Our new pet

Thanks for everyone's kind words and advise. I really appreciate it and feel welcomed. I am impressed by the wealth of knowledge and dedication of the members. I'm so glad I found this web site.
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I never did feel attacked, maybe slightly misunderstood and "stereo-typed", but I'm a big girl and can take it! LOL

I'm going to be busy the next week or so. I'm a preschool teacher and I'm setting up my classroom and lesson planning. I'll be back though when life slows down again...and hopefully I'll have a digital camera soon. Then I can send photos that PROVE that I am a worthy salamander owner! Hee-hee!
Stephanie

**Just a note about the species Taricha Granulosa. I looked up its status in Oregon and I was relieved to see that it is not illegal to collect or to own. Nor is is even slightly endangered. The Oregon Rough-skinned Newt population is stable if not flourishing.
 
I've had lots of things escape from critter-keeper type cages - Drosophila!
I now trap a layer of nylon curtain material under the lid similar to Paris - works well.
 
Today I went to the pet store again. I am having trouble finding live food except for black worms. Does anyone have some suggestions? Maybe I need to go to a specific type of pet store.
I now have the tank set up with natural river gravel and a piece of aquarium quality wood. I am able to keep the water deeper now, since he can climb up out of the water by using the wood. He seems to enjoying swimming around. I also have the air stone working. It is bubbling more than I thought it would. Is it possible to have too much air? Will it bother the salamander? Should I leave it on all day and night--or should I turn it off at certain times?
He seems to like the worms, but I worry that he is not eating enough. Are there any specific signs of health or illness that I should be looking for. Everyone has sort of freaked me out with all the talk of me taking him back to where I found him. I am now worried that I will not take good enough care of him. I'd feel just rotten if he died.
Any reassurance? please....
Stephanie
PS I have no reason(indicators) to think he isn't perfectly healthy, but I'm worried none the less.
 
look on the caudata culture site for the similar species t. torosa that should give you a good indication on what to feed it and any other problems that could be answered
 
Try earthworms. Earthworms are the best overall food. Nightcrawlers are usually accepted more readily than 'red wigglers'.
 
My tarichas love earthworms of any kind, Steph. Even the red wigglers. If you do feed them earthworms, be sure to chop them small enough!

Mine also eat freeze-dried bloodworms and freeze-dried baby shrimp (common fish foods), tiny crickets, dried tubifex worms, and they even eat the Reptomin pellets.

He may be a little bit stressed now, and that often causes them to not focus on eating as much, so if he rejects any of these now, he may eventually like it. Youll probably have the best luck with live foods, at least until he settles down in his new home.
 
A 5 gallon tank is too small for him. I think I read that that is what he is in right now. I would say at least get a 10 gallon, if he is going to be alone, and if you plan on more in the future, then bigger.

For filters, I have used those little Penn-Plax cartridge filters, but those don't actually "filter" the water through. I currently use 2 filters in my 20 gallon long Taricha tank: a cartridge filter like that and also a submersible filter (Shark brand, I think) that basically pumps water through and collects junk on a plastic sponge. I think this works pretty good, but it does create a little bit of current. I dont know which route you want to go, but you'll need some kind of filter besides an air stone, unless you want to be cleaning it every other day.
 
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I dont care what anyone says, Taking an animal out of the wild and putting it in a five gallon tank is just wrong. If you want a pet for your kids go by one like a responible adult. Put Steve back in the wild. He doesnt like his new home. He liked living free in the wild. Terrible just Terrible.
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sry if i come off alittle harsh but I love animals and hate stories like this one.
I hope he makes it, whatever you decide to do.
 
John-
I think everyone is entitled to their own opinion. Diversity is what makes life interesting. BUT, you do not know me or my situation. I think your response is judgemental AND rude.
I came to this web site because I AM a responsible person who loves animals. I wanted to interact with others who felt the same way.
I am thankful that not everyone chooses to express themselves as tactlessly as you do...
Please do not bother to respond to this message. I am hoping that the discussion of my manner of acquiring my new pet is OVER and that we can move on to the real reason I posted in the first place--that is to gain knowledge that will help me care for "my new pet!"
Stephanie}
 
Okay,
I'm going to step up to the plate on a couple of assumptions being made here.

When did a 5 gallon tank become inappropriate for a single newt (even a moderate sized species such as a Taricha)?
John, how do you know that the animal is unhappy in a 5 gallon tank?

Third if they purchased a Taricha in the pet store it would be in all probability (approaching one) wild caught so please explain how the origin in the animal's origin makes a difference.


Ed
 
What size tank is best for one 7 1/2 inch t. granulosa?
I put him in a 5 gallon simply because that is the size I had available when I got home from camping. I realize that it is small, but I needed to start somewhere.
What kind of habitats do most people set up for their salamanders. Please be specific. I'd like to get ideas for creating a better home for Steve.
Thanks,
Stephanie
 
Hi Stephanie,
A 5 gallon tank is fine for a single Taricha (particuarly if its what you have on hand).
Larger is always better if it is an option but it will not harm the animal as long as you keep an eye on the water quality.

There are some excellant setups on there to give you some ideas. I keep my Taricha totally aquatic with a large amount of plant cover for them to climb out of the water if they choose.
(Although I will always defer to Pin Pin on how to care for Taricha)

Ed
 
Did the head herpetology keeper of the Philadelphia Zoo just defer to me for Taricha care?

Whoo hoo! I'm climbing up in the world.
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(Message edited by apples on August 27, 2004)
 
Thanks for the link to the tank set-ups. That was just what I needed. I'm dreaming up a new set up for my sallie...
Stephanie
 
Pin-Pin,
Could you describe to me typical t. granulosa behavior that you have observed? Such as how much time spent on land vs. water, types of swimming, how they sleep, etc.
Steve has been spending a lot of time out of the water on the wood. He stands with all 4 legs down, but very tall. He also holds his head up. He'll stay in that position frozen for long periods at a time. Then at other times, he explores the tank and swims around. Is this normal? Sometime I find him relaxed at the bottom of the tank--so still that I wonder if he's died. Is this how he sleeps?
Stephanie
 
I keep my Taricha pair in a 10-gallon tank -- and if I had only one such newt, then I'd also chose a 10-gallon tank over a smaller one, primarily (as Ed suggested) because it's easier to maintain water quality with a larger tank, but also because I suppose the newt would be more comfortable and because I find that size better for viewing purposes.

I don't know much about Taricha but I've heard (or read?) that some species (subspecies?) are more terrestrial than others. Whether this means you can't or shouldn't try to keep them completely aquatic, I just don't know. But anyway, your newt will show you its preferences if you provide it with floats or some other type of land area, and either maintain, reduce it or expand that area depending on the newt's use of it
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I keep mine completely aquatic. They rarely utilize the floats I have provided for them and don't take kindly to being removed from the water.

And by the way, Stephanie, I don't think you deserve a lynching for taking a newt home from the wild at your child's behest, especially since you only let him take home only one and you obviously are serious about caring for it and open to advice. The main threats to salamanders in the wild are things like habitat loss and mass collection for the pet trade. While leaving nature untouched is ideal, I'll bet there are many people actively involved in conservation efforts today who probably got their first exposure to newts by taking one home from the wild...

I have a Japanese friend who is pretty dead set against the purchase of newts from stores and collects most of his newts himself. He feels that acquiring a salamander is something that should entail some personal effort and yield some knowledge about the animal's natural habitat. I am coming around to his way of thinking, and I have to agree that the newts I have that I caught myself have more value to me (with some exceptions) than those I purchased, which were probably mass-collected for the pet trade by somebody without any consideration other than making a buck.

Sorry, I know you wanted to get off that subject...
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Heya Stephanie,

Tim's and Ed's advice are spot on...they're veterns in the field and have kept over 100+ caudates. Ed's comment on me much is too flattering since I'm relatively new to the field but have lots of <strike>what Dot calls "unhealthy"</strike> enthusiasm.

I've observed T. grans both in the water and on land in the wild. If your newts are indeed Taricha granulosa, then an aquatic environment is perfectly fine. (Post pictures!)

One thing I would be careful as a first time newt-owner is water quality. The three main causes of newt death seem to be temperature, mixing, and water quality. So get yourself a thermometer, be vigilant about the water quality, and don't mix in other species...and Steve should live to a ripe old age. (probably could outlive all your other family pets)
 
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