Newts

[Tim/Robin]

About a year and a half ago, we got some rare newts. We got two different kinds, cousins. We got a group of Neurergus kaiseri and Neurergus strauchii. We experienced some amazing results this spring. The N strauchii produced!! I (Tim) have been very busy raising little newts. To my knowledge, we are one of only 2 or maybe 3 people ever to get them to produce in captivity. They are amazing newts, and a lot of fun to keep. Here are a few photos of what they look like.

The adults, they are about 6 inches.....

The newtlets started like this.....

Then this....

This.....

Now they have arms and legs.....

And finally, fully through metamorphosis but still retaining their gills.....

Now their gills are most of the way gone. They have been a very fun project. I do have some available if anyone is interested. PM for details.

 

[l0velesly]

Wow.. they look amazing before they metaporphosized! Congrats!

 

[tyler0912]

wow you must be so proud!

 

[Kristina]

Very cool. I have raised axolotls before so I know what a labor of love it is feeding umpteen times a day and changing the water constantly. Congratulations are well deserved!

 

[AnthonyC]

Those are super cool!

 

[bettinge]

Tell us more about the daily and weekly up keep. What do they eat, what temps and humidity.

When I was a kid I put a salamander in my moms terrarium without telling her. The thing lived for well over a year without any intervention. One day she finally saw it and freaked.

 

[Tim/Robin]

Tell us more about the daily and weekly up keep. What do they eat, what temps and humidity.

When I was a kid I put a salamander in my moms terrarium without telling her. The thing lived for well over a year without any intervention. One day she finally saw it and freaked.

They like most newts can be kept on land or on water. My adults I have always kept in a 20 gal long tank. They prefer frozen blood worms. They will also eat brine shrimp, but they tend to clog the filter. They will take chopped earth worms and live black worms.

On land they can eat chopped earth worms, small crickets, meal worms, wax worms, etc. I am going to raise some of these little ones in a large terrestrial set up.

The larvae would gorge themselves on baby brine shrimp (BBS). I had 2 hatcheries going for quite some time hatching a lot of BBS. I would also add chopped live black worms which they would chow too. As larvae, they would not take the frozen blood worms.

As for temps, they have to be kept cool. Their water temp cannot get above 75F or so. I am told they can tolerate slightly warmer on land if kept moist. Mine are thriving in my basement. They are a lot of fun!!

 

[Jacqui]

They do look like beautiful animals. Metamorphosing is so very interesting. Sometimes you have to wonder how nature came up with some of these things. How many did you end up with and how many did you start with (the youngings)?

 

[dmarcus]

Very cool to see the photo's from the small egg to such an awesome looking animal..

 

[Turtle Guru]

That is so cool congratulations on the newts

 

[dmmj]

I like the spots.