Enough eggs!

Hi friends,

My FBNs have been having offspring which was not planned at all as I listened to the ignorant pet store about this being a very unlikely thing, even if I had a m/f pair.

OK, now I have nearly a dozen larvae and another dozen eggs. I don't want more. Would separating the adults now deter this or is the deed done and she will lay until she's done laying? She still appears quite plump/gravid.

Please advise. I'm committed to raising what we have or will donate to some of you should they survive, but I don't want to be overwhelmed anymore than I already am. We are very attached to these little guys, but enough is enough! I'm fearful of her laying into the hundreds! Please tell me if separating the adults would help her stop or if it's just going to happen - don't want to harm her if the eggs need to come out either way. I'm not comfortable w/ letting the adults feast on them, btw. I save everything but know I am getting to the point where I need to consider all options.

Help,
Dana

If you´ve had them for a short period of time, it´s unlikely the female will lay a huge amount of eggs. Separating them will have no effect, cause the female stores the sperm.
Since you can´t really prevent her from laying more, and you are absolutely right in saying enough is enough, i suggest you simply leave the excess eggs in with the parents. Some will probably make it, and metamorphose with a nice size (competition, survival of the fittest, etc).
Although larvae are easy to care for, juveniles are quite a pain, so you definitely don´t want a large group.
I understand you not being comfortable with leaving the eggs to their fate, but i have to say, fertile, developing eggs are rarely, almost never, eaten(at least in my experience), plus though it might be a bit sad, it´s only natural....

Why are juveniles a pain? I'm concerned w/ where to put and what to do w/ all the tanks I'll need as I don't want further reproduction and really don't have many other friends that I'd trust w/ our babies. I'm the one they give animals to - for a reason!

Is there something I ought to read on juveniles? Is if food, shelter, fighting that makes them a pain?

Thanks for any info,
Dana

The problem with juveniles is that they morph really tiny. Also is common for some of the morphing juveniles to die for no aparent reason. Their minute size makes them very delicate, and makes feeding them quite a challenge.
I don´t want to scare you, just want to alert you so that you know what you will be dealing with. With enough patience, small foods and luck, it can be done (i have a few times. In fact i have juveniles right now).

Thank you, Azhael. I have heard of this sudden death during morphogenesis. I felt like they would not morph for several months - is that correct? I believe I read they morph around 3-4 months??? Because of the risks here, I am trying to raise the ones we have as I know it is likely many will not make it. That will make me and the boys really sad, but we are preparing ourselves for this, hoping a few make it.

I guess I thought they'd be larger when they morph as they are growing at a decent rate now. I suppose they will still be quite tiny when the gills shrink and legs fully develop.

Again, I thank you - this wasn't my plan w/ these newts, but I'm dedicated to giving them the best care I can.

Dana

And i´m very glad you´re raising them Not only is it fascinating and a great experience for your kids (although it wasn´t expected), but it´s also good for the species, the more captive breeding the better hehe.

They can take anywhere from 3 to 6 months to morph, depending on temperature, food, etc. You can expect them to morph in 3-4 months at a size of about 3-3,5cm. If they are particularly well fed they might morph bigger(the biggest i´ve had was 4cm long), but even so they will still be tiny. As i said, larvae are not that difficult...you can pretty much expect most of them to make it. The juveniles though, you should be prepared for some casualties....i know it´s sad, but it´s the way it works. Imagine how much worse it is in the nature, where perhaps only 1 or 2 of the couple hundreds of offspring will make it to adulthood.