Hello, I'm new

I enjoy exploring in the Holtwood Gorge on the lower Susquehanna River between York and Lancaster Counties. The area is a major riverine system including the Susquehanna River, plunging feeder streams, dense mature hardwood and an ancient canal which has become a series of woodland pools over the last century. Wonderful amphibian and reptile habitat.
I've collected some ambystoma maculatum and rana sylvatica larvae from one small pool, and some other larvae from a separate pool which I think are hyla crucifer. They are growing up together in an outdoor aquatic/terrestrial habitat. So far everyone seems to be getting along, but I've read the postings on species mixing and am on the alert for unseemly gulping. The a. maculatae do tend to get shouldered aside at feeding time because of the size differential and rather more dainty demeanor. Right now everyone seems to be content in an omnivorous nibbling sort of way, using the exisiting algae, cut up redworms, and whatever else they can glean from the enclosure.
Sylvaticae are definitely out if they menace my darling maculatae. Aren't those feathery gills marvellous!
This site is a beautiful thing. Interesting, informative, and, when my wife and kids give me the "you're sort of nuts" thing, here's demonstrable proof that I'm in excellent company.
I tried to attach a picture of my habitat but was unable to figure it out.
One puzzlement about terminology. My guides use h. crucifer but I've also seen it as h. Pseudacris.

Welcome to Caudata.
Looking forward to hearing more about your experiences raising these species..interesting set up too,would love to see more pictures and information there too!

Thank you, Kurt. Can you explain more about the change in genus name from hyla to pseudacris? Is spring peeper a tree frog?

Welcome to the forum, we hope to be of help
The containers are original hehe. But bare in mind as soon as any of the creatures in there morphs, they´ll leave, so if you want to keep them, make sure to get a tight fitting, scape-proof lid.
Also, the scientific name is Ambystoma maculatum...there´s no maculatae xD
The maculatum larvae are entirely carnivorous, so make sure they have plenty to eat, because they are greedy. I don´t know the sizes of each animal, but if maculatum larvae get big they´ll easily make a meal of the tadpole.

Bill said:

Thank you, Kurt. Can you explain more about the change in genus name from Hyla to Pseudacris? Is spring peeper a tree frog?

Click to expand...

The change was made in 1986, I believe. I only have one book that mentions this species as Hyla crucifer all the rest use Pseudacris as its genus. The book in question is Amphibians and Reptiles of New England by DeGraaf and Rudis and was copywritten in 1983.
Yes, spring peepers are treefrogs of the family Hylidae. They are of the genus Pseudacris, AKA the chorus frogs.