purplecatfish Posted October 8, 2009 Report Share Posted October 8, 2009 My son wants to get some newts, but I've told him to find out some facts first. He's done a google search and has found out a few things. So what advice would you give him? And does anyone have some available? Or some eggs? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
livingart Posted October 8, 2009 Report Share Posted October 8, 2009 keep mine in 4 foot fishtank 1/2 land and water, mainly land for youngsters lots of mosses for habitat they are escape artists to fitted lids is a must very easy to keep Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alanmin4304 Posted October 8, 2009 Report Share Posted October 8, 2009 Culture your own fruit flies and find spots to get the shiny green or brown aphids (they don't like the grey or fluffy ones) and this will cut your food bill. Put a slice of apple in there and that atracts the fruit flies and you can always easily tell if there is food available.You can feed whiteworms now and then when they are bigger. Give them places to hide. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alanmin4304 Posted October 8, 2009 Report Share Posted October 8, 2009 Get the book: Keeping fire bellied newts by TJ Thornton published by TJ'S books PO box 327 Warkworth TJs_ [email protected] I think it is less than $20 They are not that easy to raise from eggs as they need brine shrimp nuplii (can feed daphnia but not as good),and need to be seperated into groups the same size. They are like axies and eat each other but unlike axies the bits don't regrow. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Insect Direct Posted October 8, 2009 Report Share Posted October 8, 2009 They are like axies and eat each other but unlike axies the bits don't regrow. are you sure? im fairly sure the feet or atleast the toes of one of my newts have grown back in the past. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
herperjosh Posted October 8, 2009 Report Share Posted October 8, 2009 well i made a care sheet onkeeping newts in new zealand if you whant to look at it its http://www.newzealandreptileandamphibia ... xotics.htm Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alanmin4304 Posted October 9, 2009 Report Share Posted October 9, 2009 I have not seen them just lose a toe. In my experience most of the babies went leaving a few big fat ones. I now keep them in seperate containers where they are all within a few days of the same age. The adults don't seem as canabalistic. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
purplecatfish Posted October 9, 2009 Author Report Share Posted October 9, 2009 Purplecatfish's Fry says "thanks for the advice" Does anyone have more tips? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Insect Direct Posted October 9, 2009 Report Share Posted October 9, 2009 sorry i was meaning morphed newts regenerating limbs etc not babies. my tip would be keep setup simple and secure so they cant escape. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alanmin4304 Posted October 9, 2009 Report Share Posted October 9, 2009 That is interesting too---didn't know that they could. OK, OK, he is not about to chop toes off to test the theory. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Insect Direct Posted October 9, 2009 Report Share Posted October 9, 2009 i had a smallish group growing on at about 1 to 2years old. All of reasonable size but one smaller and he seemed to get picked on. toes and even the tip of tail gone at one stage. All my newts seem to have there digits now so i figured it healed up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
snake kid Posted October 9, 2009 Report Share Posted October 9, 2009 You want to have about half land half water. (the water needs to be dechlorinated.) you can feed them aphids, (from the garden) wingless fruit flys (avalible from the pet shop, culture your own my putting small peices of bannana and apple in the tub) and will also eat daphnia (a type of aquatic micro organisim) but daphnia should just suppliment the diet because some juvenile newts won't wan't to get in to the water. the tank should be at a good size about two feet long for two adult newts. on and a half feet for just the one. they will need a mesh lid on their tank other wise they can escape. Thats just how I keep mine some people do it differently. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
purplecatfish Posted October 11, 2009 Author Report Share Posted October 11, 2009 We fixed up the newt tank today. I've had a two foot tank with a cracked base sitting around for a while, one of those "I'll fix it soon" jobs. The glass cutting lessons that Barrie gave at the AK Fishkeepers meeting about a year ago came in handy to make Dad look like he knew what he was doing. I'm glad I didn't throw out those bits of glass. The tank has been divided in two with a ramp for the water side and patches over the cracks on the land side. I've got a tiny internal filter that will sit in a six inch deep pool with no difficulty and a two foot light for it as well. The week long wait before water testing is definitely going to try his patience. But all up it was a great 'Father and Son' project. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rebecca Posted October 11, 2009 Report Share Posted October 11, 2009 If you want to pm me your address I'll pop some eggs in the post for your son It would be nice to return the favours you've done me with the guppies and plants By the way I managed to get a female angelfish to go with those boys so they will be going in a breeding tank soon, fingers crossed! Rebecca Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
purplecatfish Posted October 12, 2009 Author Report Share Posted October 12, 2009 Thanks Livingart and Rebecca. What do you use for the 'land' substrate? I was going to use potting mix but I've read that you have to watch out for newts eating small pebbles. Do you have to be carefull about newts eating the pummice granules in most potting mixes? What about Sand? Sphagnum moss? Seed raising mix? Any recommendations on plants? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alanmin4304 Posted October 12, 2009 Report Share Posted October 12, 2009 I use potting mix with gravel on top to to keep them away from the fertilizers but to give a media to support plants. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
livingart Posted October 12, 2009 Report Share Posted October 12, 2009 i use a dark gravel about 2-4 mm, about 15cm deep, i/2 tank wih rocks to contain in place then filled the other 1/2 with water almost level with gravel different types of java fern for the low lights i have on tank mosses on land, some java has grown emersed now Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
herperjosh Posted October 12, 2009 Report Share Posted October 12, 2009 Thanks Livingart and Rebecca. What do you use for the 'land' substrate? I was going to use potting mix but I've read that you have to watch out for newts eating small pebbles. Do you have to be carefull about newts eating the pummice granules in most potting mixes? What about Sand? Sphagnum moss? Seed raising mix? Any recommendations on plants? for substrate i recomend large pebals big enough not to ingest and moss overtop newts love it! and potting mix with fertalisers is danjerous Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Insect Direct Posted October 12, 2009 Report Share Posted October 12, 2009 no substrate, 1-2inch water, drift wood with java moss... hey presto happy newts Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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