What to place in here???

[kj1]

I have this viv, need some updated pics, after i hacked some stuff away to use in other vivs :roll:

I am thinking off T. pygmaeus OR T. marmoratus.
Please note the viv has changed a little bit from that picture, e.g. there is a ramp so they can get out easy.

 

[Jennewt]

That's a lovely setup. In terms of construction, is there a layer of material in there to separate the soil from the drainage pellets? How large is the whole thing? I'm thinking that the water area would be bit small for marmoratus. My marms are fully aquatic for half of the year, and they are big newts.

 

[kj1]

Thanks jen, nope there is no material in there to separate the soil from the drainage pellets, i was meant to put one in, i made it all up and had a weed cover left i was like o ****, lol. The whole thing is about ummm four foot long. If i did have marmoratus in there i was thinking about taking them out when in there water stage. Any other ideas that can stay in there non stop all year around, please note that this will be unheated and drop low in temps over winter.

Edit: i just thought i will show you as you can not relley see in the pics, on the land section near the front on the left hand side there is a hide buried into the ground so the animals can hide in there, this is covered witrh moss.

EDIT: just found a pic to show you where it is placed before the moss was added.

 

[coendeurloo]

A gardener told me those pink and green plants are highly toxic (I wanted to buy them too once). Not sure if they are toxic for newts though.

 

[kj1]

If you mean the snakeskin plant (Fittonia sp.), i know quick a few people that keep it in with dartfrogs inculding myslef, i have had it in one tank for about 1 and half years and the aniamls are fine and breeding,

 

[Jennewt]

The other possible problem with those plants is that they are not cold-hardy. I put them in my greenhouse, and they completely croaked as soon as the weather started getting cold at night. The ivy should do well, though, and may spread to cover the whole land area in time.

 

[kj1]

That dont bother me then, as there rellay just there for cover so if the ivy covers the area before the plants die i will be happy if not i will just buy some more ivy

Any more ideas for animals to go in there

 

[kj1]

Ok i am thinking off making the water area in to a boggy area and placing spotted salamanders in there do you think this will work ???

KJ,

 

[Jennewt]

Spotted sals would be fine. I don't think they need boggy conditions, they should be Ok with it the way it is. The problem with "boggy" is that it usually results in "stagnant", which tends to be unhealthy.

 

[kj1]

Even better thanks

How many can i keep in there, the tank is 120cm by 30cm.
Also what temps can they go down too

 

[Jennewt]

I think you could keep 2-4 adult spotted sals in there. Have you considered any of the terrestrial sals that are available captive bred? I believe that any spotted sals you find for sale will be wild caught animals.

 

[kj1]

What else would you suggest, also i have found some captive bred ones if i can get to them before there sold.

 

[carpy]

i think some salamandra sp. would look great.

what do you think?

Alex

 

[Jennewt]

The possibility of captive-bred spotted sals is remote. If you know the person who bred them and they are juveniles, then I believe it. If not, then the seller is probably claiming CB, but they aren't really. I was also thinking of Salamandra as a possibility. And the marmoratus (or other Triturus kin) that you mentioned previously would work.