Re: water, food and gravel - need info

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Posted by Jennewt on July 24, 2001 at 13:46:59:

In Reply to: water, food and gravel - need info posted by Julie on July 24, 2001 at 10:08:27:

For the too-much-gravel problem here is what I'd suggest. There are various ways to engineer this, but the idea is to put the gravel in a container that comes just above the surface of the water. The containers I have used include: clay flowerpot, plastic dog dish, clay saucer, and a plastic mesh pot that they sell for pond plants. Depending on the depth of the tank and pot, you may need to have the pot on top of a rock or bricks, or even those "pot feet" that they sell at garden shops. The pot can contain just gravel, or a bottom layer of dirt and/or coco-fiber bedding with a top layer of gravel. Plant some houseplants in it, the easiest being cuttings of pothos (that ivy stuff that everyone has). Be prepared for the fact that the container will be full of water - I've found that there is no way to keep it from getting swamped, so this will be a death sentence to any houseplant that doesn't like its feet wet. Some pet stores sell bog plants that work well. You may also want to build on a ramp of some kind to make it easier for the newts to climb up into the pot.

Regarding the newts staying out of the water, I would suggest testing the water for water quality. And if it's hot in your home, think about heat stress.

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: For the too-much-gravel problem here is what I'd suggest. There are various ways to engineer this, but the idea is to put the gravel in a container that comes just above the surface of the water. The containers I have used include: clay flowerpot, plastic dog dish, clay saucer, and a plastic mesh pot that they sell for pond plants. Depending on the depth of the tank and pot, you may need to have the pot on top of a rock or bricks, or even those "pot feet" that they sell at garden shops. The pot can contain just gravel, or a bottom layer of dirt and/or coco-fiber bedding with a top layer of gravel. Plant some houseplants in it, the easiest being cuttings of pothos (that ivy stuff that everyone has). Be prepared for the fact that the container will be full of water - I've found that there is no way to keep it from getting swamped, so this will be a death sentence to any houseplant that doesn't like its feet wet. Some pet stores sell bog plants that work well. You may also want to build on a ramp of some kind to make it easier for the newts to climb up into the pot. : Regarding the newts staying out of the water, I would suggest testing the water for water quality. And if it's hot in your home, think about heat stress.

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