Molch
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While the strauchii were in the cold room for their winter period, Molch redid their tank. It's a 30 ga long tank with an Eheim canister filter which makes some current. Water currently temp is 55 - 58 F.
I put in a backwall of "bricks" created from foam covered with silicone and sand. At the water line is a shelf simulating an overhanging bank and planted with vines of ivy , pothos and (to be added shortly) creeping jenny and hydrocotyle. The plants should grow in more over time. There are holes in the shelf through which the plants stick their roots. The strauchiis like to sit on the shelves close to the surface where the overhanging plants provide cover. The roots sticking into the water would also help remove nitrates, hopefully.
The bottom of the tank is a layer of sand siliconed in place as per Jen's idea. It gives them more grip to scoot around as opposed to a slippery bare bottom.
When placing the artificial "rocks" I made sure not to produce corners or slits that are too narrow so that newts could get stuck in them.
There are also more flat rocks with small pebbles glued under them and of course, they have their very own Mt. Rushmore (Mount Obama, Mount Abe and Mount Washington). The mountain tops are planted with java moss, although Mt. Washington's wig got carried off by the current and is now trying to reattach itself.
Since coming from the cold room, there's been a bit of half-hearted tail fanning and one of the girls looks a bit plump, but it could be the earthworms. Not sure there'll be eggs this year; it would be their first time (they are 2 yrs old). But that's ok - next year is soon enough
I put in a backwall of "bricks" created from foam covered with silicone and sand. At the water line is a shelf simulating an overhanging bank and planted with vines of ivy , pothos and (to be added shortly) creeping jenny and hydrocotyle. The plants should grow in more over time. There are holes in the shelf through which the plants stick their roots. The strauchiis like to sit on the shelves close to the surface where the overhanging plants provide cover. The roots sticking into the water would also help remove nitrates, hopefully.
The bottom of the tank is a layer of sand siliconed in place as per Jen's idea. It gives them more grip to scoot around as opposed to a slippery bare bottom.
When placing the artificial "rocks" I made sure not to produce corners or slits that are too narrow so that newts could get stuck in them.
There are also more flat rocks with small pebbles glued under them and of course, they have their very own Mt. Rushmore (Mount Obama, Mount Abe and Mount Washington). The mountain tops are planted with java moss, although Mt. Washington's wig got carried off by the current and is now trying to reattach itself.
Since coming from the cold room, there's been a bit of half-hearted tail fanning and one of the girls looks a bit plump, but it could be the earthworms. Not sure there'll be eggs this year; it would be their first time (they are 2 yrs old). But that's ok - next year is soon enough
