Alex Tsukanov
New member
- Joined
- May 7, 2007
- Messages
- 26
- Reaction score
- 5
- Points
- 3
- Age
- 58
- Location
- Moscow
- Country
- Russian Federation
The last word in "caudata"-fashion in Russia is keeping of "black head shanjing" (Tylototriton cf. kweichowensis). In spite of the fact that my actual caudata-collection has already 6 species of the genus Tylototriton I bought the new unknown species in number of six very big newts: 2 females (one is very big and old) and 4 males.
They live in aquaterrarium (110x26x46 cm), 70% "land" and 30% water (12-13 cm deep). The volume of weter is 20 litres. Air temperature is 18-22° C. There are floating plants in the water part (unfortunately I don't know what is this). The "land" is big even stones without short ontiguity (with cleft for the hiding of the newts) and coated by big leaves of liana Epipremnum pinnatum. The aquaterrarium also has hidden under stones the system of filtration of water (air-lift) and the aeration of water from air-stone.
The principal food for my T. cf. kweichowensis are earthworms and a lesser extent pieces of beef hearts beforehand soaked in "JBL TerraVit fluid" with addition of "JBL MicroCalcium". Also I add sometimes in their food ration cut slice of my numerous land snails Achatina fulica. The newts are very gluttonous but rather dovish!
I found a lot of eggs at the bottom of aquaterrarium and between stones in late July. I decided to breed them end from time to time I used artificial showers (according to popular belief of "Russian urodela school" it helps in the breeding of same newts). But I think that the primary reason was low air pressure with two days of torrential downpour (almost all July was drought in Moscow).
Here is a photo of the spent female. The photo of the most probable male-begetters.
I was of opinion that the female put the eggs between the stones (as my Neurergus kaiseri) and on the bottom ot the aquaterrarium. But I observed in 23 October 2011 the begining of the second laying of eggs and I understood my delusion. Female tries to attach the eggs by hind extremities on the floating plants. But the floating plants are not thick so the eggs fall on the bottom end after that the newts by stream from their tails send the eggs in the stones.
The second briding was provoked by full change of water!
I drew a conclusion that the eggs were fertile every other week. I gathed the eggs from aquaterrarium to big plastic box. I made a present of the bigger half of eggs to my friend-urodelist.
Unfortunately my portion of eggs perished from the fungus... But eventually I caught 8 larvae in the filter of aquaterrarium: luckily I gathed not all eggs... (My friend got 16 larvae, but now he has only 4 specimens).
The larvae are predatory and frequently they bite off the tails, gills and limbs each other. Therefore I decided to separate the larvae singly.
The begining of metemorphosis
I waited for hatching larvae of the second breeding butI went to hospital for 12 days. New larvae starved to death... But I caught 5 larvae and now they grow very well. By the way, the appetite and behaviour of my reproductive female indicate me that it is to be expected the third briding in November/December.
I have only 2 famales of Tylototriton shanjing. During 5 years I try to buy even if one male. I am man busy and have 3 children so I cannot constantly read price-lists of pet-shops. From time to time T. shanjing come into season but other urodelists are prompt that me. So because of the hopelessness I have decided cross Tylototriton cf. kweichowensis with Tylototriton shanjing... But the 2 famales of Tylototriton shanjing are "frigid" with males of other species!?
All my 7 (and may be +5) young newts (F2) have a strong resemblance to each other and especially to their parents ("hypothetical" F1) without any deviation to T. kweichowensis or T. shanjing... So I can draw a conclusion that it isn't "Tylototriton cf. kweichowensis", this is independent (may be endangered) species according to Mendel's Laws. But the final decision we will have only after the reproduction of the my "7 young newts" (approximately in 2013-2014), we'll have to wait and see...
The eighth larva is albino (flavistic?). All his brothers run on the land but this individual is habitual larva... My life experience indicates that it is not "viable child" so I put paid to this white specimen, I am sure that the larva will die during the metamorphosis. But who knows?
I shall inform you about the fast-growing "Tylototriton cf. kweichowensis" cubs from time to time.
PS
I think that you can unscramble "my English"... I write with Russian-English dictionary (I learnt Franch at school and university) so it is difficult for me to answer to you, pardon...
They live in aquaterrarium (110x26x46 cm), 70% "land" and 30% water (12-13 cm deep). The volume of weter is 20 litres. Air temperature is 18-22° C. There are floating plants in the water part (unfortunately I don't know what is this). The "land" is big even stones without short ontiguity (with cleft for the hiding of the newts) and coated by big leaves of liana Epipremnum pinnatum. The aquaterrarium also has hidden under stones the system of filtration of water (air-lift) and the aeration of water from air-stone.
The principal food for my T. cf. kweichowensis are earthworms and a lesser extent pieces of beef hearts beforehand soaked in "JBL TerraVit fluid" with addition of "JBL MicroCalcium". Also I add sometimes in their food ration cut slice of my numerous land snails Achatina fulica. The newts are very gluttonous but rather dovish!
I found a lot of eggs at the bottom of aquaterrarium and between stones in late July. I decided to breed them end from time to time I used artificial showers (according to popular belief of "Russian urodela school" it helps in the breeding of same newts). But I think that the primary reason was low air pressure with two days of torrential downpour (almost all July was drought in Moscow).
Here is a photo of the spent female. The photo of the most probable male-begetters.
I was of opinion that the female put the eggs between the stones (as my Neurergus kaiseri) and on the bottom ot the aquaterrarium. But I observed in 23 October 2011 the begining of the second laying of eggs and I understood my delusion. Female tries to attach the eggs by hind extremities on the floating plants. But the floating plants are not thick so the eggs fall on the bottom end after that the newts by stream from their tails send the eggs in the stones.
The second briding was provoked by full change of water!
I drew a conclusion that the eggs were fertile every other week. I gathed the eggs from aquaterrarium to big plastic box. I made a present of the bigger half of eggs to my friend-urodelist.
Unfortunately my portion of eggs perished from the fungus... But eventually I caught 8 larvae in the filter of aquaterrarium: luckily I gathed not all eggs... (My friend got 16 larvae, but now he has only 4 specimens).
The larvae are predatory and frequently they bite off the tails, gills and limbs each other. Therefore I decided to separate the larvae singly.
The begining of metemorphosis
I waited for hatching larvae of the second breeding butI went to hospital for 12 days. New larvae starved to death... But I caught 5 larvae and now they grow very well. By the way, the appetite and behaviour of my reproductive female indicate me that it is to be expected the third briding in November/December.
I have only 2 famales of Tylototriton shanjing. During 5 years I try to buy even if one male. I am man busy and have 3 children so I cannot constantly read price-lists of pet-shops. From time to time T. shanjing come into season but other urodelists are prompt that me. So because of the hopelessness I have decided cross Tylototriton cf. kweichowensis with Tylototriton shanjing... But the 2 famales of Tylototriton shanjing are "frigid" with males of other species!?
All my 7 (and may be +5) young newts (F2) have a strong resemblance to each other and especially to their parents ("hypothetical" F1) without any deviation to T. kweichowensis or T. shanjing... So I can draw a conclusion that it isn't "Tylototriton cf. kweichowensis", this is independent (may be endangered) species according to Mendel's Laws. But the final decision we will have only after the reproduction of the my "7 young newts" (approximately in 2013-2014), we'll have to wait and see...
The eighth larva is albino (flavistic?). All his brothers run on the land but this individual is habitual larva... My life experience indicates that it is not "viable child" so I put paid to this white specimen, I am sure that the larva will die during the metamorphosis. But who knows?
I shall inform you about the fast-growing "Tylototriton cf. kweichowensis" cubs from time to time.
PS
I think that you can unscramble "my English"... I write with Russian-English dictionary (I learnt Franch at school and university) so it is difficult for me to answer to you, pardon...
How long are yours tail tip to nose tip? Mine around 6-7cm.. I love the mature larvae pictures. Simply superb to see adult coloration blooming like that in a larva. Remembers me when I raised T.verrucosus larvae... And they are way more dull, seeing those in real life should be even more neat 
