When Will Juvenile CFB Newts Become Aquatic?

[Brie]

My CFB newts are 1 and 1/2 years old. How will I know if they're ready for the water? I've read that it happens between 1-3 years, which is a pretty big gap. They have a big water bowl in their terrarium and they go in the water fairly often, though its not like they really sit in there submerged for long periods. I have rocks ringed around the edge so theres plenty of places to climb out, least anyone goes in and drowns. I have a tank all cycled and I'm temped to move the biggest ones into it to see what they do. Thoughts??

 

[bichogrilo]

Re: When Will Juvenial CFB Newts Become Aquatic?

They have reached an age where they can definitely be moved to a more aquatic setup. Just make sure there are a few things breaking the surface of the water for them to climb out as they almost certainly will for a while. Have lots of tall plants that grow to the surface so they feel secure swimming in a larger area. They are basically a fully aquatic species but some are more stubborn than others. I have 8 and 6 live fully aquatically, one is 50/50 and one is hanging out on the platform making my life hard( its the youngest at about a year old).
It made feeding soooo much easier as they will eat daphnia and mosquito larvae again when they are aquatic as well as there usual worms.

 

[Azhael]

Re: When Will Juvenial CFB Newts Become Aquatic?

Size is much more relevant than age. As a general rule (although it could vary depending on populations) juveniles larger than 5,5-6cm long can be introduced to an aquatic life succesfully. Age is pretty useless as some individuals can attain that size or even maturity in a year while others can take 3 or more.

Bichogrilo´s advice about plants is a very important point, dense plant thickets make a huuuuuge difference.

 

[Brie]

Re: When Will Juvenial CFB Newts Become Aquatic?

Thanks for the advice, I think I defiantly need some plants. I moved two of my biggest into the tank but they don't seem to have embraced it. It's a 15 gallon tank with two turtle platforms, one on either side. One of the platforms is almost entirely enclosed in a ceramic cave and the other platform is open with a couple plants and rocks.

The newts have cowered in the cave for most of the entire week, which I find very distressing. In the terrarium they were very confident and moved about quite a bit. One of them has come out twice and gone over to the other platform, though I didn't see him in transit so I don't know if he swam the 5" of open water or climbed the glass. They are both eating though so I guess they aren't going to die of horror just yet. I think the deep water is definatley freaking them out, and the bubbles from the filter may be alarming as well. Theres only one plant and it doesn't break the surface, so I guess the next thing will be to make plant bridge.

 

[vistajpdf]

Re: When Will Juvenial CFB Newts Become Aquatic?

Brie,

It's not uncommon for the newts to act in this way when placed in a new environment. My original pair did the same thing for around a month. With their offspring, they have varied all over the range given (1-3 years) for returning to the water.

I will say that those who went aquatic are WAY larger than the ones who lagged behind. Once aquatic, they do bulk out and quickly began to look like adults (over a period of months.)

I have some who hung out on the turtle dock in one tank, but were definitely aquatic. I had 4 in that 10 gallon w/ the turtle dock, and since they've grown quite bulky once returning to the water, I've come to believe the landlovers may have felt crowded or threatened by the more aggressive ones. I got another tank going for them and they are at the bottom of the water now. Others, I've had to coax with very shallow tanks that I gradually added water to. I also have many floating plants and found that without the larger land option, they took to the water more readily. However, I have read about drownings, so you have to be careful.

Good luck,
Dana

 

[ctnjoker]

Re: When Will Juvenial CFB Newts Become Aquatic?

I've had my newt for about a month, and it's around 6cm long. He's in an aquatic setup (about 5in of water) witha few rocks poking out for dry areas.

However it spends ALL its time above the water. I never see it submerged. It also has only eaten twice that I know of, otherwise it doesn't seem to be eating.

 

[Brie]

Re: When Will Juvenial CFB Newts Become Aquatic?

Wow, I didn't realize this was going to be such a process. When they first came onto land, I had them in a big tupperware on a slant and within 48 hours they had all marched right out of the water and never looked back. Not quite the same going back in I suppose. Though I got some long plants that lie along the surface of the water and the brave one took a walk across them. I fed him some worm pieces while he stood on the plants to try and develop a little positive association. I dunno if newts work that way but worth a try.

Last night I selected a third candidate for relocation, he looked like a big fellow, as big or bigger then the two already in the aquatic tank. I decided to measure him first, in accordance with Azhael's mention of the 5cm rule and he was just barley 5cm. So maybe they aren't as mature as I thought they were and I'll wait another few months before I think of relocating anyone else.

 

[Brie]

Re: When Will Juvenial CFB Newts Become Aquatic?

By and by, ctnjoker, are you feeding him live food or dead?