Salamander and Newt Larvae Care

Once the eggs are laid, place them in a separate tank from the adults. Depending on how many eggs you have will determine the size of the tank you will need. You definately need a good filter in the tank. Also, you will have to make partial water cleanings. You do this by taking some old water out, then putting clean water in. Make sure the clean water is the same temperature as the old water.

Each day the eggs will change a little. Depending on what specie you have will determine how long they will take to hatch and metamorphose.

Once the eggs hatch into tadpoles, you will have to feed them a lot. They begin to feed within hours of hatching. The larvae are carnivorous and will eat almost anything given to them including flake fish food, mosquitos, fairy shrimp, earthworms, water fleas, and tubifex worms. For the flake fish food, crush it so it is like a powder. For tubifex worms, break them into little pieces. Make sure there is always food in the tank. They’ll start to eat eachother if they don’t get enough food.

Once the tadpoles change into salamanders/newts, separate them to a different tank. The tadpoles that haven’t finished metamorphosing might eat them if you don’t. Depending on how many salamanders/newts you have will determine how big their new tank should be. You can house them in groups or separately.
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The best substrate to use for the land animals is wet paper towels because it is the easiest to clean. You can also use dry paper towels with a water bowl in the tank. Make sure they always have water. The water animals should have a good filter and no subtrate. The tank should be cleaned two times a week. If your specie is a good climber, make sure that you have a secure lid. If they need heat, use an incandescent bulb, a heating pad, or an electric blanket. This is all you need in the tank until they get bigger. You can add decorations if you like, but then you will have more to clean.

At this time, feed them crickets (small enough for them to eat), wingless fruit flies, and other small invertebrates (feed the water animals the foods already listed and tubifex worms). Sprinkle the food items with vitamin/calcium supplements. If you have a lot to feed, then you can order the insects through the mail.

Make sure that the salamanders/newts get natural sunlight. If they don’t thay can get rickets or other metabolic bone diseases. Rickets is a disease that a living thing gets if it doesn’t get enough sunlight. They will become unhealthy and deformed. When you do this, make sure it doesn’t get too hot in the tanks or you’ll fry them.

If you have a lot of salamanders/newts, it would probably be a good idea to sell/give away some. The best time to do this is when they are big enough to eat adult-sized crickets. You can sell them to a good pet store but they usually won’t buy many. A great place to sell them would be at a reptile show. You may need a selling permit to do this. If you have a lot, the cheaper the price, the faster they’ll sell. This is a great place because you can answer people’s questions directly and see what other herp dealers are selling that you can add to your collection.

 

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