Ordinary Triton is an amazing amphibian, a long-liver, which can rightfully decorate any aquarium. Amphibians can grow in length from 8 to 11 cm, half of this length falls on the tail. The back has an olive-brown color, and the tummy is yellow with small dark spots. The head is decorated with black stripes. In males, a beautiful crest grows from the back of the head to the tip of the tail during the mating season.
The common newt settles in mixed and deciduous forests, likes to live in shady, damp places of parks and settlements. Winter and summer live on land, and in spring prefers ponds. Amphibian winters in heaps with foliage, in the minks of rodents and moles, can settle in the basement or cellar. In April, leaves the winter home to the nearest body of water, where he takes part in mating games.
Common newt at home
Outside, females of newts usually lay up to 150 eggs. After 20 days, larvae hatch in which gills appear in the water. By 60-70 days of life, the gills disappear, and babies 3.5 cm long rush to land, where their parents are already. On the shore, the children hide in rotten stumps, under last year’s wet foliage, in the burrows of mammals.
Something similar needs to be recreated in newts and at home. The aquarium should have a moistened small area of land and an aqua corner. The presence of foliage, and the bark of trees, and hygrophilous plants such as ferns are mandatory. The most suitable aquarium for these amphibians is a double one, with glued glass separating water from land.
Triton vulgaris. Content
Amphibians feed on invertebrates. When a newt lives in water, its table is mainly composed of daphnia, mosquito larvae, cyclops, and something like that. But on land, they eat earthworms and insect larvae living on the ground. In an aquarium, an ordinary triton can always feed on mosquito larvae. There is only one condition - the feed must show signs of life, move. Often fed newts and bloodworms, which are placed in the feeder a little dampened with water.
It is worth saying that it is more difficult to keep an ordinary triton in an aquarium because of its small size. It is necessary to select food, so preference is given to larger individuals, while young animals are released into the wild (for example, in a zoo). A large difference in the size of individuals can lead to cannibalism.
When transporting this animal should be picked up as little as possible. The temperature of these amphibians varies with the ambient temperature by several degrees, so from contact with the human hand they may get burns.
Triton vulgaris is a very tenacious animal. He can restore parts of the body, for example, instead of a lost limb, tail or finger, a new one grows. However, do not check this. A newt can survive, even after being a little frozen in the ice. They winter on land, but there have been cases of wintering in streams.
Have to buy a heater lamp in the dry zone of the aquarium. Amphibians feel comfortable at daytime at 18 degrees, at night at 16. In general, it is not so difficult to contain newts, but it’s unusual. It will be interesting for you and your children to watch them in the aquarium.