Rough skinned newt larvae

[Evan]

Was at a nearby pond catching minnows and ended up pulling in 7 rough skinned newt larvae. They all have their arms and legs and full gills. I was wondering how I could keep them until they morph. And how big they are when the morph. Should I do bare bottom?

[Eddie]

Bare bottom tank is the best way to keep them,that way you can see the live food they eat such as black worms.I'm sure you know they also eat live daphnia and live baby brine shrimp.I'ts also easier to clean.I would also add live plants such as java moss,anacharis.They should stay aquatic when morphed and probably about 3 inches or so when morphed.I raised some from eggs a few years back.Good luck raising them.

[Otterwoman]

I've raised quite a few cb ones and in fact have a tub of them right now. I don't do water changes, have plants in there, and feed them black worms. Bare bottom. Everything like warrior said but I don't like to use brine shrimp when I raise larvae, I don't like that they're salty and die and foul the tank; I just use blackworms. I cut them up until the larvae are big enough to eat them whole and then gradually move to a mix with minced night crawlers until they are completely on chopped nightcrawlers.

[Evan]

Do frozen blood worms and frozen brine shrimp work?

The Biggest one is about 2 inches long how long do you think until they morph?

[Otterwoman]

They prefer live food.
Mine morphed at about 2-3 inches.

[Devil Newt/Jaymes Valorson]

Depending on living conditions larvae may end up morphing out at unexpected times. Density, water quality, temperature, and many other things play a part. I had T. torosa morph out at 7-8 months.

[Evan]

here are pics of the "rough skinned newt larvae" and i also caught this yesterday. it is kinda green, it doesn't look like a rough skinned newt. It is 5 1/4 inches and obviously neotonic. I could use some help identifying them. The first 4 pictures are of the 2" larvae and the next 4 are of the mystery caudata. Just in case I live in Portland Oregon.

Thanks

Evan

[Devil Newt/Jaymes Valorson]

Those are Ambystoma gracile/Northwestern Salamander. The big one is most likely a gilled adult. Neotenic populations scatter about in Oregon. Here are some pics of my A. gracile that I hatched from eggs, they look just like the ones you have.

[Evan]

Ok. Thought they looked different. I have raised ambystoma gracile. I own two. They don't have the yellow markings though.

[Evan]

Also no coastal grooves.

[Devil Newt/Jaymes Valorson]

Originally Posted by frogman

Ok. Thought they looked different. I have raised ambystoma gracile. I own two. They don't have the yellow markings though.

There are populations that have yellow or even white spotting. I'm not 100 percent sure its a A. gracile but I'm betting on it. The stitch pattern on the face resembles other neotenic A. gracile pictures I've seen.

Read the comments on this web page about the yellow spotting on Northwestern Salamanders.

AmphibiaWeb - Ambystoma gracile

[Evan]

What should I feed the neotenic a. Gracile besides worms. He/ she seems to like it all. And how big do the neotenic ones get. I am considering keeping her and letting the larvae go. Also some 10 gallon ideas for her.

Thanks

Evan

[Devil Newt/Jaymes Valorson]

Originally Posted by frogman

What should I feed the neotenic a. Gracile besides worms. He/ she seems to like it all. And how big do the neotenic ones get. I am considering keeping her and letting the larvae go. Also some 10 gallon ideas for her.

Thanks

Evan

I'm assuming it can be kept like other neotenic Ambystoma. It also could be a large overwintering larvae or paedomorphic. Neotenic/paedomorphic adults can range from 7-10 inches. A lot of neotenic/paedomorphic Ambystoma morph eventually when extracted from their elements.

Why would you bring some home and then release them back? People frown on that.

[Evan]

I have only had the them for a couple days. I usually do catch and release. Why frown?

[Devil Newt/Jaymes Valorson]

Originally Posted by frogman

I have only had the them for a couple days. I usually do catch and release. Why frown?

Its a great way to introduce disease/sickness into a ecosystem. There are tons of articles on potential disease transmission when releasing a WC animal after being in captivity. You should google some of the literature. Even if its only a couple days its still risky.

When you decide to take an animal home, you just took on a long term commitment.

[Evan]

Ok. But why no coastal grooves? And do frozen bloodworms work?

[Evan]

Out of many I cought, kept two. The others I released the same day. The two (zaboomafoo, and mambo) are a little bit longer than two inches. When should they morph. My others morphed at 4 inches.

Thanks

Evan

[Evan]

I thought the 4 inches was a little big, or Is that normal for this species?