Feedback on my Triturus marmoratus paludarium setup

[vecchia]

Hello everyone! I’m new here on Caudata.org, and I would like to thank you in advance for any help.

I’m currently setting up a paludarium for a Triturus marmoratus, and I would really appreciate feedback, criticism, suggestions, and any advice from more experienced keepers.

The aquarium’s volume is around 90 liters. It is a cube measuring 45 x 45 x 45 cm. It has a sump, with filtration consisting of biological media, sponge, and filter floss/perlon. The system is still cycling, but the parameters have been stable so far. I also have an ATO system for automatic water top-off, using RO water, as well as cooling fans and two LED lights. The setup is heavily planted and has both aquatic and terrestrial areas, with rocks, mosses, and hiding places. I also have a small cleanup crew with a few snails and Neocaridina shrimp.

I would really appreciate any honest opinions on what I should improve before introducing the animal.

Thank you very much!

 

[Niels D]

Looks good. I can't see if they have a bit of a free roaming space, or if every square inch is filled with plants. If it's completely packed, give them a bit of swimming space for their courtship display.

 

[lepetit]

It looks great and spacious; it seems they have everything they need. I should add that a water depth of 25 cm would be sufficient for this species, and you should also monitor the temperature depending on the country you’re in. On one hand, they need a rest period either in summer or in winter; this means they’ll stop eating while in hibernation to get ready for the breeding season. I think it even extends their lifespan.

This is sometimes the hardest part to manage, but I think you have plenty of information on this website—some people even put them in a Tupperware container and store them in the fridge for weeks.

Good luck with your marmoratus!

 

[kwarzym]

I think the overall setup is good, I have something pretty similar and they use both the land and water.

I would be concerned about an escapee without some sort of lid. You can make your own custom one out of window screen or many other methods (many examples here What kind of lid for Salamandra?), or you can browse online and see if you can find a metal terrarium lid that fits your dimensions.

Another thing is that increased depth of water will increase the chance of them breeding (if you care). I have a water depth of only around 5-6 inches due to front-opening doors, and my marmoratus don't appear to want to lay eggs in that shallow of water, but with your setup you have a lot of flexibility