Verrucosus Morphing time?

Neotenic_Jaymes

Neotenic_Jaymes

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I know that temperature, water quality and water depth plays a big part in morphing. I have a group of T. verrucosus CB 2011 that hatched last August. They're now advanced larvae that don't seem to want to advance any further, yet. These larvae have been kept at temperatures of 40-55 degrees, barely ever above 60 degrees. Eating live blackworms.

I'm glad mine are still aquatic larvae after about 7-8 months. My biggest ones are about 3.5 inches almost 4 inches. I'm not concerned about them not morphing out yet. Just wondering what others experienced with there broods.
 

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wow, They really do still look like larvae! Maybe it is the cold temps. I thought you were going to show pictures of animals that looked like adults that just wouldn't come out. I had one from 2010 that didn't want to come out of the water and it didn't for over a year and a few months, and just came out a couple months ago. But that one looked fully adult. Yours still look like babies.
 
I suspect it's the cold temps, too. Those temperatures are probably a little too cold for this species, in my opinion; smaller larvae can have trouble with digestion and subsequent bloating, which suggests that this is an issue. At metamorphosis, cool temperatures can be a problem, too and increase mortality quite a lot, with morphs not feeding and becoming lethargic. I would try to pick the temperatures up above 18C (slowly of course to avoid shock).

C
 
In addition to temperature, I would speculate that animal density is also a major factor. If they had been crowded in the tank, I'll bet that most of them would have morphed.
 
Jennewt said:
In addition to temperature, I would speculate that animal density is also a major factor. If they had been crowded in the tank, I'll bet that most of them would have morphed.
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True I have always considered density to be a factor also. These larvae have much room to roam about. I did separate them and kept 5-7 of them in 5 gallons with tons of plants. I also seeded the tanks with live black worms.

Higher density more stress.
 
Neotenic_Jaymes said:
I know that temperature, water quality and water depth plays a big part in morphing. I have a group of T. verrucosus CB 2011 that hatched last August. They're now advanced larvae that don't seem to want to advance any further, yet. These larvae have been kept at temperatures of 40-55 degrees, barely ever above 60 degrees. Eating live blackworms.

I'm glad mine are still aquatic larvae after about 7-8 months. My biggest ones are about 3.5 inches almost 4 inches. I'm not concerned about them not morphing out yet. Just wondering what others experienced with there broods.
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Probably will be fully Newts in a couple weeks. Selling any?
 
My first tylos morphed in just over 3 months (106 days) They were so small when they morphed also. By 4 months all had morphed. My temperature was 18-24C in crowded conditions.
 
Revan said:
My first tylos morphed in just over 3 months (106 days) They were so small when they morphed also. By 4 months all had morphed. My temperature was 18-24C in crowded conditions.
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Mine have all morphed or they're in the final stages. I'd say my smallest was about 3 inches and the biggest is 4.5 inches. Honestly they were bigger as larvae and after morphing they look slightly smaller/shorter, which is common in newts/salamanders. Its been about little over a year in non-crowded conditions.
 
Have a look at my first morph. Wow I really need to get my hands on more eggs, I love raising these little guys :rolleyes: My guy is lucky if he is over 4cm! :D let alone inches haha
 

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Hay I just got some T. Verrucosus so I was wondering how to take care of them? Thanks

Elliott
 
Revan said:
Have a look at my first morph. Wow I really need to get my hands on more eggs, I love raising these little guys :rolleyes: My guy is lucky if he is over 4cm! :D let alone inches haha
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Thats amazingly small! The smallest ones I have are at least 2.5 inches. Honestly I did expect them to get lot bigger than they were since they were larvae for just over a year. All my morphs are aquatic also.
 
Neotenic_Jaymes said:
Thats amazingly small! The smallest ones I have are at least 2.5 inches. Honestly I did expect them to get lot bigger than they were since they were larvae for just over a year. All my morphs are aquatic also.
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How are they getting on being kept aquatic? I kept my last batch semi aquatic in a 60/40 in favour of land.
 
Revan said:
How are they getting on being kept aquatic? I kept my last batch semi aquatic in a 60/40 in favour of land.
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Temperature has a lot to do with it. I kept my groups at 40-60 degrees all year round for 1 year. When the time came to morph they just stayed in the water and continued to eat. I did offer floating cork and a lot of plants so they can emerge onto but the cork was never occupied. At 65-70 degrees or higher, the morphs will generally try to go terrestrial.
 
That link should cover everything you need to know, if you need any more help, ask away.
 
Just spotted Jayme's post here about his larvae being aquatic.

Do you really think it was the temperature? Has anyone else noticed this? My larvae are morphig (two have already but I sold them). I'd like to keep my morphs as aquatic as possible just because I find it easier to keep on top of feeding.

I'll provide them with a terrestrial set-up if necessary but does anyone else have experience keeping these larvae aquatically? Mine are at around 18-20 degrees C (64-68 F) which is the temperature I've been raising the larvae at. Can anyone confirm Jayme's methods of keeping the water cool?
 
jane1187 said:
Just spotted Jayme's post here about his larvae being aquatic.

Do you really think it was the temperature? Has anyone else noticed this? My larvae are morphig (two have already but I sold them). I'd like to keep my morphs as aquatic as possible just because I find it easier to keep on top of feeding.

I'll provide them with a terrestrial set-up if necessary but does anyone else have experience keeping these larvae aquatically? Mine are at around 18-20 degrees C (64-68 F) which is the temperature I've been raising the larvae at. Can anyone confirm Jayme's methods of keeping the water cool?
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I keep them cool during the summer months and then keep the even colder during the fall and winter months. In mid winter the temps can be 38-45 degrees. In spring and fall the temps range from 50-60 degrees. I have a cold basement.

Not only my T. verrucosus but other species morphed out at 9 months to over a year. The T. verrucosus also stayed aquatic after morphing and morphed at about 4 inches. As gilled juveniles/larvae they didn't tend to grow that much until after the they absorbed the gills. At the moment I still have fully gilled T. karelinii and T. dobrogicus that were hatched in February of this year.

I'd say its a combination of temperature and density. Lots of space helps out.
 
I keep my larvae in quite shallow water, may be an inch or so, with out heat. There is a rock or half flower pot and plenty of water plants too. When they morph they would haul them selves onto the rock for a day or so and then all returned to water. I didn't offer food on the land areas so they would return to water to feed. Once I was happy that they are ok aquatic, I gradually raise the water again. I provide a cork bark island for them and I occasionally I see one on it.
I haven't had these however over winter, so if they show signs of wanting to be land lubbers I may add a heater to their tanks.
 
Excellent, thanks to you both. I'll try to keep them a litle cooler with shallower water and maybe that will help. Cheers!
 
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