i think my "pair" of newts are differing species

[georgiagrrl]

i recntly bought a "pair" of "dog faced newts" from one of my local pet stores, and have them in a 2 foot tank, while i work on finishing their 4 foot tank, which is probalby overkill, but i'd like to give them plenty of room.

however, their belly markings are drastically different, and their feeding habits also. one i have to take out to feed, because it won't eat sometimes, the other one will just eat til it bursts.

i had come to the conclusion not long after i got them, that they were the same,a nd were probalby hong kong newts

http://www.georgiagrrl.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/tiny.jpg

http://www.georgiagrrl.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/houdini.jpg

sorry the pictures aren't great but you can see the differeing colour and differing amoutn of colour on each belly. the images are named the same way i've named the newts, one's Tiny, and one's Houdini

 

[rigsby]

hi...i would say def not your typical dog faced newt belly markings so i would certainly rule them out.As you say ,not brilliant photo's so its hard to say but i would guess at chinese warty newts ,have they got any yellow spots on their sides. The belly markings can be variable even on the same type of newt so don't be fooled into thinking they are different species because of that. The colouring of dog faced newts or paramesotriton caudopunctatus is a reddy brown back with a orange coloured stripe running down the middle and the males have an orange spot at the tip of the tail and the belly tends to be more wavy striped than spotted. I wouldn't worry about their different feeding habits as long as they are feeding they should be fine.....ian

 

[georgiagrrl]

looking through the pictures in the database, i reckon they're paramesotriton guanxiensis

they look VERY like those, apart form the paler colour on Tiny, who's actually not very tiny, actually the larger of teh two, and a bit tubby.

 

[rigsby]

if you can get some clear photo's there will be a better chance of a possitive identification...but its certainly one of the warty newts....ian