Geckomamasita
New member
I came in possession of quite a few eggs from a western long toed salamander through a crazy set of circumstances. One was walking into the store next to me and the cashier mistook her for a lizard and hit her a few times with a broom. Luckily my mother was in the store and called me over for a rescue. I held her overnight in an aquarium I set up before release to make sure she was alright. She apparently really enjoyed the set up because she released about 50 eggs. After doing some legal research and speaking to a few biologists, I found out I couldn't/shouldn't release the eggs (the mother was released). They hatched between Days 9-10. Currently we are sitting at Day 18 and from my count last night I have 29 individuals, at ~9 mm length. They are readily eating the baby brine shrimp I am hatching for them and I haven't seen or found any evidence of cannibalism yet. About a third of the eggs were bad and some of the young hatchlings just didn't make it past a day.
So, my questions-
When can I turn the filter back on? I had it running while they were still eggs and turned off when they would be hatching soon. I understand with the brine shrimp and them being so small that I shouldn't now. I do daily water changes prior to feeding with the siphon covered with cloth. I use water from an established tank mixed with fresh treated water in a 1:1 ratio to be on the safe side. I'm mostly looking for a ball park size of them to look for so that I can get water flowing again.
When can I switch to non-live foods? Although I do really enjoy raising these brine shrimp (I'm a developmental biology nerd), it is a pain for me to keep up. I purchased frozen daphnia and other cubes which was recommended by the LFS and I have a container of salamander pellets that were given to be in a box of fish foods. Would either of these be suitable soon and at what size should I begin using other foods?
When should I separate them? I have read that they can become cannibalistic so although I wish there were a lot fewer of them, I want to avoid this. I will be reaching out to the zoo, aquariums, universities, and F&W to rehome them. Along with a post on Craigslist for anyone interested (as free to only residents since it is illegal to sell/buy them in Oregon and they can't cross state lines). I definitely want to keep one or two for myself, but twenty nine salamanders is far too much for someone living in a small place!
Any tips or recommendations anyone can give me are much appreciated! I've had adult salamanders and I've raised fish from eggs, so this has been an educational although a stressing situation. I'm still a little bitter with that salamander for leaving me with the stress of taking care of her kids lol
So, my questions-
When can I turn the filter back on? I had it running while they were still eggs and turned off when they would be hatching soon. I understand with the brine shrimp and them being so small that I shouldn't now. I do daily water changes prior to feeding with the siphon covered with cloth. I use water from an established tank mixed with fresh treated water in a 1:1 ratio to be on the safe side. I'm mostly looking for a ball park size of them to look for so that I can get water flowing again.
When can I switch to non-live foods? Although I do really enjoy raising these brine shrimp (I'm a developmental biology nerd), it is a pain for me to keep up. I purchased frozen daphnia and other cubes which was recommended by the LFS and I have a container of salamander pellets that were given to be in a box of fish foods. Would either of these be suitable soon and at what size should I begin using other foods?
When should I separate them? I have read that they can become cannibalistic so although I wish there were a lot fewer of them, I want to avoid this. I will be reaching out to the zoo, aquariums, universities, and F&W to rehome them. Along with a post on Craigslist for anyone interested (as free to only residents since it is illegal to sell/buy them in Oregon and they can't cross state lines). I definitely want to keep one or two for myself, but twenty nine salamanders is far too much for someone living in a small place!
Any tips or recommendations anyone can give me are much appreciated! I've had adult salamanders and I've raised fish from eggs, so this has been an educational although a stressing situation. I'm still a little bitter with that salamander for leaving me with the stress of taking care of her kids lol
