Feeding baby newts

Newts at home: maintenance, feeding, care, reproduction

What animals are kept in houses and apartments? Yes, any! If only they were the right size. It is clear that it will be problematic to keep a crocodile or an alligator even in the bathroom. But smaller amphibians - newts - are quite possible. They, like praying mantises (do you already know how to keep them at home?), Will decorate your home, and you will not be bored with them.

In our today's message about newts, we will tell you (and show their different types in the photo) how to keep such interesting animals at home (in an apartment). We will answer many questions that arise before people want to put these amphibians in their homes:

• types of newts which can be kept at home;
• is it possible to keep a newt with aquarium fish and other living creatures;
• how long house newts grow;
• how to prepare newt aquarium ;
• how to feed the newt at home;
• useful tips for breeding newts.

Everywhere on the planet Earth, where there are only warm reservoirs, newts live. Of course, water newts, the biological relatives of salamanders, are protected by law, but common species can be bred at home. Caring for them is not difficult and they live at home with proper care for about 30 years.

There are a huge number of species of these amphibians, but not all representatives of the family can be kept in aquaterrariums. One of them, small (9 - 10 cm) - common newt.

Which types of newts can be kept at home

The crested newt is the largest newt commonly kept at home. It can grow to be about 18 cm long. Its main features are brown-black color, small orange dots on its belly and original crest. The skin of this amphibian is covered with glands capable of producing a dangerous substance that helps it defend itself against possible enemies. So such a pet is far from safe for the rest of the inhabitants of the aquarium.

Another member of the family, quite capable of causing harm not only to its neighbors in the aquaterrarium, but also to its owner, is ribbed newt . Along its body are long orange-colored tubercles - ribs. They protect the amphibian in case of danger. If you suddenly grab it with your hands, the ribs protrude sharply and a careless person can get hurt.

The most beautiful member of the family is alpine newt . It has a bright, unusual color: orange, bright blue, sky blue stripes and gray dots make it a kind of "peacock" among the newts.

Who to put in an aquarium with a newt

Putting a newt in the same aquarium with fish and snails is not a good idea. The main reason is that this amphibian needs to go on land from time to time, and they also like to feast on fresh fish, and they may well eat their neighbors. Yes, and newts prefer cool water, about 20 degrees, and fish like it to be warmer - about 25 degrees.

But if you choose the right inhabitants of the aquarium, it is quite possible to create a kind of "hostel" in it, in which both fish and amphibians will coexist well. Guppies, neons or cardinals may well live with newts, but you should prepare for the fact that amphibians will start attacking fish. Ideal neighbors for newts are goldfish. They are quite large, so it will be almost impossible to swallow them. And the fish themselves will not attack the amphibian. Newts will probably eat small snails, but large ones will be able to survive, even though they will be constantly attacked.

Where to keep a newt in the house: remodeling the aquarium

Best of all to settle the newt in the aquarium , but experienced aquarists often remake existing aquariums into a newt house. It's pretty simple. Everyone knows that newts really need a kind of "islands" of land. You can create them by laying branches, pebbles, boards on the bottom of the aquarium. You need to lay them out so that land areas are formed on which the amphibian can crawl out to breathe.

One newt needs about 15 liters of water for normal life, and if you consider that the newt also wants a dry "shore" for rest, then you need to buy an aquarium with a minimum volume of 30 liters. It is also necessary to take into account the fact that after the appearance of one “resident”, one often wants to add a company to him, so it is better to immediately purchase an aquarium of a larger volume than is needed at the moment. The top cover is an indispensable element of a newt aquaterrarium. These amphibians love to run away, so if you don't want to see your exotic pet dead on the floor for one day, it's better not to neglect the lid.

The bottom of the aquaterrarium should be covered with coarse soil, since newts can swallow fine soil, pebbles should be rounded, with smooth edges. Live algae in an aquarium are important not only for beauty, because many newts are used to hiding their eggs in the leaves of plants, but some aquarists decorate the home of newts with artificial algae.

Living plants require obligatory insolation. It is best to install a fluorescent lamp that will not overheat the water. It can be used in an aquaterrarium and an ultraviolet lamp. It not only gives light and creates the necessary ultraviolet radiation for 12 hours, but also does not overheat the water.

The maximum water temperature tolerated by newts is 22°C. If the temperature rises higher, it can seriously harm the amphibian. In extreme heat, experts advise additionally cooling the water, for example, you can lower a container with ice into the aquaterrarium.

The picture below shows the species of newts (male and female). Some of them can be kept at home. Read on to find out if you can keep multiple newts in the same aquarium.

It is worth installing a filter in the aquaterrarium, and in addition, about 20% of the water is changed weekly. These precautions will help to avoid diseases of newts, which can be caused by the breakdown of waste products and food debris from amphibians.

Several newts in one aquarium. Can?

Tritons can be placed in an aquaterrarium both individually and in groups. To avoid bloody fights and ensure peaceful cohabitation of amphibians, it is recommended to follow an important rule: for one male, you need to buy 2-3 "ladies". If this balance is disturbed, violent conflicts for females will begin between males, because these seemingly peaceful animals can turn out to be extremely warlike.

Newts shed their old skin from time to time. This happens, as a rule, after the end of the marriage period. The newt begins to shed its old “clothes” from the head. He rubs it against wood and pebbles, the skin bursts and the amphibian gradually “creeps out” of the old “suit”, remaining only in an almost transparent skin. The newt always tries to swallow the old skin, but it does not work out right away. A person is unlikely to be able to observe this interesting process, because newts are nocturnal animals, and molting often comes precisely at night.

What do domestic newts eat? Tadpoles, small fish, invertebrates, larvae are the favorite food of these animals.

If live food is not available, newts will get by with thawed fish, squid, raw meat, offal, chicken or liver. Any of these delicacies should be cut into small pieces so that it is easy for the newt to swallow them.

Young amphibians want to eat once a day, and older ones - once every two days. Every month, newts need 3-4 days to do without food at all.

If fish live next to newts, then they need to be fed separately so that they do not interfere with each other to eat. You can also slip a portion of the amphibian with tweezers. Sometimes the food will need to be vigorously shaken in front of the newt's snout, as some individuals only react to live food.

Breeding newts at home: when and how they breed

Mature newts are considered 3 years after birth. They usually start mating in late autumn and continue until early spring. In order for amphibians to successfully breed, the water temperature must drop to 18 degrees, or even lower. The female finds the male's deposited spermatophore and sucks it into herself. After two or three days, the female lays eggs in small groups and wraps them in leaves. After that, adults need to be moved to another aquaterrarium, otherwise they will eat all the eggs. After 18 days, larvae will appear, and after 10 months they will turn into full-fledged little newts.

Features of keeping newts - Freya

Tritons are representatives of the genus of tailed amphibians, moisture-loving relatives of salamanders. Most often purchased as a pet common newt. This species is considered the most common, in summer it can be found in almost every body of water where there is something to chew on. They like sit down in the roots of water lilies and other plants, hanging phlegmatically in the water column. However, their slowness is only apparent: having noticed any movement nearby, they instantly “die off” and rush towards the irritant with lightning speed. Hunt them carried out according to the same principle as in whales - directly near victims, they sharply open their mouths, and the prey is literally sucked there by a strong stream water. Because of this feature, many aquarists are hesitant to start newts, because they rush at everything that moves, even at each other (however, they cannot harm adult brothers). There is an opinion that newts you can hook up with big fish, but skinned tails are unlikely to add last optimism. If this you are not embarrassed, and you are ready to provide the newts with an aquarium free from other fauna, except perhaps snails - let me tell you about the main points, that a novice breeder needs to know. So, how looks like an ordinary newt, what are its external distinguishing features, image life ? In appearance newt looks like a wet lizard with a wide head and comb-like tail, on paws have small membranes, reminiscent of frogs. adult reaches a length of 10-12 cm, and somewhere half falls on the tail. Coloring this newt is rather modest: the upper part of the body is brown, and the lower part is lighter, close to yellow. All over the body, characteristic dark spots can be seen, which are few except on the belly. Male newts are larger and brighter females. During the mating season, males grow a dorsal crest that looks like like blue-orange teeth. This crest extends from head to tail tip. Females also add in color, but they do not have a crest. When spawning time comes, the female lays up to 500 eggs, attaching them to algae. Moreover, each caviar on a separate leaflet, bending its edge in such a way so that you get a kind of hook. The larvae hatch in 3-4 weeks. While still tiny, young newts feed only on cyclops and daphnia. When they grow up a little, you can safely add fresh bloodworms to their diet. Newts are considered adults only by 2-3 years. Their food, as already written higher, very diverse - small fish, worms, smaller newts, caterpillars, in fact, Anything that goes down the throat is eaten. You can buy them and granular food, but not all newts will be imbued with motionless food. Follow clarify that in order for the newts to open the mating season, they need pre-hibernate for 5-6 months, as they do in nature. IN conditions of aquarium maintenance, not every aquarist will risk try yourself as a weather controller. And if you lower the temperature in autumn water can be simply by placing an aquarium with newts on the balcony, then put the sunken ones not everyone will decide to put creatures into suspended animation in the refrigerator, wrapped in a cloth. The ambient temperature should not be lower than 4-5 degrees. If you leave them winter on the balcony, the water will simply freeze. So appreciate it all risks before sending these amphibians to winter. Although the mating season subsequent spawning and growth of cubs will certainly bring you many interesting hours of observation. What are the rules keeping newts in captivity? 1. Triton aquarium should be purchased horizontal type, with a capacity of 60-70 liters. On , a pair of tritons of this volume is more than enough. As for the water level, the most desirable depth is 20-30 cm. The presence of land is not important, but a grotto, snag or the stone will bring these pets a lot of pleasant minutes. 2. Remember that the newt is a cold-blooded animal, highly dependent on ambient temperature. The ideal temperature for common newt 18-23 degrees, as in reservoirs of temperate latitudes in summer period of the year. Thus, at room temperature, newts feel quite comfortable. 3. Cleanliness is another feature newts. Unlike many other inhabitants of home aquaria, they are almost don't muddy the water. But that doesn't mean they don't need a filter. Even the neatest animal one way or another, it pollutes the water. In no case, when changing the water, do not run newts immediately, let it settle for at least a day. Also undesirable using filtered or boiled water. As for aeration, it is optional, since newts do not breathe oxygen dissolved in water, but float up and capture air from its surface. 4. feed the newts? For this, you can use both live food and seafood, bird giblets, liver. If you are not using live food, it is best to feed with tweezers, moving it and thereby simulating the movements of prey. As a living it is customary to buy food for bloodworms, guppies; perfect for summer season earthworms, Maybug larvae, cockroaches, crickets. Similar "live" diet much more nutritious and the benefits are tangible. 5. Now let's talk about what not to feed. Tritons are contraindicated: fat, meat with streaks fat, fatty food, skin, dry food intended for fish. Should be fed as much as newts can eat. It is impossible to overfeed them, they have there is a clear feeling of fullness. If after feeding were left uneaten food leftovers, remove them, because. newts will not get hungry soon. 6. regularly feed the newts? It depends on the age of the animals. If speech is about young newts up to two years old, then feeding should be daily (1 time per day before saturation). Adults need to be fed twice a week. In both In some cases, we give as much food as the newts eat. 7. What about vitamins, is special feeding required? Of course it would be nice use vitamin and mineral supplements that dissolve in water (there are in the form of liquids or powders). Add strictly in those quantities that indicated on the packaging, depending on the volume of water. 8. Primer desirable buy a large one so that the newt does not accidentally swallow it. The sad ones are known cases when animals swallowed pebbles and died from obstruction intestines. The presence of any shelter is welcome. Tritons love to crawl in grottoes, hiding in algae. But if you are buying decor, be sure to make sure that there are no sharp spots on it that the newt could get hurt on. Also, when purchasing a shelter, be prepared for the fact that the pet will not be with you. constantly in sight. 9. Tritons good breed in captivity, give numerous offspring. Their fertilization internal, so it is recommended to plant a female with an enlarged belly in a separate aquarium with plenty of vegetation so that she has where to go attach eggs. The larvae that appeared after 3-4 weeks bear little resemblance to your parents. They will become more less similar to adults only after 3 months. For a year of such clutches can be up to 4. And given that the natural enemies of the young in there is no aquarium, the number of newts has to be regulated in other ways. For example, do not arrange wintering for them or do not plant a pregnant female (in In this case, it is likely that the parents will simply eat their offspring). 10. Interesting: Although newts and belong to pets, but pick them up without a sharp necessary is not recommended. Our body temperature is much higher than newts, and if you hold them in your hands for a long time (more than 1 minute), they can strongly overheat to the point of burning. Newts great regeneration. 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