Question: Cant figure out what newts to get for a first timer

[snarfing]

Howdy all, I am looking into beginning to keep newts and having a hard time deciding what species to persue... I originally fell in love with eastern newts, but unfortunately theyre native to ny and therefore illegal for me to keep as pets.

I prefer a more aquatic species, I want a pretty heavily planted tank with possibly shrimp and/or snails (depends i suppose on species)

not having to move them to a terrestrial tank is a huge plus, but if I have to sometimes it is what it is.

Alpine newts interest me, but the temp their water needs to be is pretty low, my house is typically in the 60s, though I -could- put them in my unheated enclosed porch which stays in the 50s in the winter. I also cant tell if people keep their tanks pretty empty for choice or if they prefer it.

Firebelly species interest me but I have a hard time finding anything about their care.

Kaiser as well, but it seems like perhaps they need to be terrestrial part of the year, which isnt a DEAL breaker, also not sure on the ethics of the thing.

I have kept red eared sliders for many years, but never amphibians.

Taking other suggestions as well

 

[Niels D]

I'm in the hobby for over 15 years now, and I still like the "beginner" species and I still keep them. If you don't want to worry about cool temperatures I'd suggest Asian newts like Cynops orientalis, Cynops ensicauda and Tylototriton verrucosus. Pleurodeles waltl can cope with warmer temps as well. If you can, visit a keeper in your area. Check the caudata culture section and watch some youtube vids.

 

[snarfing]

I'm in the hobby for over 15 years now, and I still like the "beginner" species and I still keep them. If you don't want to worry about cool temperatures I'd suggest Asian newts like Cynops orientalis, Cynops ensicauda and Tylototriton verrucosus. Pleurodeles waltl can cope with warmer temps as well. If you can, visit a keeper in your area. Check the caudata culture section and watch some youtube vids.

thanks for weighing in, i havent heard of Cynops ensicauda, something to research. I do think one of the Cynops species will be the answer, they seem like the perfect combo of aesthetics and simplicity so far.

 

[Niels D]

They are absolutely stunning. They're active. You can keep them in groups. They don't like a strong current though.

 

[snarfing]

They are absolutely stunning. They're active. You can keep them in groups. They don't like a strong current though.

do you have any insight on the difference between the various cynops species?

 

[Niels D]

I'm keeping a couple of different species myself, so I dare say that I've got a little insight. I'm not the expert to tell chenggongensis and cyanurus apart. I really don't now which are called Hypselotriton or Cynops or something else. I have the impression that these names have changed constantly the last 15 years.

 

[jasper408]

Firebelly species interest me but I have a hard time finding anything about their care.

Would recommend checking out the below articles on Caudata.org for the ones more available in the hobby.

			Species	Common Name
			Cynops cyanurus	Blue-tailed Fire-Bellied Newt
			Cynops ensicauda	Japanese Sword-tail Newt
			Cynops orientalis	Chinese Fire-Bellied Newt
			Cynops pyrrhogaster	Japanese Fire-Bellied Newt