N, strauchii breeding

[callina]

Thanks for the pics, Tim. They are so cute!
But I´m wondering about their color differences.

 

[Molch]

Thanks for the pics, Tim. They are so cute!
But I´m wondering about their color differences.

yes, I noticed too: is there a variation or are the darker ones just younger? The adults don't have much color variation, do they?

 

[Molch]

I'm curious also about the "gold dust" variant of this species: Is it a rare mutation? Common mutation? Was it found in the wild or bred in captivity? Are there several individuals known or was it a one-time only freak?

 

[Tim Robin]

It seems to me that they lighten as they get older. I don't recall any being as light when they hatched as they are now that they are eating. It seems there was another post some time ago that Jen had similar findings.

 

[Azhael]

The gold dust variant is a naturally ocurring variation. As far as i´m aware noone has isolated it in captivity, simply because the species itself is not that easy to breed. I hope they never do, though xD
They have appeared in captive breedings in the past, that´s for sure.
There are certainly a number of individuals known, but i ignore how common the mutation is in natural populations. It could be locally common, specific to a particular location, or more or less evenly rare throughout their distribution.


Congrats again, Tim, keep up the good work. I hope you end up with lots of juveniles xD

 

[Tim Robin]

The larvae are doing very well and growing fast. They are eating a lot of baby brine shrimp, chopped black worms, and some frozen daphnia. They are rather hard to photograph, so not the best picture but you can see they have all 4 legs now. It looks like some will be available when they have lost their gills. :lol:

 

[woodsman]

Sa-Weeet! Congrats on getting these wonderful newts breeding!

Richard.

 

[Tim Robin]

Sa-Weeet! Congrats on getting these wonderful newts breeding!

Richard.

Thanks Richard. Some day you can too!!

 

[Tim Robin]

The larvae continue to grow and eat a lot. Some are approaching the 2 inch mark. My question is, when do I need to worry about escapees? At what size/length do they start to venture out of the water?

 

[Jennewt]

You don't need to worry until they start to get adult coloration (distinct yellow polka-dots).

 

[Tim Robin]

Ok thanks Jen. I will keep an eye on them. They are so fun, they love to take food right from the pipet. It is like spoon feeding them.

 

[Molch]

awesome. If I may ask, what kind of a setup did you raise them in?

 

[Tim Robin]

awesome. If I may ask, what kind of a setup did you raise them in?

I faithfully moved the eggs daily from Gladware tub to tub. Once hatched, I keep them in the tub for a week or more. The eating larvae are now in two large Sterilite storage containers. Each container has a filter and an air supply. The larvae seem to do very well with the moving/circulating water. I do a partial water change daily as it seems I still have a trace amount of ammonia. They tolerate the water changes just fine too. I have attached a few pictures that may help visualize what I have described.

 

[Molch]

thanks Tim, that looks very sweet - is that a duetto filter lying in the corner? Do you feed brine shrimp in this setup, and if you do, doesn't it get sucked into the filter?

 

[Tim Robin]

Yes it is a duetto filter, you are good!! I unplug the filter every morning at feeding time for about 2-3 hours. Then I plug it back in and by then the BBS have moved to the perimeter or have been consumed. It seems to work quite well.

 

[taapua]

Have you thought of adding some fast-growing plant in their tubs, like Hornwort, to help with the ammonia?

 

[Tim Robin]

I have thought of adding a live plant, but have not done it yet. The larger of the two tanks, the one I set up first has now cycled and ammonia is absent. I still change water daily and they are doing very well. They are growing like weeds. Here are a couple of the larger ones They are coloring up nicely. I am going to have to start watching for jumpers.

 

[tmarmoratus]

Very cool! I love raising the larvae of a species that has bred for me for the first time. Very good times.

 

[Molch]

beautiful critters. Love the emerging polka dots!

 

[Tim Robin]

Spots, spots everywhere!!!! They are picky eaters. I have seen them spit out a frozen blood worm. They like their BBS and black worms. I guess I may have to order more black worms.