liama138
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- May 28, 2008
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I've kept aquariums for years, and have been breeding bettas for about a year, so when a friend of mine found an eastern newt in a puddle at a construction site, he figured I'd know what to do.
So, he shows up with a 5 gallon bucket full of murky, brown water and tells me there's one newt and 3 big tadpoles in it with a clump of leaves that he grabbed out of the bottom of the puddle before it was bulldozed (because we really need another Walmart).
So, I set up a spare 2.5 gallon tank that I had to be a temporary house for her until I could get my 25 gallon set up as a paludarium sometime next week. Once she's settled in it, I went to scoop out the tadpoles to get them into cleaner water, but when I dip my net in the bucket, I pulled up another eastern newt. I'm guessing he hitched a ride in the clump of leaves.
So, I pop him in the tank with the girl (and copious amounts of hornwort).
The next morning I wake up to him sitting on her face. I went about my morning routine and before I left for work they were on opposite ends of the tank and I figured she had spurned his advances, but yesterday I noticed little eggs here and there among the hornwort.
So, I'm going to be a mom.
This was all very unexpected. I agreed to take in one newt, found two and now I have god knows how many. Should be interesting in the very least.
I know they're crowded right now, but they're faring well. They've taken any food I've given them, so far they've each had a baby earthworm, frozen bloodworms and frozen brine shrimp. I'm doing a 50% water change every other day since they're so sensitive to water conditions and since the damn hornwort is so dirty.
I'm still torn on wheter to turn the 25g long into a paludarium (the glass is badly scratched) or break down my 35g tall and use it instead. I have to figure it out by next week, cause that's the only time I'll be off of work for long enough to do it.
Also, I have Indian almond leaves for my bettas to add tannins to the water and soften it a bit, would the newts like that as well? My water is somewhat hard and the IAL is an antifungal so it may prevent fungus fro growing on the eggs. Opinions?
So, he shows up with a 5 gallon bucket full of murky, brown water and tells me there's one newt and 3 big tadpoles in it with a clump of leaves that he grabbed out of the bottom of the puddle before it was bulldozed (because we really need another Walmart).
So, I set up a spare 2.5 gallon tank that I had to be a temporary house for her until I could get my 25 gallon set up as a paludarium sometime next week. Once she's settled in it, I went to scoop out the tadpoles to get them into cleaner water, but when I dip my net in the bucket, I pulled up another eastern newt. I'm guessing he hitched a ride in the clump of leaves.
So, I pop him in the tank with the girl (and copious amounts of hornwort).
The next morning I wake up to him sitting on her face. I went about my morning routine and before I left for work they were on opposite ends of the tank and I figured she had spurned his advances, but yesterday I noticed little eggs here and there among the hornwort.
So, I'm going to be a mom.
This was all very unexpected. I agreed to take in one newt, found two and now I have god knows how many. Should be interesting in the very least.
I know they're crowded right now, but they're faring well. They've taken any food I've given them, so far they've each had a baby earthworm, frozen bloodworms and frozen brine shrimp. I'm doing a 50% water change every other day since they're so sensitive to water conditions and since the damn hornwort is so dirty.
I'm still torn on wheter to turn the 25g long into a paludarium (the glass is badly scratched) or break down my 35g tall and use it instead. I have to figure it out by next week, cause that's the only time I'll be off of work for long enough to do it.
Also, I have Indian almond leaves for my bettas to add tannins to the water and soften it a bit, would the newts like that as well? My water is somewhat hard and the IAL is an antifungal so it may prevent fungus fro growing on the eggs. Opinions?
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