Salamander Eggs Busting Out

The eggs in the background hatching were salamander eggs. Most of the young newts were devoured quickly by the tadpoles before I had a chance to intervene. I am hoping to be able to separate them earlier next year, I would love to have as high as success rate with the newts as I do with the frogs!

A Gutsy Guy

This hungry little tadpole was busy eating,(my cooking) while I was snapping pictures of his tranparent skin. Its easy to see the spriral intestines. I was able to watch the heart beat also but not capture it. At this point in their development they are eating and pooping machines!

I love this picture because it shows the delicate beauty of the salamander newts. I am amazed at how delicate the the eggs are yet resilient enough for them to wiggle out of. Raising salamander newts is much more challenging for me, and for that reason I usual return most to my son's pond. When the eggs are first gathered I am not able to distinguish the difference between the frog clusters and the salamander.

Eggs and newts pictured here are tripled in size to show details.

Big Tail, Little Frog

Just a few days from release this frog took to perching on this stick and looking out at the big world. I release the frogs generally when their tails have nearly disappeared, it is at this time I've noticed they no longer take much interest in the diet I provide. Before I began raising frogs I would frequently find tiny green tree frogs on my roses with a stub of a tail. My boys named them "Little Gremlins".

When they first arrive the eggs are in a gel cluster. After a few of them hatch. the cluster begins to break apart. When the cluster, broke apart, I carefully scooped up a few that were near hatching , wiggling within the egg. Also , in the picture you can see an empty egg case. These were salmanders eggs.