An eastern newt is held at Forest Pools Preserve, adjacent to Kings Gap State Park in Cumberland County, Pa., on March 25, 2016. The Nature Conservancy hosted a group of roughly 30 visitors for a vernal pool hike (Photo by Will Parson/Chesapeake Bay Program)
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Hey! I have just homed what I have just now re - identified as a red eft due to colorization and the fact that I found it on a rather dry trail. after some of my minor research I wasent aware of it's triple life cycle!! So I put it in a mostly aquatic tank as I was told was normal for an eastern newt... and it swam like a pro. I know I'm not supposed to handle it much but I wanted to make sure it enjoyed the water so I removed it a few times and put it on the island I have made for it in the tank, it would instantly dive back in the water and swim like a champion or hover at the bottom then swim back up for air every 2-3 minutes before going back to the bottom, it is about 2 1/2 - 3 inches in length would I be correct to assume that it is a red eft in its latest stages of that cycle? It truely swims like a natural. Thank you!! I apologize for my ignorance but I feel such an intense admiration for these curious creatures!!!!!! I want to get him friends asap! Do red efts get along with their adult Eastern Newt counterparts ?
My sense is the eft stage helps populations as an insurance against winter-kill of the portion of the population that overwinters in ponds. Winter kill happens some years, not all, when ice/snow prevent O2 entering pond from air or being produced by photosynthesis (shade from snow). I've seen this in our own pond in Sullivan County - hundreds of dead adult newts (and fish and tadpoles). The red efts overwinter on the land (I assume) and are thus way for populations to recover between winter kills.
Hi, Tim! Glad you found the blog helpful. Juveniles live on land for about 2-3 years and the full life span of the eastern newt is 12-15 years, so they will likely live in the water around 10 years.
Thank you, I've been watching the terrestrial juveniles all my life and did not connect them with adult green swimmers I'm also familiar with. Two years a juvenile is another interesting bit. How long will adults live in the water?
Thank you!
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Comments
Hey! I have just homed what I have just now re - identified as a red eft due to colorization and the fact that I found it on a rather dry trail. after some of my minor research I wasent aware of it's triple life cycle!! So I put it in a mostly aquatic tank as I was told was normal for an eastern newt... and it swam like a pro. I know I'm not supposed to handle it much but I wanted to make sure it enjoyed the water so I removed it a few times and put it on the island I have made for it in the tank, it would instantly dive back in the water and swim like a champion or hover at the bottom then swim back up for air every 2-3 minutes before going back to the bottom, it is about 2 1/2 - 3 inches in length would I be correct to assume that it is a red eft in its latest stages of that cycle? It truely swims like a natural. Thank you!! I apologize for my ignorance but I feel such an intense admiration for these curious creatures!!!!!! I want to get him friends asap! Do red efts get along with their adult Eastern Newt counterparts ?
My sense is the eft stage helps populations as an insurance against winter-kill of the portion of the population that overwinters in ponds. Winter kill happens some years, not all, when ice/snow prevent O2 entering pond from air or being produced by photosynthesis (shade from snow). I've seen this in our own pond in Sullivan County - hundreds of dead adult newts (and fish and tadpoles). The red efts overwinter on the land (I assume) and are thus way for populations to recover between winter kills.
Hi, Tim! Glad you found the blog helpful. Juveniles live on land for about 2-3 years and the full life span of the eastern newt is 12-15 years, so they will likely live in the water around 10 years.
Thank you, I've been watching the terrestrial juveniles all my life and did not connect them with adult green swimmers I'm also familiar with. Two years a juvenile is another interesting bit. How long will adults live in the water?
Thank you!
Your comment has been received. Before it can be published, the comment will be reviewed by our team to ensure it adheres with our rules of engagement.
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