Surprised by T. dobrogicus eggs

[anothernewtfan]

I received four sub adult Triturus dobrogicus from a well respected Caudata.org member around Oct 15 2010. Three females, one male. Within a couple months the lone male's tail began to change color and his crest became apparent. Last week I saw a brief courtship display with my stud and the largest female. Within a few days I found eggs. I have already started to take eggs out of the parent tank and place them in a bare bottom 10 gallon. I would love any tips or suggestions about raising the larvae. I have read the care sheet but figured someone would have some additional info.

 

[Greatwtehunter]

The caresheet is pretty straight forward on the things you need to do. Just remember to keep the water quality optimal and them well fed to prevent them from injuring each other.

 

[anothernewtfan]

Thanks Justin. I am pleased to announce some of these eggs now contain developing embryos, with duds being removed as discovered. Look forward to raising another species besides C.o.
All my success in raising amphibian larvae can be attributed to information found on Caudata.org. This is a sort of one stop shop for caudate husbandry information, which makes it ideal for everyone from newbies to experts. Thanks to all who make it happen.

 

[Jake]

"Pond tanks" are a great way to raise larvae. You can set one up by leaving water and live plants in the adult tank, let it get established and wait. Microfoods will naturally begin to grow in number and will supply the small larvae with food that they need. You can also feed them on chopped blackworms, Daphnia (which grow well in healthy tanks with no power filter), whiteworms, and if you're desperate you can use freshly hatched brineshrimp, but the brineshrimp will foul the water quickly because they die unless you keep them in water with higher salt concentrations than newts are comfortable living in.

On a side note, you may want to replace the substrate in that tank. "Pea gravel" may look cool in your newt aquarium but newts can easily ingest those small pieces of gravel during a feeding frenzy and that can eventually cause intestinal compaction. Sand, slate, large river rocks or bare bottom tanks are much better choices.

Good luck with your larvae!

 

[anothernewtfan]

Thanks Jacob. I have since covered the gravel with sand. I knew when I posted that someone would mention possible ingestion. But you are right it can and does happen all the time. I will probably switch to larger gravel "river rock" in some of my future setups. I've switched a couple tanks to no substrate and that definitely has a big upside.

 

[anothernewtfan]

How many days before these little guys are actively feeding?

 

[Jake]

How many days before these little guys are actively feeding?

Once they hatch they will have 1-4 days (depending on temperature) before they need to eat. The first few days they will be surviving off of the remainder of the yolk sac that hasn't been absorbed. The best thing to do with them is keep them in a tank surrounded by microfoods so they can feed as they please. If you do this they will grow quick.

 

[enricolatiano]

hi, then gotten a lot of daphnia a few of artemia and the enchitreis.
you put the daphnies in the tub where you have the larvas and feed they with a few of yeast of beer every 3 days.
howerwer if you will do as i had tell you,your larvas will have a very red belly and a very beautiful back whit most red.

sorry for my english

 

[Italicus]

hi, then gotten a lot of daphnia a few of artemia and the enchitreis.
you put the daphnies in the tub where you have the larvas and feed they with a few of yeast of beer every 3 days.
howerwer if you will do as i had tell you,your larvas will have a very red belly and a very beautiful back whit most red.

sorry for my english

if I was you I wouldn't put yeast in larvae's tank. Yeast pollutes the water and if you put to much of it you kill daphniae and larvae. I would't take this risk

 

[enricolatiano]

yes i know but if it put in a few is not a problem

 

[Azhael]

It´s a very risky thing. Not advisable at all.

 

[anothernewtfan]

Approximately 18 out of 50 eggs produced viable larvae. They are feeding on tiny invertebrates I am netting out of my established tanks. Look forward to watching them grow.

 

[anothernewtfan]

The whole first group of larvae died. I think they were in too small of a container and the water quality crashed. The parent tank underwent some major changes as I went ahead and took out every last piece of gravel and went with no substrate. This also meant getting all the soil/mud out of the tank as well. Lets just say I got quite a work out hauling buckets.