Oregon Newts

[hudson]

My daughter been bugging for a newt for awhile now, so I did some research, set up the tank and let her get one. Since getting it I have done some more research and found that alot of it is very contradicting. I was wondering whether anyone has any personal experience with these, or any tips that I should know about. Also what is their approximate lifespan, and can two males be housed together ( of course she's not happy with just one).

Thanks

Kate

[thunder]

my experience is with firebelly and spanish ribbed newts, but i believe it will apply. small newts live about eight years, and larger ones can live longer. altho they can be housed together, often without incident, i find that it is better to house them seperatly as i have seen feeding individuals seize their cage mate by a limb or tail accidently, and i have no doubt that injury would have occured had i not intervened. as for gender, it is not important in their interactions with one another. also, in many species it is difficult to determine gender except during the breeding seasone when male will have some swelling around the cloaca. if you have any other questions feel free to ask. oh, and a tip: do not put gravel in the enclosure, as the newt will swallow it and die. dirt is much more suitable, if more difficult to clean.

[Double J]

Multiple newt species SHOULD NOT be housed together. You may hosue multple ndividuals of the same species together, but mixing species results in death ALWAYS!

Here is a link outlining species mixing diasters... it will make anyone think twice about mixing amphibian species:

http://www.caudata.org/cc/articles/Mixing_disasters.shtml

As for me, I currently keep, and have kept oregon newts for 6 years. I have a pair in a 15 galon tank with a power head attached to an undergravel filter. The newts are kept in the low 70's and go into the high 60's at night. I have been feeding them newt and salamander bites by HBH exclusively since the sart and they are thriving (and have been for 6 years). Their tank is loaded with a plant called pothos (aka devils ivy).. this plant grows like a weed in water, and the newts love it... not to mention it gives the tank a fabulous natural look. I also have java moss and a bit of hornwort growing with them as well. there is also a floating piece of corkbark for a haulout area, though the newts never use it. I have some white cloud minnows in the tank for kicks. They thrive and breed, and the newts manage to catch a few of the adults. It is quite fun to watch, though they generally miss. that said, I started with 3 minnows, and now have around twenty. So that should give an idea of catch success :) I have actually attached a pic of my oregon newt tank to give you an idea. The plants have filled in more since, but it should give you an idea.

If you need a solid book to get info information from I highly recommend a book entitled "Newts and Salamanders" by Frank Indiviglio. It is published by Barron's, and is available at most pet stores for aound 10-12 dollars. This book is the best book on the market for newt keepers from beginnier to advanced.

Another great website for care info is www.caudata.org
Check in the caudata culture section for species specific information.

God luck, and feel free to ask more questions.

They are fabulous newts to keep. Out of the 20+ species of amphibians in my collection, they are right up there at the top in terms of my favorite.

[thunder]

great setup! can you post a pic of your newts? im not familiar with this species.

[Double J]

I dug up a pic I took on my old digital camera. It is a lousy photo, but it gives you an idea. Later tonight, or perhaps tomorrow morning, I will bring up the new digital camera and take a decent pic. The newt in the photo is Isaac. He is one of the first amphibians I ever bought.
Anyway, enjoy!

[thunder]

thanks! hes very cute

[hudson]

Thanks Double J for the info and the pics.

When I asked about housing two males together, I meant of the same species not mixing two species together. I was just wandering because I have him/her in a twenty gallon tank and it looks so bare with just the one that I wanted to get a second. But I've been told that they are hard to sex unless it's mating season and I don't want to end up with two males if they are going to try to kill each other.

Kate

[Double J]

Keeping male newts together is not a problem. They are not aggressive toward each other as in the case of most geckos or anything. Even if the two newts are males and housed together, you will not have any sex related aggression. So, as long as your current tank is sizeable, fell free to put another oregon in there!

good luck

[hudson]

Thanks again Double J

Kate