Reptile & Amphibian Forums

i am setting up a cage for some california newts in a 60 gal. and want to make the cage all natural looking with a waterfall and was wondering if any body new were to get cork bark or a plastice rocky backround or somthing that i can use to make a waterfall out of and just somthing to work with and some water plants. and also i was wondering what other people have used that looked realy cool, and what u guys have feed your california newts thats for any info

Adam

Hi there:

Designing salamander vivariums is great, because my frogs toads and caecilians tear the beautifully planted vivariums up with their violent movements, but a salamander or newt is less likely to cause this kind of destruction.
A 60 gallon is a wonderful size, and yours will most likely eventually breed if it is set up well. Here's a great setup plan that I hope will help you:

MATERIALS NEEDED:

aquarium
stand
UVB light for plants, or basking lamp if your using artificial plants
washed pea gravel
vivarium planting mix
strip of plexiglass, cut accordingly OR several large rocks
plants- live or artificial
dechlorinated water
filter, preferably the Fluval Plus system
leaves, stones
any cool stuff you can get
imagination

step 1: Place the tank on a sturdy stand. Begin by placing 2-3 inches of pea gravel on the bottom.

step 2: Cut the plexiglass so that it is about half as high as the tank itself, and wedge it in between the walls about three-fourths of the way over, OR arrange large rocks about three-fourths of the way over, and stack them up.

step 3: On the smaller portion of the tank between the barrier, place 4-5 inches of vivarium planting mix. Add leaves, cork bark etc. California newts love to climb up onto logs

step 4: The larger portion of the vivarioum should be composed of cool dechlorinated water, about 5 inches deep

step 5: Insert the filter

step 6: Introduce the plants. I use pothos floating in the water, and various other pond plants. Arrange the aquatic cage furniture as desired.

step 7: Place the lights on the canopy (If you are using a basking lamp, make sure it is well away from the newts)

step 8: Turn on the filter and lights. Use an appliance timer if neccesary.

step: Introduce the Taricha Tarosa and enjoy!

good luck

DAVE