When will the juvenile C. orientalis go aquatic?

[vistajpdf]

Hi everyone,

I got out the ruler and measured my largest juveniles the other day. They are over 5 cm. nose to tip of tail. They don't seem to have much interest in the water. How should I go about coaxing them towards that environment? I suppose I'll just let nature take its course and they'll go when ready. I saw a few hanging out in the shallow water dishes I had in some of the tanks, so I thought they were getting close. However, there seems to be no rhyme or reason to when they are in the water, if at all.
They morphed a year ago, give or take a month or two.

Dana

 

[Zac]

Hi there,

At 5 cm they should already be aquatic. I recently bought 2 new C. Orientalis at a petshop and they are both around 5-5.5 cm. My older newt, Newton is now 5 cm, and was 4.8 cm. His skin is much smoother and he tends to use the water area more often.

Zac

 

[Azhael]

If they have been terrestrial all this time, they may need a little more time. Males will start developing when they are about 5,5 cm long, so be patient. Females may take longer.
You can provide a very shallow (1 inch deep), heavily planted, tank with few terrestrial areas and see how they respond.

 

[vistajpdf]

Thanks, guys. Yes, Azhael, they've been on a substrate of plain paper towels, artificial plants and some tanks have had water bowls that I've seen them in, but not exclusively.

If I do provide the shallow tank of which you discuss, I assume it is all evenly covered with an inch of water or do a tilted tank? I know you're not a fan of the sloped gravel due to bacteria pockets, but how would I provide enough land should they not be ready? Large rocks and plants? Or is it best to persuade them to be aquatic by giving less and less land options?

Thanks - hate to keep asking the same questions but feel that some of these "should" be ready for water based on size. Their skin is quite rough. Last night, I saw them all huddled up on the opposite side of the tank from their water bowl and the paper towels were getting quite dry.

Dana

 

[Azhael]

I don´t tilt the tank, i simply put an inch of water, and for land i use bark, wood or rocks. You don´t need much land at all, you can have less than 20% land, with no problems.
As they get used to it, and you see which ones go aquatic, which ones are fifty-fifty and which ones refuse to touch the water, you can separate them into different tank and provide more specific conditions for their personalities.

 

[vistajpdf]

Azhael,

I made the switch to water for the largest juveniles. However, how do I now feed them? I have about 15-20 in less than an inch of water with lots of plants and areas rising out of the water, but they've been mostly on fruit flies. I put blackworms in the water but I'm worried about them making the switch. Should I take them out to feed as if terrestrial - worms, fruit flies and springtails or will they naturally begin hunting food in the water?

Dana

 

[Azhael]

Fear not xD Offer food in the water and they will eventually figure it out. Blackworms are an ideal food for these situations as they will entice the little newts with their movement, but can´t really scape.
Keep on eye on the group and if you see some that appear thin, feed those with tweezers. It´s a matter of time for them to get used to the fact that there is food underwater, some are just a bit thick like that xD

 

[vistajpdf]

Thanks, Azhael. Unfortunately, they're all huddled on the little land portion of the set up so far. I will give it time.

Dana