Caudata.org: Newts and Salamanders Portal

Register a free account today to become a member! Once signed in, you'll be able to participate on this site by adding your own topics and posts, as well as connect with other members through your own private inbox!
Did you know that registered users see fewer ads? Register today!

Phantom eggs - T.marmoratus

Mark

Administrator
Staff member
Joined
Oct 14, 2004
Messages
3,259
Reaction score
59
Location
Bristol
After a winter cooling my T.marmoratus have now been aquatic for a few weeks. The males are fully crested and courting the females, who are in good shape, so I’m hopeful they will breed as they did last year. Over the last week however the females have started laying phantom eggs. A number of leaves had been folded and glued in the normal egg laying fashion but there’s no egg inside, just a small amount of jelly adhesive. Anyone seen this before and what could the purpose be?
 

Azhael

Site Contributor
Joined
May 7, 2007
Messages
6,645
Reaction score
103
Location
Burgos
Hi Mark. I´ve seen that in eaten eggs...most times the egg is eaten enterily, but sometimes i´ve seen the jelly remain. Maybe it´s that...dunno...
 

coendeurloo

Member
Joined
Feb 9, 2006
Messages
357
Reaction score
14
Location
Scharendijke
I've seen this often with other Triturus species and my C. e. popei group. I predict the real egglaying will start soon, most likely they are just 'practicing'.
 

Jake

Well-known member
Joined
Nov 1, 2006
Messages
1,635
Reaction score
87
Location
Illinois, US
I've seen all of my adult females marms do it a lot this year. The other day I noticed one of my female Cynops pyrrhogaster laying an egg, but when I looked close at the java moss clump she made, it was exactly how you just described.
 

Mark

Administrator
Staff member
Joined
Oct 14, 2004
Messages
3,259
Reaction score
59
Location
Bristol
I guess we can put it down to practicing then. It’s quite a balancing act folding those leaves and squeezing an egg out so who can blame them for having a dry run.
 

Mark

Administrator
Staff member
Joined
Oct 14, 2004
Messages
3,259
Reaction score
59
Location
Bristol
Practice time over - although I suspect duds.
IMG_2153.jpg
 
General chit-chat
Help Users
  • No one is chatting at the moment.
  • Shane douglas:
    with axolotls would I basically have to keep buying and buying new axolotls to prevent inbred breeding which costs a lot of money??
    +1
    Unlike
  • Thorninmyside:
    Not necessarily but if you’re wanting to continue to grow your breeding capacity then yes. Breeding axolotls isn’t a cheap hobby nor is it a get rich quick scheme. It costs a lot of money and time and deditcation
    +1
    Unlike
  • stanleyc:
    @Thorninmyside, I Lauren chen
    +1
    Unlike
  • Clareclare:
    Would Chinese fire belly newts be more or less inclined towards an aquatic eft set up versus Japanese . I'm raising them and have abandoned the terrarium at about 5 months old and switched to the aquatic setups you describe. I'm wondering if I could do this as soon as they morph?
    +1
    Unlike
    Clareclare: Would Chinese fire belly newts be more or less inclined towards an aquatic eft set up versus... +1
    Top