Raising Neurergus kaiseri

[coendeurloo]

I tend to agree John, one of the conclusions of this discussion was that there seem to be multiple ways of succesfully keeping and breeding this specie, so to prevent a 'biased method', it might be worth it to let a 3rd person compile the information. So Jen......

 

[Jennewt]

Failing an experienced breeder of kaiseri raising his or her hand, is it absolutely necessary for the "compiler" to have experience breeding the species? I would have thought that a suitable document could be prepared from the collection of informal accounts from the various experts here and their subsequent amalgamation by an erudite editor. Ouch. I need to lay off the Public Radio. Next I'll be using words like "burgeoning" and "surreptitious", whatever those might mean.

Yes John, you need to stay away from NPR. You are clearly burgeoning with surreptitious vocabulary-expansion! Can't you just watch CNN like the rest of us? Perhaps Fox News would be an even better antidote.

I'll be happy to act as the erudite editor, but it will also take someone's effort to compile references and information from them. I don't have access to a good research library (nor a personal library of caudate-related articles). Any takers for this part of the job? Is anyone familiar with the "history" of this species in captivity (and willing to write it out?)

I will try to get a framework started, and we can continue this in a separate thread, perhaps in the Donor/Contributor area.

 

[John]

Yes John, you need to stay away from NPR. You are clearly burgeoning with surreptitious vocabulary-expansion! Can't you just watch CNN like the rest of us? Perhaps Fox News would be an even better antidote.

Honestly, I don't know how you guys (Americans) can stand your news media - it's almost all opinion pieces (any news bulletin - I don't want the opinion, spin or bad story selection of the newscaster, I want the facts) or grossly biased piffle (Rush Limbaugh [spelling?], Lou Dobbs). NPR is the best of a bad lot in my opinion (yes it's somewhat more liberal than most but they do report the facts much more evenly). I find myself relying on the BBC news web site for my news (and American news).

I'll be happy to act as the erudite editor, but it will also take someone's effort to compile references and information from them. I don't have access to a good research library (nor a personal library of caudate-related articles). Any takers for this part of the job? Is anyone familiar with the "history" of this species in captivity (and willing to write it out?)

I will try to get a framework started, and we can continue this in a separate thread, perhaps in the Donor/Contributor area.

I don't think a huge reference library is necessary to write this - after all the meat here is the breeding experiences of the users and those will be "personal communication" type references.

 

[coendeurloo]

I have placed a number of links that might prove useful in the Donor/Contributor area.

 

[Mark]

For such skittish, shy animals they become very bold around food. Mine almost exclusively hand feed and will come fully out into the open if they think a meal is in the offing. They greedily accept frozen blood worm from a toothpick but are non too keen on earthworms. I think I read in Gunter’s account that his didn’t recognise earthworms as prey.

Mine are about 10cm in length now and some are showing the beginnings of adult pigmentation. Others retain their juvenile spotting. Obesity is still a potential problem.

I think I will keep them terrestrial, at least until next winter when I will give them access to water. They will be too young to breed but I want to introduce the concept of a rainy season. Based on the number of people keeping juvenile N.kaiseri aquatic I think they will take to water even when immature.

How are everyone else’s doing?

White pigment merging.

Overweight

Sardines under a rock

 

[benw]

Great pics Mark, great to see they are doing so well

 

[ajc]

Cut back on the feeding Mark. My adults are quite slender, apart from when the female is full of eggs. These pictures are definitely obese for this species.
My adults have small earthworms as the bulk of their diet (but not Dendrobaena, which terrestrial animals generally won't take, except for my piggy. T. kweichowensis), but the juveniles are not keen. Neither juvelies or adults will take slugs.
I have no recent pictures, but will try sexing mine in the autumn, and will consider a breeding attempt next spring, although I suspect they will need another year to mature.

 

[markusA]

I have experience from 5 years keeping now. During terrestrial phase the adult animals accepted earth worms but only occassionally. I tried slugs and woodlice, only the latter were eaten in small amounts.
Since 2 years I feed small mineral&vitamine dusted crickets and I observed that all of them got fat so I reduced feeding amount a bit. They are skilled hunters.
The offspring I raise in a terrestrial environment as well (smaller dusted crickets) with the same good results.

 

[coendeurloo]

My group is doing great so far. They grow at a steady rate, about 9-10 cm at the moment. I feed them firebrats, crickets, waxmoth larvae, butterworms, bean beetles, fruitflies and white woodlice. They still seem to be able to catch the fruitflies. I have also observed the merging white patterns, but not in all individuals.

 

[frank_pasmans]

Just out of interest. How many keepers have repeatedly bred N kaiseri (not only on a single occasion)? For me, it is still not clear how to reproduce these newts with some regularity in consecutive years. I bred them once, in the first year of (presumed) adulthood. I wish you luck to compile a care sheet, Jen.

 

[paul_b]

AW: Re: Raising Neurergus kaiseri

I....I observed that all of them got fat so I reduced feeding amount a bit. They are skilled hunters....

here you see a photo of a female in nature:
http://www.ag-urodela.de/abb2_neurergus kaiseri.jpg

taken by Manitz and Mißler on:
http://www.ag-urodela.de/gersfeld2007.htm

I think it looks pretty fat

Paul

 

[coendeurloo]

Re: AW: Re: Raising Neurergus kaiseri

Is it me or does this one lack spots on its back? Im watching the photo on a mobile. Very interesting.

 

[Jennewt]

I wish you luck to compile a care sheet, Jen.

The caresheet was assembled:
http://www.caudata.org/cc/species/Neurergus/N_kaiseri.shtml
If you have any additional information, it's never to late to add/correct/refine.

That photo is quite a fat female, and interesting coloration too.

 

[Mark]

That’s a rather portly and beautiful specimen, Paul. Do you have access to the presentation Arngard & Wolfram gave in 2007? It would be wonderful to see any habitat data or photos if they are willing to share.

Mine have been on a diet since the previous photos and have slimmed down a little. I’m feeding them only once a week now and waxworms are no longer offered as a treat. They’ve finally started taking an interest in earthworms which is great news from a feeding perspective.

 

[paul_b]

AW: Re: Raising Neurergus kaiseri

That’s a rather portly and beautiful specimen, Paul. Do you have access to the presentation Arngard & Wolfram gave in 2007? It would be wonderful to see any habitat data or photos if they are willing to share.

I'm also waiting on the publication!

Mine have been on a diet since the previous photos and have slimmed down a little. I’m feeding them only once a week now and waxworms are no longer offered as a treat. They’ve finally started taking an interest in earthworms which is great news from a feeding perspective.

My urodela I never feed waxworms.
The N.k. love earthworms but they are aquatic!

Paul

 

[sean n dad]

Hi All,
One question, what is minimum/maximum size tank to house N. kasieri. How much wondering room do they need?