A
alan
Guest
Having had chance to observe my pair of adult N. kaiseri for a few weeks now, I have some observations I would like to share and would welcome discussion from others who have maintained this species.
After considerable research and agonizing, when I received them I decided to set them up "Sergé Bogaerts-style": 60x30x30 cm tank, 12 cm of water, stack of flat smooth limestone pieces at one end reaching up to the top of the tank offering lots of hiding places.
Initially, they were maintained at around 12C, but based on further research, after a fortnight, I moved them to a more secluded location at ~17C. After the move, I would catch one of them in the water occasionally well after lights out, usually in the early hours of the morning. In the last few weeks, I have no evidence they have been in the water at all. This could be due to the temperature gradually increasing to ~20C?
In the water, I offered Daphnia, small earthworms and slugs, but I have no clear evidence that any of these were taken. On land, I have offered small earthworms and slugs (rejected), small woodlice (Porcellio scaber), Tribolium confusum larvae and lesser waxmoth larvae (Achroia grisella). Although their secretive behavior makes it difficult to monitor what they are eating, mine have a clear preference for insects/arthropods/larvae in the terrestrial phase, unfortunately rejecting earthworms and slugs. Last night, I was able to watch one greedily eating Tribolium larvae.
After considerable research and agonizing, when I received them I decided to set them up "Sergé Bogaerts-style": 60x30x30 cm tank, 12 cm of water, stack of flat smooth limestone pieces at one end reaching up to the top of the tank offering lots of hiding places.
Initially, they were maintained at around 12C, but based on further research, after a fortnight, I moved them to a more secluded location at ~17C. After the move, I would catch one of them in the water occasionally well after lights out, usually in the early hours of the morning. In the last few weeks, I have no evidence they have been in the water at all. This could be due to the temperature gradually increasing to ~20C?
In the water, I offered Daphnia, small earthworms and slugs, but I have no clear evidence that any of these were taken. On land, I have offered small earthworms and slugs (rejected), small woodlice (Porcellio scaber), Tribolium confusum larvae and lesser waxmoth larvae (Achroia grisella). Although their secretive behavior makes it difficult to monitor what they are eating, mine have a clear preference for insects/arthropods/larvae in the terrestrial phase, unfortunately rejecting earthworms and slugs. Last night, I was able to watch one greedily eating Tribolium larvae.