Raising my first newt eggs....Mesotriton alpestris!

[patrick]

This thread brings back memories. hold in there for the metamorphasis, it is so rewarding.

Don't get too upset about the deaths. Sometimes the smaller ones die because of developmental reasons and there's nothing you can do about it. I had one whose legs didn't develop correctly and it died before the arrival of the dark pigment. another died right during metamorphasis, I think perhaps from not eating.

good luck and keep us updated.

 

[david]

They may not morph. I've got about 230 babies in my tanks and both of the parents were about a year old and still have gil buds.

(Message edited by dln on March 26, 2007)

 

[ravenous]

Ive read that this species sometimes doesnt completley morph. I hope they do though cause im not too crazy about the axotl look.

Ive read that morph is the next critical time with drowning and all that so Im a bit worried I might lose some more than. So in 2 months Ill be full of questions on details so I dont lose any!

 

[ryan]

Just make sure that once they get bigger to put some sort of land mass in the water, just in case.

 

[michelle]

Great to hear the updates again. You shouldn't be so hard on yourself with the ones you lost. They really sound like they had the best of care, but with even that would not of been strong enough to make it.
Best of luck & keep updating (Enjoying the pics. as well)

 

[jacob]

I agree with Michelle, you shouldn't be so hard on yourself. Rearing newt larvae is not a task the average person could take on and succeed with. I think even raising one is an achievement, because if it weren't for you caring for it every day, then it wouldn't be here. Good luck!

 

[ravenous]

Well Im not really being hard on myself but after having around 45 eggs to have 7 get to this stage is a huge loss ratio. Granted this was my first time but I hate the feeling of not exceeding.

Question: They should start to morph around the begining of May I think. Should I lower their water level to just above their backs as well as supply an island? Or leave the island and keep it deep? I dont want any to drown.

Heres some new pics folks!

New container. Compare the clumps of moss to the above pics and you can see this new one is about 5 times larger than their first ones.

Jungle side

the other side

other side 2

 

[ryan]

Wow they are getting big and they look awesome!

 

[ravenous]

Thanks man!

I forgot to say in my above post, thanks for all the support guys

 

[chris]

they look nice. doing great, dan.

 

[michelle]

Wow! They are getting big. Great job & nice pictures! Keep on posting.

 

[patrick]

About the land, I have some karelinii that just morphed, and they still rarely come out on land, I would say keep the water deep and add an island, but make sure that it is really easy to get onto the land. Think Miami beach instead of the Cliffs of Dover. If they seem to spend alot of time on land then add more land, but mine spend almost all the time in the water.

oh and great job by the way, I am sure you are going to have some beautiful adults. M. alprestris is pretty much my favorite.

 

[jennifer]

Your larvae look good

You should keep them with a secure lid pretty soon (better too soon than too late). Be sure to provide a steady supply of blackworms and get them as large as possible before they morph. Any kind of island is probably OK, but I usually go with something 'solid' instead of a floating dock, and be sure it's along the edge, not in the center of the tub. It also helps to have a thick layer of plants (real or fake), which provide additional resting places right at the water surface. I would not recommend lowering the water level below what you have.

 

[ravenous]

The Magnificent Seven!


Thanks for the words everybody. M7 is what I named my final survivors. M. Alprestris became my favorites when I did more and more research on newts. I love that they actually get IN the water!

I'll add some new pics on the 1 month mark (I add new ones once a month) and by than Ill have the island (a flint rock thats been in the waiting tank for a month) and they should be larger and darker as Im already seeing it.

Now thats interesting Jenn. I woulda put the island right in the middle. Why is it best not to do that? Thanks for the reccomendation though! More pics coming soon

 

[heather]

I always look forward to your updates with new pics, they give me an idea what to expect with my 10 larval Ma's. Can't wait to see the new pics!
Oh, and as I understand it islands are best on the side of a tank because most animals will swim to a side before they swim to the middle. So by placing your island along the side helps your animals to find it when they need it, instead of swimming the sides in a panic and drowning before they find a place to haul out on.
Heather

 

[ryan]

Any updates Dan?

 

[ravenous]

Thanks Heather! I kinda figured after I posted that it may because theyre always around the edge. They always swim around FAST when startled and Ive seen a few get so freaked and move so fast (mainly while Im trying to clean or do a change) that they completley fly out of the tub! Its pretty crazy.

Oh and to note what Jenn said about making sure theyre large before the morph, I put them in a new container as the one pictured above has 1 inch deep crevices all around the edge and they kept wedging themselves in there. I thought it would stress em or theyd get stuck eventually so I put them in a new one where you can see them really clear through the plastic and they all are extremely fat, I mean huge. Gigantic bellies on these suckers.

 

[ryan]

Do you have any pictures of the new set up?

 

[ravenous]

No new set up yet, just container switch.

I did lose ALL thier live food though, see here:
http://www.caudata.org/forum/messages/24861/82551.html?1177112416

 

[ryan]

That sucks, sorry to hear that.