Lissotriton vulgaris morphing

[MCampbell]

I have at least a couple L. vulgaris ampelensis that are morphing now and I've heard two different ways of raising them. I've read/heard that they have to be given a terrestrial set up to live in and fed on suitably small prey like springtails, Drosophila melanogaster, and pinhead crickets. The other approach is I guess to simply keep them aquatic and continue to feed them things like chopped blackworms, whiteworms, etc. If they are to be kept terrestrially - ie. if that's really the best most appropriate way to raise them, how long should they be kept in a terrestrial setup before being returned to a totally aquatic setup?

[ajc]

T. vulgaris really needs a terrestrial phase until the adults mature.

[John]

Originally Posted by MCampbell

If they are to be kept terrestrially - ie. if that's really the best most appropriate way to raise them, how long should they be kept in a terrestrial setup before being returned to a totally aquatic setup?

There are plenty of examples of terrariums for raising metamorphosed newts on the forum, including plenty of photos. Do a search. The same general approach applies to almost all species, including former Triturus. By the way you picked one of the more terrestrial newts.

[Jake]

I'm raising 5 juveniles in an aquatic set up with plastic plants for them to haul out onto halfway at least. They feed under water and seem to be doing fine in this set up. They were only about 1.25-1.5" when I placed them in it, and they've all been eating blackworms and don't attempt escape, so I assume they're fine in it.