Notophthalmus viridenscens louisianensis--Central Newt

[joseph]

Window light isn't enough to grow most plants. They may live for a week or 2 and then start to die. I've used java fern and moss alot in my tanks since no matter how much you abuse it it seems to do just fine(it will turn brownish, but if you put it back in good conditions it will soon grow new leaves). The java moss is a little more sensitive, but I've got enough that it crawls around in all my tanks.

Red ludwigia, fanwort(probably a cambomba) and your bacopa need lots of light. You could attempt to adapt the bacopa or ludwigia to the land section as an emersed if you wish. I'd remove the "fanwort" quite difficult to keep without dedicated light and fertilizer.

for java moss, you may have to look online and check aquabid.com.

 

[stacy]

I still have three Notophthalmus viridenscens louisianensis out of the six I first rescued in February, 2004. I lost one to an escape. Later, another developed a strange bulls-eye area of faded coloration around a black spot, and it died. And about two years ago, I fed one evening and found I had only three. My tank is escape proof. The only thing I can suspect is that I accidentally removed him when I thinned plants out. I checked really well to be sure I didn't have one mixed in the plants, but maybe I did? Or he escaped from the tank during that process.

However, I just wanted to update everyone that three of the original six are still with me and thriving after three years. However, I now have only one sex in the group, so no breeding.

There was a second catastrophe in the bog out back. One hot summer day, it dried out. The children all ran in to tell me there were thousands of tadpoles of every description slowly sinking into the mud as it hardened behind them. We rushed out in boots with buckets of pond water in hand and started gathering critters. We transferred them into one of the ponds out back...and I found many red newts in the effort. We placed them all along the margins of the pond.

I've never actively gone back searching to see if the newt population is once again viable, but I'd love to find a few more to add to the ones in the tank. I just don't feel right about doing it unless they are in trouble and need to be rescued.

Anyway, that's the newt story these days. We enjoy watching our newts. We are known for always having odd pets, but these have gotten lots of attention.

I still battle keeping plants alive in my tank. I need a new light. I've tried various plants. What have you had most success with? And what plants have your newts enjoyed the most?

 

[joseph]

Great story. Also good keeping the kids busy.

I would reccomend Najas and java moss. They work best in my low light setups.

 

[James87]

I've had good luck with pothos and fluorescent lighting. Also parrot's feather.

It sounds like you have some great newt habitat in your area. I live in the documented range of Central Newts but I haven't been able to find them anywhere.