Cynops orientalis question

[ryan]

How do you guys that have this particular species maintain good water quality and proper aeration, considering that this species likes totally still water? I would assume that a box filter would wreak too much havoc and any air bubbles would scare the buggers. Water changes would probably stress them out as well.

Also, can anyone tell me a good method from telling the males from the females?

 

[benjamin]

I use a submersible filter that's partially burried. There is, however, a good way to obtain clean, ariated water without a filter: plants. If the aquarium is large and so full of submerged plants (elodea, java moss) that you can't see to the other side with a weekly partial water change, then you have a pretty good system. In smaller aquariums you still may have to change the water very often.

 

[pamela]

Hi Ryan,

I use Duetto, and Fluval, submersible filters with no problems. I am trying out a Cascade sub filter in one tank, and it is working well, although it does have a stronger output. The advantage to the Cascade brand, is it has a larger biofilter area, and charcoal media container than the others.

Re: sexing of your animals, Caudata Culture has good info.

 

[ryan]

Thanks all..

I think that I'm going to stick with my Penguin Bio-wheel because I have a couple of Goldfish in my Aquarium along with the newts, and so water quality is very important along with the maintenance of biological filtration. To be on the safe side I had better keep my bio-wheel or I'll find my newts swimming in ammonia(not good at all). So far they seem to be doing fine, but if my biological filtration ever fails I'll have to transfer the newts to another aquarium. I'm also going to have to have an airstone. It doesn't seem to bother them too much.

As to sexing... I think that I have two females and one male(plenty of young ones could be on the way). The two females are quite large, while the male has a swollen cloaca and is much smaller. Also, the male seems more skiddish and doesn't eat as much as the two females. Has anyone noticed this about males? Do you think, by my description, that I am right in identifying the sex of my newts?

 

[melissa]

i use a long airstone buried under the gravel, you would have though it would scare them but they actually quite like it, they sit on it sometimes its so cute.

 

[dani]

i have a old submersible filter that sends up air bubbles the ruffle the surface of the water a bit. they dont seem to mind it one bit, in fact, they seem happier than they were before the filter.

side note: i would remove the goldfish. you might want to check out the CC article on species mixing disasters.

 

[benjamin]

I find that males actually tend to be the same if not more aggresive than the females when it comes to feeding, maybe he feels stressed about the gold fish.

 

[ira]

I just use live plants.

 

[john]

I use live plants, elodea, java moss, a african sword, and a Tetra (Whisper) internal filter. They seem to love it!