What to do about poop?

[killking236]

I was wondering, if you have a terrestrial newt, salamander, or whatever in a viverium or whatever it is with moss and plants and stuff, what happens when they poop? Do you have to scoop it out or change the bedding? If the whole floor of the tank is moss, what do you do about the poop then?

 

[Kaysie]

If you have a completely terrestrial setup, you change the substrate occasionally (every 2 months or so). If you have lots of live plants and turnover and such (bugs, worms, etc), then you will have natural decay.

 

[DantezGirl]

so in completely terrestrial setup it ok to have free range worms bugs ect so long as you change the substrate regularly? and of course clean up any poop ir dead bugs worms ect? this will not harm the newts in any way?

 

[Kaysie]

What won't harm the newts? Having freerange crawlies? Um... In the wild, they don't live in sterile tanks.

 

[pete]

What to do about poop?

I had myself a little chuckle about what this thread could be about before clicking the link. Thanks

 

[Jan]

In addition to changing the substrate every couple of months, I also like to spot clean weekly to remove feces.

 

[killking236]

So at setup will you have to remove the poop until there are bugs and stuff or do the plants deal with the poop if there are enough of them?

 

[Jan]

So at setup will you have to remove the poop until there are bugs and stuff or do the plants deal with the poop if there are enough of them?

My advice - if you see feces, remove it. In my opinion, the smaller the enclosure, the more necessary this is.

 

[killking236]

Thanks everyone

 

[chrisrolinski]

Without being facea-cious (lol) - what does a newt poop look like, I have never really noticed mine...

 

[Kaysie]

Shiny brownish footballs (american).

 

[Levo]

Shiny brownish footballs (american).

That would be when it is fresh, it does have a tendency to break down quickly though and sometimes just look like its turned the colour of my sand brown.

 

[Kaysie]

In terrestrial setups, it doesn't break down as fast.