Neurergus kaiseri in captivity -- some early thoughts

Well, it's been a couple months since I've been working with some imported WC N. kaiseri here at my zoo. I had always read and been told by the vast majority of people who had kept/were keeping kaiseri that they were very shy, terrified of light, and poor captives. Just thought I'd go through these assertions with what I've seen of them.

Shy
Being WC, they were fairly shy at first and most were tentative eaters. This has changed markedly. Although they do seem to prefer to be in a cave, facing outward, they regularly wander about in the open and some do not hesitate now to rush the glass and follow me, hoping for food. They regulalry beg and when food hits the water now, they begin to scurry all around the tank to find it. Overall, I'd say that they are no more shy than any other freshly caught newt I've experienced and within a couple months, have become just as tame as any other newt

Light Sensitive
Generally when I first check on them early in the morning, they are out in the open. After the lights come on, they gradually work their way back to a favorite cave...or not. They definitely do not seem to be afraid of the light nor shocked by it now. I should also mention that even though they prefer a cave, their heads are often sticking out into the light as they watch for any passing motion much like a Pachytriton or Calotriton. They were also courting in full light. Overall, I'd say they are no more light-sensitive than any other newt I've worked with.

Poor Captives
Well, see above. They eat well and are active. They certainly did not arrive in the best of health and there have been losses, but that can be said of any imported newts. We've also got eggs/larvae and so I look forward to the experience!

I'm glad that there are some zoological institutions out there that are working with N. kaiseri.

Hopefully you will be able to tell us more about these beautiful animals as your zoo works with them. I wonder where all the accounts of shyness and photosensitivity of these animals comes from? Some issue of husbandry maybe?

The dead

Nate,
What do you guys do with the dead of rare species like this? I just contacted one of the vendors selling them at Kingsnake and asked what they do with their dead and they told me that they don't die for them, and that if they do the folks that work there would take them home in a jar. Doesn't much help the research community that way. Combined Herp Index lists 19 specimens of this species in U.S. collections. any additional would help anybody who'd be trying to study this group of caudates.

Greg

I had larvae that turned into gilled adults, of this species, and I always found them very jumpy. I believe Nate's describing fully metamorphosed individuals. Perhaps their tolerances are slightly different? Or perhaps there was just something about how I kept them that made them jumpy.

Well John isn`t the only credible keeper that has witnessed shy behaver in kaiseri. Perhaps they are kept in a different type of set up at the zoo. I wonder if they are on display where they may be more proned to adapting to human activity.

Nate- working at the zoo, do you have the resources to find out whether or not other zoos, or institutions are also working with kaiseri?

Well, we don't keep them much different than a Czech hobbyist had posted on the old forums: a big tank with about 1/2 land-water. They are kept in a back room and see humans maybe twice a day.

Greg: The dead animals we that did not send away for cultures were incinerated. Trust me, the Pseudomonas left very little in the way of a useful, recognizable specimen. Should additional animals die in decent shape, I'll be keeping them or perhaps passing them on to UT Arlington. Of course the dealer is going to say they don't lose any....

Chris: There are other zoos I've been in contact who are acquiring the animals now. I can gladly say that AZA zoo interest in acquiring and managing a captive population with reintroduction potential has risen greatly in the last couple of months.

I have found my N. kaiseri to be reclusive in the terrestrial phase - not jumpy exactly, just reclusive - and outgoing in the aquatic phase.

Larvae update:

Nice work, Alan, they're looking great! Any tips or insight you can offer? I'm currently raising 27. What are the temps you're keeping them at?

The temperatures are between 20 and 25C depending on the weather, water chemistry is ~pH 7.2, 150ppm CaCO3. There are approximately 40 larvae in a 60x45 cm tank with a water depth of ~15cm. Lots of aquatic plants. No filtration, 25% water changes twice a week.
Feeding Daphnia, grindalworms, whiteworms, bloodworms (now taking frozen eagerly after trying live bloodworms), and the largest larvae are now taking small whole earthworms. They like to eat!
All still fully gilled, so it'll be a while beofre they morph.