N. kaiseri question

[Tim Robin]

As many know, I have 1.2 N kaiseri. I have had them for just over a year. I have kept them aquatic all the time since I got them. I believe they were kept aquatic before coming here. They are cb. Over the past month there has been a slow build up of algae in their tank. The water quality is perfect and I continue with water changes as always. I have partially cleaned the tank once and the algae stayed gone for a time. They are healthy and continue to lay a few eggs here and there. It seems the algae has no effect on them, as I have read. It just seems to be getting worse. They are located in an area in the basement where they do not get any direct sunlight.
As the warmer months approach I was wondering if it would be possible to convert them to land dwellers for the summer and completely take down the tank to do a thorough cleaning. If this is possible, is there any down side to keeping them aquatic during the cooler months, say November through April, and then on land the rest of the time? I know their skin has to change to go to land dwelling, but what are the pros and cons, if any of doing such? I appreciate any input from those more experienced than me. :happy:

 

[Davo]

Thats how i keep mine, i keep them in a terrestrial set up after they have finished laying their eggs, they stay in this until i see signs that they are getting ready to breed, then they are returned to the aquarium. The terrestrial phase seems to get them ready for breeding. I kept them in a terrestrial set up for 2 yrs when they were juvs until they were ready to breed. As adults mine are probably only in the aquarium for 2 or 3 months of the year.After they have laid there eggs mine start to come onto the bark island as if ready to go back to the terrestrial phase.
Some people rear them aquatic with great success and breed them it seems without any problems.
I think both methods work it is just what set ups you are confident with and your newts are happy in. I do prefer to give all my newts a terrestrial phase, but that is just what i do, lots of people keep their newts aquatic.

 

[Tim Robin]

Thanks for the input. Is there any risk of transitioning them to terrestrial after having lived for 2 + years in water? Is it simply a matter of slowly lowering the water level and providing areas for them to get out on land?

 

[Davo]

I would always keep an island for them to get on, if they do not have one then a simple piece of cork with another piece on top so that when they come out they have somewhere to hide. Lowering the water level sounds a good idea, when i have taken mine from the aquarium i have not lowered the water levels i have just picked them out and placed them in there terrestrial set up. One thing i always do is when they first put back in the terrestrial set up is spray it daily and keep it damper than usual for the first week or ten days while they are settling in, probably not necessary but i always do it because they have come from such a wet environment.
Going back to the aquarium maybe sorting the algae out and keeping them as you are might be easier, when i have had algae problems i have always managed it with lots of water changes and reduce the time that the lights are on, rawaphos is also good in the filter when removing algae. Adding more live plants can also help as they take up the nitrates that the algae feed on, some extra water changes and some good bunches of a quick growing live plant will help a lot.

 

[Tim Robin]

I will get rid of the algae, but it was difficult for us to keep the water temp below mid 70's last year in the basement. So I was considering changing them to terrestrial for that reason too. They have a large rock island, but they rarely go on it now. Thanks for the input.