Newt ID please.

[jenny]

So I love my little JFB newt and my axolotls, so naturally us being like-minded people always head for the legged varieties on offer at our fishy stores. I WAS delited to see the note above a nice setup saying 'JFB Newts' which proceeded to have very good information about care for example average size 10cm and so on.... well I thought it was time to get my little one a friend as he had lost his mate and these were the first I had come across since.

I squeezed by a 'rather rude' chap and began to search the tank for the little fellows, when out popped these sweeties. Which compared to my fbn are huge, at least 20cm. Naturally I informed the assistant who seemed pleasent and agreed that he also believed they were not what they said they were. After a closer look i could not resist and took a male and female home. So they are in temperery acomodation '1/2 land 1/2 water', until you fine people can advise me of their species and what is best for them. Thank you and any comments will be greatly appreciated.

I didn't think they were a cynops, spelling wright? as they have a rounded tail, Maybe some type of warty newt.

So good news I have 2 new newts for my collection

, bad news my fbn is still on his own

 

[rodrigo]

Nice animals.
But that water has bubles...you should let the water rest for at least 24h before using it...that´s probably why both are on land in the last pics. Just a comment though..

 

[jenny]

Hi, I keep 2 large containers '30 litres each' with water in all the time for when I do my twice weekly clean of my newt and axolotls this water Is left for 2-3 days so is nice and sorted by the time I need it, I had it from there so it is ok, thank you anyway

 

[wouter]

Those are Paramesotriton chinensis, you can recognise them because of the yellow spots, that other species of the genus don't have. You can look at caudata culture for more info!

 

[jim]

Here you go:
http://www.caudata.org/cc/species/Paramesotriton/P_chinensis.shtml

 

[jenny]

thank you

(Message edited by j3nny on February 03, 2007)

 

[audrey]

I have two of these newts also and they are very curious and a lot of fun. However, I had to separate mine because of territorial behavior. The very slightly larger of the two would bite the other if he left one wall of the aquarium. The smaller one was even trying to climb out of the water. Since I have separated them, the smaller one is entirely different, very active and explores his entire tank! You may not have any problems, but just keep an eye on them

 

[skye]

They are Paramesotriton fuzhongensis, I have just got a couple myself and it took me ages to find out what they were.

 

[TJ]

Skye, what makes you think they are P. fuzhongensis?

I agree with Wouter that they seem to be P. chinensis.

 

[ralf]

Let me add a bit to the confusion. Jenny, it may well be that your two newts belong to two different species. The upper animal in the first picture looks like a P. fuzhongensis to me with the head somewhat distorted because of the rounded edge of the (plastic) tank. The lower animal clearly is a P. chinensis without any doubt.
The rest of the pictures show a P. chinensis.

Unfortunately, it is quite common for collectors, wholesalers or pet shops to "store" respectively sell a mixture of warty newts in/from the same tank.

(Message edited by ralf on March 01, 2007)