Ambystoma macrodactylum

[Bellabelloo]

I was looking to update some of my posts...and was surprised to see I had not introduced these.
Late March, I received a batch of these eggs from Chris. They sat on my kitchen window ledge and hatched quite quickly. I moved them into my shed when the temperatures improved. They have quietly and slowly munched their way through microworm, various sizes of daphnia, love bloodworm , mosquito larvae, white worm and even tried some tubifex ( first time I tried this). They are now eating small pieces of earthworm.

 

[Bellabelloo]

This evening I saw this one partially on the floating cork bark, so I have now moved it into a new tub with shallower water and more plants, and of course a hauling out area.

 

[Bellabelloo]

Noticed a hint of colour today, still aquatic.

 

[John]

Very nice. I raised some last year. They are already sexually mature - hoping to breed these "youngsters" in the spring.

 

[Bellabelloo]

I had this one in a morphing tub. Shallow water, lots of plants and a hauling out spot. It was by itself as it was much larger than its siblings, it stopped eating over the last few days and spending more time with its head above water.
Today I moved it into a water bowl in its terrestrial tub, and with in the hour I saw it move onto land. This evening I popped into look and it hopped out of the water again and hid under a piece of broken pot.

 

[John]

Very nice. Surprisingly different to mine.

 

[Bellabelloo]

Their ancestors originally came from Eugene, Oregon approx. 20 years ago. I'm curious to see how they develop their colouration. They are lighter than the others from the same batch, but put that may be down to them being in a light coloured tub. Being on soil I expect them to darken up now.

 

[LisaRotcorp]

So adorable!! They look great. What can you feed them other than worms?

 

[Sith the turtle]

Although worms are arguably the best food for most salamanders and newts, I'd imagine the occasional tweezer fed black-worms, tubifex worms and pinhead crickets would be a good dietary supplement for small freshly morphed animals such as the ones pictured

 

[Bellabelloo]

One week on and the yellow is starting to come out more.

 

[Sith the turtle]

Stunning animals!

 

[Bellabelloo]

I love looking in on these. They are bolder now, there is usually a couple that are brave enough to come out when I am adding food.

 

[Bellabelloo]

These are becoming real little characters. What ever time of day I go into my shed , I tend to find at least one wandering about. If I fill their water tray the day before, I now usually find one sat in it appearing to be waiting for food.
I have now been fortunate enough to get a few more, these are a year older and double the size of my juveniles.( photo on paper towel)

 

[Mark.H]

Hi, I have four (now three) wild long-toes that have been doing great, except one appears to have eaten another. The guy that disappeared was about 3 1/2" and the biggest one is about 5 1/4". Do you know if this is possible? The smaller guy would still be a lot to swallow. thanks

 

[Roderick Sprague]

Hi, I have four (now three) wild long-toes that have been doing great, except one appears to have eaten another. The guy that disappeared was about 3 1/2" and the biggest one is about 5 1/4". Do you know if this is possible? The smaller guy would still be a lot to swallow. thanks

Ambystoma does mean big mouth.