Amphibian starter for Newts

[jj]

I came across this. It seems pretty good. I am not planning on buying itn but has anyone else used this?

https://www2.carolina.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?jdeAddressId=&catalogId=10101&storeId=10151&productId=1973&langId=-1&parent_category_rn=1285%7C83%7C1009%7C554

 

[ester]

It looks really cute but in my opinion this setup is the newt version of "the turtle tank with palm tree". I don't see myself using this.

They display a notophthalmus viridescens (easter or spotted newt). I know these feisty little animals to be great and fast swimmers. They simply need way more space to swim.

Ester

 

[paris]

how does on stop the animal from climbing the sides and getting out to die in the land of dust bunnies under the sofa? does it have a lid and its not listed/shown? the water is a small amount that daily changes will probably be needed. i like bigger set ups so the bio load is smaller in ratio and affords a better buffer against water quality issues.

 

[joan]

Not to mention the fact that it recommends 2 newts in a 12x7x8 inch box. That's significantly smaller than a 10 gallon tank. And for the price, plus shipping, you could have bought a 10 gal tank and gravel and some live plants. I would definately NOT recommend this (or most other commercially available 'newt enclosures').

(Message edited by Joan on August 04, 2005)

 

[edward]

To partially hijack the thread here. On what basis this the decision being made that this is too small for one or two of the smaller species of newt? (Paris' comment on water changes is accurate).

Ed

 

[ester]

To me it would depend on the species of newt. The notophthalmus depicted in the photograph I know to be active and fast swimmers. They can't really go anywhere in that setup (30x20x20cm with a quarter taken up by land roughly). I personally would prefer to give them a setup where they can stretch their tail so to say. I had planned to put my noto's in a 20 inch long setup but ended up putting them in a 40 inch setup after I saw them swim. This of course is my personal choice.

 

[mark]

This is being sold as an "amphibian" enclosure which comes with the option of newts or tree frogs. I'd feel quite sorry for 2 tree frogs in a tank that size (and height) - A tree frog would have a tough decision between the plastic plant or the "island sanctuary". Luxury.

 

[edward]

Notos can be active and fast swimmers but this is only when the situation warrents it. In the last 10 years or so I've worked with one of the subspecies they did not swim when they did not have to and preferred to walk around instead.

Ed

 

[ester]

I do use small setups myself, new morphs for example. I have 20 of them in a single 5G setup. Vertical humidity gradient made with soil, bark and moss. Or 5 newly morphed fire salamanders could spend their first half year in one, maybe even a year (depending on how fast they grow).
With noto's aside from the fact that I'd personally want to give them more room for roaming I also wouldn't know how to keep the water quality good without exchanging all of it very frequently.
On a side note, I'd love to hear more about your 10 years experience with the species. I've only had them for 3 months so far and have tried to read anything freely available through the internet (which unfortunately most scientific articles are not).

 

[edward]

Water quality once it is cycled would be more at risk from evaporation due to the smaller water volume than from pollutants if the animals are not over fed. If the newts are being kept cool, then they have a surprisingly small metabolic need on a weekly basis.

Ed

 

[william]

the animals would probably escape before water quality became an issue.

Ed,
don't forget that this sort of thing would probably be bought as an impulse buy, the owner may well not know about tank cycling etc. So i'd say it is a waste of money, when you could buy a proper tank.

 

[edward]

Hi William,

That is probably true but then at least here in the USA the vast majority of pet purchases are impulse purchases.......

Personally I usually prefer to use larger enclosures but sometimes they are not the optimal choice (for example you can run into issues with feeding terrestrial animals in larger enclosures as they can miss the food items).

Ed