Three Newts And A New Tank

[raptorrex]

tried some meal worms, chopped up, seemed to go down well. could do with some help on the amount for these three though.

Everything loves mealworms! They are great for that reason, but you'll barely use any of the packet for 3 newts, you'll know they are so fatty it's only really a treat for them. I'd onl keep the packet for 2-3 weeks before putting the remainder out for the birds, otherwise you'll find you have a box full of beetles!
When I feed newts mealworms i give them 3 worms at a time and they manage them easily without chopping, but thats only with the bigger newts, for smaller newts I give them two waxworms at a go (easier to bite for their small jaws).
But you don't want to really be giving them more than around 3 a week each - the fat content really is quite crazy, and I know that with reptiles they can get hooked on them then not eat anything else, resulting in them starving. I've never heard about that with any amphibians, but best to be on the safe side.

lol i blagged the worms from a local lizard keeper. and thanks for the suggested amounts!!

i am in the process of starting a compost bucket, this, when its up and running, should give me a good supply of "clean" and healthy earth worms. i also have a old pond filter body, catching rain, during spring and summer i should have some nice nymphs for them to try! i already feed the odd "Ginny spinner" (crane-fly) to my fish so will try that too.


incidentally, if you have a nice clean compost supply, it makes it a doddle to "fishless cycle a tank. the stuff from this type of thing is full of the bacteria you need. add ammonia from an "Err" natural source and your off. finished sooner than most cycling systems, averages 12 days till stock is ok.

 

[Tolak]

Far Out Tank! Reminds me of back when....

Anyhow, I got some newts in last fall, a little something different to offer at local auctions. I kept 4, they really are easy to look after, no heater needed, and eat the same high protein diet I feed angels. They love live blackworms, something I have a constant supply of, as well as eating frozen bloodworms, brine shrimp, and beefheart mix. They were a little iffy with the small cichlid pellets, but I've found if I feed them every other day they eat the pellets.

 

[raptorrex]

Far Out Tank! Reminds me of back when....

Anyhow, I got some newts in last fall, a little something different to offer at local auctions. I kept 4, they really are easy to look after, no heater needed, and eat the same high protein diet I feed angels. They love live blackworms, something I have a constant supply of, as well as eating frozen bloodworms, brine shrimp, and beefheart mix. They were a little iffy with the small cichlid pellets, but I've found if I feed them every other day they eat the pellets.

thanks for the comment, i have read of people having sucsess with pellets and even flake, but only me trying them will really tell, i think i may try some cichlid pellets.

 

[three-fingers]

incidentally, if you have a nice clean compost supply, it makes it a doddle to "fishless cycle a tank. the stuff from this type of thing is full of the bacteria you need. add ammonia from an "Err" natural source and your off. finished sooner than most cycling systems, averages 12 days till stock is ok.

Really? I do indeed have a compost heap - 3 in fact, It would actually be slightly easier to get stuff out of them than to open up my filter and take out some media/mulm - yes, I'm that lazy .

Do you mean the Nitrosomonas and Nitrobacter bacteria that's found in soil though? As that's what I figured was in the compost heap .

 

[raptorrex]

got a few of pic here, two see in another thread:

best shot i have of the belly colour and pattern.

and one little guy sun bathing!

 

[3ndl3r]

looking great lol the flourescent gravel isnt that bad lmao. ive seen worse, much worse!

cheers

 

[raptorrex]

Auctions are best handled by Ebay IMO. SH

got a few more comments and observations.

first off, as some may have noticed, i have upped the water change %. i'm now at 80% weekly. got an algae problem, but the changes keep the tank clear.

bin watching the guys feed. there does, as i have said, seem to be a first come first served system. if pushed though the biggest newt can shift the others, but it does not happen much. newts will happily chomp on a large lump of food, but if a small bit floats by, they tend to strike at it. revealing their true predatory nature.

three cheers!!! i saw one of them beginning to moult!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
the little guy coils itself up and then spins on its nose, falling from side to side. it seems it was trying to break the old skin. however it seems to be a lengthy processes, as after 10 minutes all that had happened was the skin had split, just above each front arm pit. ( it shows as small white patches) the spinning seems to be only part of the system, as they seem to stretch and bend into the strangest of shapes. i thought the little guy was having a fit at first.