Newts

The kids have been bugging us for a pet. Of course they want a dog - but I just have too much to do taking care of this house, 3 kids and a husband (plus the effort of dealing with my slew of anxiety disorders, Aspergers, depression and various other disorders) to get a dog. If we MUST get a pet, personally I would rather a small dog, though, than anything else...

DH had told them maybe we'd get a guinea pig, but I was not for that at all. DH came into this marriage with hamsters attached and I really don't want to have to be cleaning cages and having that smell throughout the house again! I was greatly relieved when the last hamster finally died.

Thankfully, the kids told me the plan before he went to the pet store, lol. So, he then told them (without discussing it with me first) that they could get some newts. After dinner last night, he announced he was taking the kids to the pet store to buy newts... and he did.

So, now we have 3 paddletail newts.

Um... I really wish he had given me some time to research what taking care of newts entails BEFORE going off to buy them. He assumed they could go in the tiny half-gallon tank we had for the little African water frog we had (which passed on recently) after DD2's class raised it from a tadpole and DD2 surprised me by volunteering to take home at the end of the school year in 1st grade (teachers REALLY need to check with the parents first before sending them home with the kids, don't you think?)

The assumption that they could live in this tiny little tank is WRONG!

After some research, I have found out that paddletail newts should not be in the same tank together because they will eventually become very territorial and kill each other. They need at least 5-10 gallons of water for a newt and LOTS of hiding places including a full aquarium setup complete with filtering system and plants, etc. UGH! Where on earth are we going to put 3 tanks?

If we take a chance and keep them together in one tank, I am now informed that they will need a 20 gallon tank and even more hiding places for when one becomes stronger than the others.

I have also found out that one is a male (white spot on tail) and the other 2 are females... and that they reproduce quickly. UGH! So, yeah, either we are about to become a newt breeding place or we need at least 2 tanks!

They also need cool water, so I'll have to keep a gallon of water in the fridge to pour in there when the water gets close to 70 F (of course, after removing the same amount of warmer water first). We are also supposed to bring the temp of the water down over a 3 week period so that they go into hibernation for 3 months. THAT is not going to happen!

And they live an average of 10 years in captivity. Um... so we will still have at least 3 newts, probably more, when the kids go to college???

I am not a happy person. My vote is take them to the lake nearby and let them be free!!! LOL