Strauchii breeding preparations ?

I have 5 strauchii from Jen. There's 2 males and 3 females and they will be 2 years old next spring. I understand that at 2 yrs old they may breed, or they may not. However, the males' breeding colors are coming out now, so I think there's a chance they will.

Here is my plan for getting them in the mood. Please let me know if this sounds okay:

- they are currently in a 36 ga at 52-58 F

- in the next week or so, I want to set them up in my cold storage room in a 20 ga long. The temp there will be about 38-45

- in about 6-8 weeks they'll go back into the normal tank where it will be about 55-60 F

Does this sound like the kind of temperature change that will get them ready? Should I separate males and females for an extra effect?

They've been snacking on earthworms, blackworms and a few white worms

I attached some pics. These things are notoriously hard to photograph, because one or the other end is always disappearing under the furniture. They are quite personable though, and come out to grab earthworms when Mama's tweezers appear in the sky.

Sounds good! More importantly is their size and how well feed they have been previous to you obtaining them. I know Jennewt keeps things in top form. My 2 year old N. strauchii are about 5-6 inches and they are courting. I still feed them earthworms and will continue to do so until they refuse food or until it gets too cold. I totally agree with your plan and methods! I do hear that N.strauchii like to lay or will only eggs during specific temperatures. In your plan to bring them back to 50-60 degrees is perfect. Thats within the egg laying temperature range. Good luck!

I didn't know strauchii develop tail sheens!

I took mine down to 10-12C (50-54F) last year and they didn't produce viable eggs, although they did produce lots of dud eggs. I think if you can get them below 50F you'd be doing them a favour. Shouldn't be too difficult in Alaska!

I agree with Jaymes. A combination of size and low temperature are probably key. Males start showing tail sheens at an early age, long before they're fully grown. Mature males have very prominent, bulbous cloacas and mature females will be at least 5-6 inches, with bulky torsos.

I've set mine up in an out-building which should get down close to freezing this winter.

The males can definitely be ready well before the females. They are also not difficult to get interested in breeding, but the females are trickier. A friend of mine keeps them, and despite great conditions and the females getting huuuuuge, no eggs. Then again other people breed them without even trying.

If i remember correctly they lay eggs while the temps are very close around 12ºC, but stop when they get higher. I´d recommend reading ferreron´s thread, it contained some interesting info.
http://www.caudata.org/forum/f1173-...eurergus/75254-n-strauchii-lack-breeding.html

thanks gents. Mine are about 5-6 inches and the male cloacas do look bulbous. I attached a pic of Mr. and Mrs. Cloaca for reference.

I also don't quite get the "volcano-shaped" cloaca of females (as described on caudata culture). What exactly does "volcano" - shaped look like? Are we talking shield volcanoes a la MaunaKea or more like a strato volcano a la Mt Fuji?

I have not yet seen any courtship-type behavior, except months ago when they first moved in one male was tail-fanning himself behind the filter intake (let's hope he won't go blind). I think it was just the excitement from moving to a new place.

Neurergus kaiseri | Flickr - Photo Sharing!
It should look very similar to that.

ooh, strato-volcano indeed. Does it look like that only during egg laying?

Well i don´t keep Neurergus (yet) but from what i´ve seen in other species the cloaca can be proyected in that way when they are laying but also when they are excited (interested in a male for example). It should be most notorious at the time of laying, though, i think.

I don't think I've seen it look like that yet. It seems my girls aren't very excited yet. They still look like shield volcanos.

so when they go from Mauna Loa to Mt. Fuji I guess I'll be looking for an eruption...

one more thing: does anyone have any experience whether separating males and females during the cooling period will somehow enhance breeding mood?

well, I have them set up in the cold room, where it is currently 42 degrees. They remain very active and good eaters. Here they are among theirjava moss Mt Rushmore (Prez O, Prez L and Prez W).

in the cool room it's been about 35 degrees for about a week. The newts all look fine and remain quite active. The temp may get as high as 48 or so if the weather warms up (currently cold spell)

So here the question:
how long shall I keep them at the cold temperature? They've been in there about 3 weeks now. Is ca. 6 weeks long enough? Too long? Should it be 2 months?

when they are ready to go back to their regular room, the temp in there will be about 55-60 F

Whaddaya think?

Down to 35F is no problem. Last winter mine went down to 32F for several days and it didn't seem to bother them at all. It made me nervous, but didn't bother the newts. I have usually kept them cold for 1.5 - 2.5 months, but i've never experimented with shorter periods.