The Sniff

[benjamin]

Here are some pictures of my C.orientalis breeding today, unfortunately I didn't get any tail fanning or spermatophore shots because the camera flash discouraged the male, I think he wanted some privacy, I'll try to get some more. I know that Cynops orientalis breeding isn't anything too special but I'm still very excited and proud.

 

[benjamin]

Well breeding has born fruit. Got 8 eggs today.

 

[ralf]

Any newt breeding in captivity is special and something to be proud of, regardless of species.

It also never ceases to be extremely exciting.

Congratulations!

 

[joseph]

Congratulations! I agree with Ralf. Keep me updated on the eggs. You should get more. Just to increase your anticipation larvae are very fun to deal with and its incredible to watch them grow and eventually sprout legs.

Also, the second picture looks clear enough to be on CC as a demonstration of "stage one".

 

[joeri]

Congratulations.

Mind that cynops eat their own eggs, best separate them. You could wait for more eggs first and than take the plants out with eggs in.

good luck
Joeri

 

[benjamin]

I've sepperated the eggs, I won't be able to get any more breeding photos till the weekend (breeding still is taking place but the female now intentionally tries to avoid the male, but I can get some more egg photos. I got 8 more eggs today.

Here are some photos. This first one is the assortment of items she laid on in their new home, a tupper-ware container. I was amazed to see she had the strength to bend the leaves of the fake plant.

Here's one of an egg, because I don't have the best photographic equipment I had to use a magnifying glass to get this close up and the glare from the light source (reflecting of the magnifying lense rather than the water surface) almost eliminates all surface details

, so it's more of a silhouette.

Thanks for all the complements

. I'm glad you think my photo is CC worthy.

 

[mark]

Nice, did you induce breeding? How? How many adult C.o.'s do you have?

 

[benjamin]

I only have 1 male and 1 female. I induced breeding with a six week cooling period when temps ranged between 4º and 13ºc and no lighting. After which I gave them 12 hour lighting, placed lots of laying plants in the aquarium (there would be no way for the plants to survive the dark), and fed them frequently, after the cooling period it took about three weeks for breeding to take place.

 

[mark]

Nice! Thanks for the advice. Around how many weeks/month did you do this for? How did you cool the tank?

 

[benjamin]

The tank's in a garden shed and at this time of year it's cool in england so all I had to do was turn the heater and the lights off for 6 weeks.

 

[mark]

Darn, I wish I could get my newts to breed!

 

[benjamin]

Well the egg count is up to twenty today, whether this is because she's not laying as many or because a busy schedule kept me from saving as many I do not know.

 

[benjamin]

Egg count is now 30. About 50% of the vegetation has been moved out of the tank. I caught my female receiving a spermatophore and was suprized. Will this have any effect on future eggs?

(Message edited by ben_tajer on December 10, 2004)

 

[benjamin]

egg count is now up at 40. The eggs from the first day have developed some.