PLants for newts

[oregon newt]

Can someone please tell me some plants that could do well in an aquatic set-up for newts or lead me to a website that will tell me of plants and their care? And the same for a terestrial set-up?

 

[gbhil]

I'm basing this list on low light levels and no fertilizers/CO2 being added.

Aquatic -
Java Moss
Christmas Moss
Java Fern (all cultivars)
Anubis sp.
Cryptocorne wendtii
Crypt. spirallis
Crypt. lutea
Duckweed

Lots of others, but these are the ones you'll find in any decent aquarium shop.


Terrestrial -
Ficus pumilo
Peperomia prostrata
Peperomia rubella
Ludisia discolor
Korean Rock Fern
Rabbits foot Fern
Lemon Button Fern
Heart Fern
Any Begonia
African Violet
Pilea cadieri

Of course many many others as well. The ones on this list should be easy to find, and will do well in a low light terrarium.

Plant sites -
Look over this list of links http://www.vivariaforums.com/links_total.htm

But be careful....plants are as addictive as heck and soon you'll be a plant geek like me if you don't take precautions lol.

 

[Jennewt]

I put a few of my faves on a web page:
http://www.caudata.org/people/JM/plants.html

 

[oregon newt]

Thanks. I thought a java fern needed warmer temps though. How do you provide carbon dioxide? An Airstone? What about fertilizers? I'm already addicted.

 

[gbhil]

Java fern does fine for me in tanks that run 70F in summer and 64-66 in winter. Since the water temp doesn't plummet at night, I think of it as warm water at those temps.

Lots of ways to add CO2, but remember, CO2 crashes pH and is toxic to animals, so be careful using it in a tank with animal life present. Search the web for yeast+homemade CO2 and you'll find a gazillion links. If you get serious about it, a regulator and tank can be used to inject bottled CO2. If you lose control, you'll buy a paintball refill tank and regulator from Craigslist like I did and have an 86 pound CO2 tank lol.

Ferts can be easy to add (Seachem brand aquarium ferts from PetSmart) or more difficult (powdered form from chemical suppliers), but it starts to get tricky balancing light/nutrients/carbon to keep algae at bay.

If you're interested shoot me a PM and we can discuss more.