Neurergus kaiseri newbie

[blackxreptiles]

I have a few questions about setup

1. What kind of stones or rock is acceptable for them?
2. Is it okay to use zoo med reptisafe water conditioner for adding or changing out water?
3. How often do they eat? Daily or 3 times a week?
4. If I test water do I use TDS meter or Ph. What the number it should be okay?
5. If they do breed and lay eggs do I separate the eggs ASAP? Or will the adults eat the eggs or babies?
6. How often are they are on land? Do they only go on land to sleep or rest when swimming.
7. Do they need UV light?

 

[takayan]

I am interested in too. Anyone?

 

[andrew_taricha]

In my experience, kaisers are not picky or any more difficult to keep than other popular aquatic newts.

I use river rock that I collect locally.
I think any water conditioner would work fine. I use SeaChem water conditioner.
I feed mine more in the range of 3-4 times a week. Mine will eat Rangen moist pellets with live redworms and frozen bloodworms as supplements.
pH 6.5 - 7.5 should be good.
I have not had issues with this species eating their own eggs or larvae. I pull most eggs but plenty that I don't find end up hatching and growing fine with the adults.
They are very aquatic. A floating peice of cork bark or some hardscape that breaks the surface should be all the land that they will need.
I don't know about UV light. Mine get some natural light but otherwise I just use an aquarium grow light.

Hope that helps. Also make sure to check CaudataCulture for the caresheet on these guys.

 

[blackxreptiles]

In my experience, kaisers are not picky or any more difficult to keep than other popular aquatic newts.

I use river rock that I collect locally.
I think any water conditioner would work fine. I use SeaChem water conditioner.
I feed mine more in the range of 3-4 times a week. Mine will eat Rangen moist pellets with live redworms and frozen bloodworms as supplements.
pH 6.5 - 7.5 should be good.
I have not had issues with this species eating their own eggs or larvae. I pull most eggs but plenty that I don't find end up hatching and growing fine with the adults.
They are very aquatic. A floating peice of cork bark or some hardscape that breaks the surface should be all the land that they will need.
I don't know about UV light. Mine get some natural light but otherwise I just use an aquarium grow light.

Hope that helps. Also make sure to check CaudataCulture for the caresheet on these guys.

Thanks for sharing your feedback. What about breeding. I saw one person have them on land (tub) with a simple water. dish to mimic hibernation.

What your step by step process?

 

[andrew_taricha]

Thanks for sharing your feedback. What about breeding. I saw one person have them on land (tub) with a simple water. dish to mimic hibernation.

What your step by step process?

I keep them aquatic year round but adjust the photoperiod to mimic fall-winter-spring (shorter-shortest-longer). I also let the water temp drop. I have had success with them kept in my living room where the water temp only drops 5-10 degrees F from summer temps and that seems to be enough to trigger them.

 

[blackxreptiles]

I keep them aquatic year round but adjust the photoperiod to mimic fall-winter-spring (shorter-shortest-longer). I also let the water temp drop. I have had success with them kept in my living room where the water temp only drops 5-10 degrees F from summer temps and that seems to be enough to trigger them.

So the key here is to change the lighting from 7hr too 5 hours. I live in Texas so it be kind of hard. I could use a aquatic chiller to drop the temp in the water or may be when winter hits just put it next to a window