

 

[rodsboys]

I absolutely love this tank. I am glad you finally have some grand babies in your future.

 

[AaronK]

Molch, congratulations on your success.
What type of gravel did you use for the soil cap? It looks very natural.