Aidan's Nature Blog

in the above image you can see rocks and logs scattered in the middle of the pool. lifting them up results in finding newts, salamanders, large spiders and aquatic insect carcasses. in the spring, when it is filled, it is full of aquatic newts, Aquatic insects, frogs, tadpoles, water snakes, caddisfly larva, dragonflies, and many other really cool creatures. i rescued my 2 tadpoles from a mud puddle while the pond was almost empty. they were skinny, weak and bruised. 2 months later, they are going through metamorphosis, fat and healthy. they also have the entire algae filled 30 gallon aquarium to themselves. i have been exited seeing there changes into froglets.

I also find them to be really cool, yet easy pets. they are not very messy eaters and require minimal care. all they need is an aquarium with algae growth. sometimes, when i stick my arm into my aquarium to rearrange or add something, they will graze on my arm for unknown reasons. maybe they think something about the texture of skin resembles algae.

-Aidan Garrity

October 19th, 2020 Framingham, MA

Last night at about 8:00 pm, I checked on my Eight Eastern Newts that were in a container in the garage to see if they had eaten there Blood worms already. (Blood Worms is a term that means Midge Larva). there were still some remaining. my eye darted over to seeing my largest male courting a female. the male had wrapped his legs around the females throat. (this is called amplexus) about every ten seconds, the male would wag his tail like a snake. his head was also turned around backwards so that he could watch her reaction to his courtship display. he appeared to have 2 types of tail wagging. one where he rubs his own back with his tail, and one where he waves his tail at her Cloaca (genitals). the female was motionless, as if she was in a trance. they continued this for hours until after i had gone up to bed. the male would have dropped his spermatophore (sac of sperm), hoping the female was wooed enough to want to pick it up. i do not know if she did or not but i would assume she would because the male that she mated was was very large, and very healthy. the male had kept alternating the 2 motions. i think that maybe he is gathering a pheromone on his back and then pushing it towards her. all part of the courtship process. the image below shows them engaging in amplexus.