Some T. Granulosa Questions...

[emily]

I have 3 recently aquired grans. I got one...then the second one about a week later, well then I got a 3rd a couple weeks later

cant help myself. I may get one more at most for this set up. (They all came from the same source) all came thin too. Didnt last long though, there filling out nicely.

I have them in a 55gal tank with 3/4 water and 1/4 land. The water depth is currently about 5-6in. I plan to change that when I have the recources to do so. I have a lot of plants, mostly some worn out silk ones and one real one in water and on land. How much free swimming space do they like? They dont have a lot right now, but they seem to do more hanging around than anything, so I assume thats what they prefer. I also have a large drift wood in there, no one gets on that though. What water depth would you reccemend for them?

One other thing, sexing them. Im quite positive I have 1 female, one other I believ to be also, and I think the other might be male. I have no idea. Is there any way to tell? I took some pictures tonight, trying to get there undersides in particular, not too great. Is that the view you all would need to make your guesses? One is huge, the one Im positive is a female, she seems full of eggs. The next seems to be showing signs of getting full now too, but nothing signifigant yet. The final one that I think may be male is smaller than the other 2, possibly younger? But I did see him grab one of the others once, but it was pretty brief, so im not positive of the purpose, but it appeared to be deliberate...

So plants, free swimming space and sexing is what im asking about I guess. They have been eating small earth worms, they gobble them right up. They all started putting on weight nearly immidiately after I got them.

 

[jeff]

Of the three species of the genus Taricha, granulosas are without a doubt the most aquatic. I keep mine in a 55-gallon tank filled approx 10-11 inches of water. A well planted tank with live plants will help to keep the water healthy. Lastly yes, if you wish to post pictures for help in sexing your newts, cloacal shots would be best.

Also, if you haven't discovered this yet, here is the link for the granulosa caresheet: http://www.caudata.org/cc/species/Taricha/T_granulosa.shtml

 

[ali]

Hi Emily, I keep granulosa as well. I find that when kept aquatic, it seems that most people keep a significant number of things that stick up out of the water (tall plants, driftwood, etc), but a whole land area generally just takes up swimming space (unless of course they use it often, or if it's made as a shelf so that they can still swim under it). I read on this page that in the wild granulosa can be found in depths from 1inch to some number of meters that I remember thinking was really deep! So as deep as you have room for, I'm sure they'll love. That's another advantage to no land area, but instead many things sticking up out of the water, this creates many different depths in your tank, so they can choose where they like to be most. I have one adult in a ten gallon (for now) with the water about 3 inches from the top (to accomodate my filter and floating moss covered corkbark.)

Also, I'm not sure if you work, or are a student, etc, but my granulosa seem to swim around like crazy between about noon and four pm. I'm sure that varies per the animal, but I thought you might not be home during their swimming hours!

If you go to the Caudata.org home page, and then click on articles at the top, you will find a page for sexing animals. Scroll down a bit and there are pictures of t. granulosa that will help you sex your animal. With the help of this page, I believe that I have sexed my one adult, and I'm not sure of the other because it's so young. Good luck and I hope I've been helpful.

 

[joan]

Plants are really up to you. I keep lots of Pothos ivy in mine, and some java moss, but this tends to get sucked up by the filter, which is quite annoying.

I have all my 'islands' up on pedestals, so there's lots of space for them to a.) hide under them, and b.) swim around if they want. I'm keeping 3 (soon to be 4, as soon as the little female puts on more weight), in a 40 gallon with about 7 inches of water.

Sexing is difficult when they're young or outside of breeding season. During breeding season, females swell with eggs, males develop an enlarged cloaca and very smooth (shiny, not bumpy) skin.