Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Found this guy in the road in the middle of the day. He is a tiny thing, could fit in a Tablespoon with room to spare.

First off what is he? And second is it feasable to keep him?

Thanks in advance
Carrey
Homeschooling Mommy of 4

you have a red spotted newt in its "red eft" stage. you say it fits in a tablespoon then it must have recently metamorphised from a aquatic larva. In the eft stage it will spend the next 3-5 yrs on land. Then it will return to the water to go a further change into an aquatic adult where it will spend the rest of its life. you will need very tiny live bugs to feed it. Like springtails, flightless frutiflies to name a couple. I have 2 males and 2 females of the adult newts. My females are supposed to be pregnant but have yet to see eggs. Once it becomes an auatic adult you can feed live or frozen bloodworms, white mosquito larva, daphnia, cyclops, brine shrimp and other tiny invertabrates. In its eft stage you need a humid terrarium set up with plenty of hiding places. The adult stage would require an aquatic set up with plenty of vegetation with good filtration but little or no water current. Hope this helps some. Good luck and keep us posted

thanks so much!

I was thinking he was a newt but all the pictures I saw had them swimming. Now I understand.

I have him in a tank with gravels on the bottom. One side of the tank, over the gravels. I have laid a peice of screen. Then covered the screen with dirt and moss. The other side I have left the gravel bare and have lowered a water bowl down in it. That way the rim of the bowl is level with the top of the gravels. I have also added some rocks to the bottom of the bowl so he can get in and out of it. I also have added some wood scraps and bark for him to hide in. Does that sound like it will work for him? Any thing I should add or change?

Another question,

I had read that they eat fruit flies, and put a peice of tomato in there to attract them. (I was quite proud of myself for figuring that out LOL works like a charm) Then you said "flightless" fruit flies, and now I'm confused. LOL where/how do I get something this little guy can eat?

Thanks Again
Carrey
Homeschooling Mommy of 4

Sounds like you got the tank just fine. Just keep it humid 60%-75% will be fine. The flightless fruitflies can be purchased at your nearest Petsmart. I've noticed at one near me has some in small round tube that has blue "goo" at the bottom for the larva "maggots" to stay until they change and at the top is where the adult flies are. Or you can check them out in the food/feeder/supplies section in the classifieds here on kingsnake.

I was looking in the to the feeders and can't make up my mind

The fruitflies look simple enough, just buy the bugs and put them in.

But the Springtails look like I might be able to breed them in the tank. Is that true? and if it is, is that a good idea?

Which feeder would you suggest?

Carrey
Homeschooling Mommy of 4

If you can get the springtails and breed them go for it. That would be a great idea!! Good luck and let me know how it goes.

Springtails are about the easiest thing to breed ever. Just leave a piece of poo in the tank, and they'll appear! Poo is their favorite food, I think. With the fruit flies, you don't NEED the flightless ones. I mean, your eft would never actually encounter flightless fruit flies in the wild. But they are easier to catch. Also try various small worms, such as white worms, grindal worms, blackworms, or chopped earthworms.

Went to my petshop today to get my frogs crickets, and asked if they had the fruitflies. They were a no-go, but the gal did suggest blackworms though. How do I give the worms? She suggested putting them in the water dish. Maybe I'll do that and leave the tomato for the normal fruitflies for now, and look more into the breeding of springtails.

Thanks so much!
Carrey
Homeschooling Mommy of 4