Longevity

[caleb]

Someone mentioned in another thread that newts live for up to 20 years, and it made me think how old some of mine are... The oldest I have are two female alpine newts that are 14 this year (I was given them as larvae in 1989).

Can anyone better this?

And by the way, there's a list of urodele longevities at:
http://www.pondturtle.com/lsala.html

 

[jennifer]

I have one eastern newt (N. v. dorsalis) that I obtained as a WC adult in 1983. I started with about 12 of them and this is the last one left, so I think this one is probably pushing the upper limit of lifespan for these guys.

 

[aaron]

I bet I have the youngest newts.

Can anyone beat just hatched this afternoon?

~Aaron

 

[caleb]

Hi Jen.

20 years is pretty impressive... and if they were adults to start with, that's 23+ presumably. Is it still healthy? My aged alpines are as active as the younger ones, but are quite skinny, and won't seem to put on weight.

 

[jennifer]

She looks quite normal, but big for an eastern (5"/13 cm). She is as plump as any of the others. The old ones get very long tails (seemingly longer in proportion to their body size).