Hong Kong Warty Newts

M

mark

Guest
yesterday i bought 2 female hong kong warty newts.i looked on caudata org for some info but all i found was pictures. and i have a few questions.

1)what temperature do they prefer? im currently keeping them at 74f.

2)what sort of setup should i use? im currently using a semi-aqatic setup.

3)how long will they grow? both newts are currently around 15cm.

4)what foods do they like? im currently feeding them live bloodworms.

any other advice much welcome.
Thanks

Mark
 
I personally would like someone independently knowledgeable with this group to vouch for that caresheet before I would endorse it.
 
Mark, I have kept P. hongkongensis. I gotta ask you a couple of questions too. Are you sure they are hongkongensis? And are you sure they are female? Distinguishing species of warties is not easy. And telling male from female hongkongensis is impossible outside of breeding season.

Like most newts, they like cool temps. I would get them cooler if you can. Semi-aquatic is fine, but they will rarely use the land area. Be sure there is ample water volume. Mine liked chopped worms, with occasional blackworms, waxworms, or bloodworms.
 
And don't forget a mild current (they live in slow moving waters).
Chris
 
Hi Mark,
might want to check out these threads from this forum.

http://www.caudata.org/forum/messages/985/5379.html#POST11123

http://www.caudata.org/forum/messages/7/1287.html#POST5530

For further reading on Hongkong streams I recommend:

http://www.hku.hk/ecology/fieldcourse/fc-st-1.htm

might also want to check out the Hongkong university bulletin for further info on hongkong ecology (as well as herps):

http://www.hku.hk/ecology/porcupine/

and especially
http://www.hku.hk/ecology/porcupine/por27/27-glance-newt.htm

To get an impression what Hongkong streams look like:

http://www.hkwaterfall.net/hk_falls/hkwf_hom.htm

and especially
http://go2nature.net/wc_e.html

Here is also some basic information I found in an article in a German magazine on a field trip to Hongkong (Shing Mun Country Park) and some observations on P. hongkongensis. The author is Martens and you can find the citation in one of the initially mentioned forum threads.
A short summary of the German text:
The author states that this species is still being caught, sold locally and also exported despite being protected (Wild Animals Protection Ordinance / 1976).
He was not able to observe larvae or juveniles in the stream.
The observed animals were rather skinny and parasitized by mites.
Main spawning period for this species is November to April. Water temperatures during winter not dropping below 12,5 degrees Celsius in the streams of the Hongkong area (water temp. at time of observation was 23 deg. C., air temp was 27 deg. C. no date or season given, though).
MARTENS also describes additional secondary traits of males and females as follows.
Males posessed a sheen and swollen cloacas even outside of breeding season.
Compared to the females, males could be identified by lesser numbers of red spots on the belly.
Red spots in males were surrounded by a dark edge.
Males possessed a conspicuous red spot either on or directly in front of the cloaca (absent in females).

Chris, I have to disagree. This species does not need a current. They can even be bred without one. Too strong a current could even stress the animals. They seem to prefer the stagnant parts of these streams and even breed in ephemeral pools near the stream edges. They need shelter and the possibility to retreat. They will also take advantage of dense submersed vegetation.

Ralf
 
I'm with John on this, virtually nothing is published on the natural history of Paramesotriton so any caresheet on them at this point is at best a collection of educated guesses, and at worst, fiction. Animals could very well be dying due to recommendations given by the varying sources out there or surviving in spite of them.
 
thanks for the info and links guys and gals.
im now feeding them with chopped up earth worms, they seem to really like them. ive lowered the temp of the tank by only a couple of faranhite. i also have a small air stone in the tank witch the little guys really seem to like.
Jenny i am sure they are hongkongensis ive looked at your pictures on living-under-world thats how i knew what species they were.
Thanx again guys.
Any more info much welcome.

Mark
 
i keeped hongkong newts for about 3 years they liked cool temperatures about 68f and never had any problems they never left the water and breed a few times i tryed running water but they did,nt like it and left the water .they grow to about 6 inches long .i had them fully aquatic with a rock island in the middle which they never used i feed them on worms,bloodworm justin
 
i can try...please host my newt site if i make 1 john.
 
Ralf, that is why I said MILD current. I know from experience that they don't like rapid current, but a very weak current seems to be good.
Having a filter also keeps the water clean which is good for them,
Chris
 
Mark, I am not associated with Living Underworld. I had a web site (Planet of the Newts) with pictures of P. hongkongensis (likely identification, but still not 100% certain) but I think my old site is no longer around, at least I'm not paying for hosting any longer.

Regarding a current, mine seemed content with a large airstone in the tank, but when I tried a submersible filter that created a moderate current on one side of the tank, they were obviously stressed out (getting out of the water) so I removed it. My own conclusion was that these newts need/prefer about the same amount of current as other kinds of newts I have kept. In other words, little or none.
 
his newt look like guaxing warty newts to me and they like lying on the airstone. i was at the shop and brought them back for him.
 
just thought i'd give you a small update on the newts:
both newts are well, im feeing them on chopped earthworms every 2 days, setup still semi aquatic with an air stone but im thinking about a redesign with more hiding places and the temperature is around 70f.

to the other people on this forum who have/had hong kong warty newts is it possible for you to send in some pictures of your tank setups.

thanx again for all the info and help.

Mark
 
I think that hongkongensis like a lot less current than other warties. I have seen some German pares where hongkongensis have been collected in lakes. However deloustali, fuzhongensis, chinensis and laoensis were all found in at least slowly moving water (I have seen this in a number of sources)
Chris
 
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  • Katia Del Rio-Tsonis:
    Dear All, I would appreciate some help identifying P. waltl disease and treatment. We received newts from Europe early November and a few maybe 3/70 had what it looked like lesions under the legs- at that time we thought maybe it was the stress of travel- now we think they probably had "red leg syndrome" (see picture). However a few weeks later other newts started to develop skin lesions (picture enclosed). The sender recommended to use sulfamerazine and we have treated them 2x and we are not sure they are all recovering. Does anyone have any experience with P. waltl diseases and could give some input on this? Any input would be greatly appreciated! Thank you.
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    sorry I am having a hard time trying to upload the pictures- I have them saved on my hard drive... any suggestions-the prompts here are not allowing for downloads that way as far as I can tell. Thanks
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