Misidentifying newt species indicative of a bad store?

[em]

In your opinions, if a reptile/amphibian/exotic animal store with an otherwise sparkling reputation for having excellent animal care and knowledge misidentifies a newt species that it's selling, would that make you think less of the store and hesitate from buying there?

I'm not talking about confusing a Japanese fire-bellied newt with a Chinese fire-bellied newt (which I've learned is quite common) - more along the lines of mixing up a Chinese fire-bellied newt with a Paramesotriton newt.

Do you think that might be the store being told the wrong species from the seller, or the staff actually not knowing, or other?

(not sure exactly which section to put this in; hope it's the right one)

 

[joan]

Happens all the time. "Firebelly newts" are usually all the same to pet stores.

Most pet stores are out to make money. They usually could care less what the animal is, as long as you're willing to buy it. Most pet stores also do not have trained herpetologists/vets/anyone knowlegable that works for them. They rarely have people available who can correctly identify animals, especially exotics like asian newts.

 

[ian]

Same here in England, any newt with a reddish belly is usually called a fire belly.On the up side i have bought paddle tails for the same price as chinese fire bellies.

 

[samuel]

Same here in portugal. Anything with a red belly is a firebelly.
I've seen Paramesotriton, Cynops and Pachytriton being sold for firebellies.
Though the suppliers are also to blame. They sell them listed as firebellies and "giant" firebellies.

 

[mark]

I think you should judge pet shops by the conditions they keep the stock and quality of the advice given by staff. Obviously it helps if they know exactly which species they're selling but most "firebellied newts" have similar housing and feeding requirements (with the exception of aggressive pachys). Just because they know the scientific name doesn't mean they wont try to sell you an aquarium heater and some repto-min pellets before you leave.

I wouldn't get too hung up on the store getting a common name wrong when it has a "sparkling reputation for having excellent animal care and knowledge". Sounds like a rare pet shop indeed.

 

[em]

Ahhhkay - thanks everyone.

I had known several people who had bought reptiles and amphibians there, and they only had wonderful things to say about the store, but when I asked about the availability of C. orientalis, they said they had two of them, but when they described them, didn't quite get the description right.

I figured that misidentifying fire-bellies wouldn't be the end of the world, especially if everyone else I've known has said the store is very clean, the animals are very well taken care of, and at least with the reptiles my friends have bought there, the staff are very knowledgeable.

When I asked about what they were feeding the newts (I figured if they said they used the reptomin newt pellets, that might be a good indication they didn't know what they were doing), they said they fed their fire-bellied newts tubiflex worms, bloodworms, and sometimes chopped up earthworms. And when I expressed interest at obtaining said newts, the girl questioned me to make sure I had the appropriate tank set up for amphibians before even discussing with me prices and times I could stop by.

It seemed a good store, but I was a little thrown off by the misidentification. But it seems that it can be common, and won't necessarily be indicative of the quality of the animal care and concern...

Thanks everyone!

 

[joan]

Like Samuel said, anything with a red belly is a 'firebelly newt'. And a lot of the asian newts look alike.

It does sound like they know what they're talking about though, with proper feeding and inquiring about tanks.

You're definately blessed with having a good pet shop in your area.