Laoensis juvs and set up

Davo · Nov 11, 2011

I got some Laoensis juvs from PaulB last month, they were picked up for me at the Gersfeld meet. (thanks Paul and thanks Jeremy for bringing them home for me!)
They are settling in well, they are kept in a realy useful box with a pump flushing through a gravel bed. I have a spray bar at the back of the tub so that all the gravel is cleaned by 10 streams of water. I have removed some of the cork bark stack so that you can see them a bit more.
A small aquarium heater keeps the temp at 70f, they are eating springtails, whiteworm, live bloodworm and hatchling crickets dusted in nutrabol.
It is the kind of set up recommended by Paul, and so far so good! :happy:

Davo · Jan 27, 2012

Just an update, juvs are growing well, they were a bit secretive at first but are now settled in fine.They are growing very well and eating lesser waxworm larvae, 2nds crickets dusted with nutrabol, and small earthworms. Some of the larger ones have doubled in size.

Davo · Jan 29, 2012

I stripped the tub down and cleaned the garvel and tub, i put the juvs in a glass tank and got under the tank and took a few belly shots.The flash has washed the colour out a bit but you can see the nice belly patterns. :happy:

They are now back in their tub stalking 2nds crickets.

froggy · Jan 29, 2012

They are looking really good, Martin. How often do you have to strip down the tank with the gravel slope method? It seems so successful with this species, I wonder if it would translate well to other species, provided they aren't too dry-loving.

Cheers

C

Davo · Jan 29, 2012

I syphon the water off every 2 or 3 days and replace it, i remove everything from the tub and wash the gravel every week, it sounds a pain but after doing it a few times i can now do it from start to finish in about 30 mins. I have a large planted cycled aquarium ready for when they go aquatic, all my other juvs i have raised are in terrstrial set ups and they seem happy, it is the first time i have used this method and i had to alter the set up several times until i was happy with it, the lip around the top keeps good humidity around the bark but also plenty of ventilation from the large cut outs in the middle of the lid. Since adding the spray bar the 10 small jets are rinsing the gravel more uniform than one big jet of water that was leaving unrinsed areas. This method is also good for temperature control, a small aquarium heater in the water warms up the water which is then pumped through the gravel creating a nice warm damp environment for the juvs.(70f-72f)
All the other speceis i keep seem to like drier set ups so i dont think i would use it for anything else i keep, i think it would work well for cynops species, i have raised ensicauda popei a good while ago and remember they liked it damp.

morg · Apr 2, 2012

Martin
How important do you think the warm temperature is in raising laoensis juveniles?
Do you think they would also do well at slightly lower temperatures?

Davo · Apr 2, 2012

They will probably be fine a bit cooler , my tub is running at about 66f at the moment. When i first got them they were not feeding as well as i liked and i raised the temps a couple of times and this seemed to do the trick, also if you look at photo 2 you can see a large lip around the tub, this keeps the cork bark stack damp and humid, but the large open area creates good ventilation.
Another newt keeper i know had 10 juvs at the same time and he did not raise the temps and his ventilation was not very good, last time i spoke to him he had lost 9 of them. I started with 15 and still have 15 (touch wood) so i think the temps could have played a part.
I will take some more pics this week to show their progression.
5 of them are going to a new home later this week and knowing who is having them they will probably grow better than mine!

Sean90 · Apr 20, 2012

Martin they look really good stock you need to stop giving us new ideas of species

megs · Apr 20, 2012

They are wonderful, a shame they need so much heat!
Martin

Davo · Apr 20, 2012

Newts are addictive! You have been warned!

Davo · Jun 21, 2012

Just a couple of pics taken a few week ago, they are coming on very well and eating like little piggies! :happy:

mr cyclone · Jun 21, 2012

Martin those are soooo gorgeous!!
Far more impressive than i first thought,Now i want some lol:lol::lol:

mr cyclone · Aug 4, 2012

Martin I see you have altered the lid on your very useful box what is the white stuff you have stuffed into the lid? I have a large hole cut in the lid for mesh.

I want to use my box for rearing animals also,but im struggling to make the lid bug escape proof,Fruitflies and earthworms escapeing and being found by my lady are the Bane of my life lol

morg · Oct 4, 2012

How are your laotriton coming on now Martin?
Any signs of them going aquatic yet?

Davo · Oct 4, 2012

I think that they are very close, they are growing very well and looking good.
Hows yours coming on? Any sign of yours going aquatic?

jasper408 · Oct 4, 2012

Davo said:
I think that they are very close, they are growing very well and looking good.
Hows yours coming on? Any sign of yours going aquatic?

How big are they now?

I saw that PaulB had a male sexually mature in around 2 years and 7 months. Getting close?

morg · Oct 5, 2012

Hows yours coming on? Any sign of yours going aquatic?[/QUOTE]

growing well, very bold, and one spends a fair bit of time in the water. water section as yet though, is very shallow so the newts can stand in it submerged, or hold head above the water.
I will try get a pic of the one under the water when I can get to grips with my new camera

morg · Oct 5, 2012

pic of laoensis standing completely submerged, and one eating favoured food of live bloodworm

Davo · Oct 5, 2012

Very nice!

Cliff · Oct 19, 2012

Absolute beautys Morg and Davo, you should both be very proud owning such beautiful little guys!
and it's great that these guys are in the UK!

Laoensis juvs and set up

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