Crested newt / triturus carnifex - plant for eggs

[Peter Cynops]

I am have a set of crested newts that I would like to breed next season. Does anybody have any suggestions for plants that work well for the female to lay her eggs on and for me to subsequently remove the eggs / pull out moldy ones (something easily available in the USA...)?

 

[minorhero]

Spawning mops be they yarn or plastic bags is the go-to for most breeders. If you want a more natural option then the answer depends on what you can grow. I like ludwigia but pearl weed grows more easily.

 

[Finchop1]

As minerhero says plastic bags cut into 1/2" straps and anchored with a rock works well. An advantage using this method is visibility of the laid eggs. Easy to remove and replace with a new one. As for plants - Elodea najas or narrow leaved anachris is sturdy enough to take the females tugging on the plant while laying eggs. This spring I had a female carnifex lay 22 eggs over several days on the underside of an Anubias Barteri leaf as well. Good luck!

 

[Peter Cynops]

As minerhero says plastic bags cut into 1/2" straps and anchored with a rock works well. An advantage using this method is visibility of the laid eggs. Easy to remove and replace with a new one. As for plants - Elodea najas or narrow leaved anachris is sturdy enough to take the females tugging on the plant while laying eggs. This spring I had a female carnifex lay 22 eggs over several days on the underside of an Anubias Barteri leaf as well. Good luck!

Thanks. The suggestions about the artifical solution created from cutting up plastic bags came in handy because my new newts already started to lay eggs. I was not expecting that since it's July and since I was not expecting that they had been winterized. I already have a bunch of eggs that seem to develop rather quickly since it's warm in Chicago even with the A/C going. I am excited to see how these little guys will turn out.

 

[Peter Cynops]

As minerhero says plastic bags cut into 1/2" straps and anchored with a rock works well. An advantage using this method is visibility of the laid eggs. Easy to remove and replace with a new one. As for plants - Elodea najas or narrow leaved anachris is sturdy enough to take the females tugging on the plant while laying eggs. This spring I had a female carnifex lay 22 eggs over several days on the underside of an Anubias Barteri leaf as well. Good luck!

Thanks. The suggestions about the artifical solution created from cutting up plastic bags came in handy because my new newts already started to lay eggs. I was not expecting that since it's July and since I was not expecting that they had been winterized. I already have a bunch of eggs that seem to develop rather quickly since it's warm in Chicago even with the A/C going. I am excited to see how these little guys will turn out.