Opinions on good starter Newt?

[eft]

Hi,

I'm interested in keeping aquatic newts. I live in FL, USA so anything requiring temperatures colder than room temp are probably out. I'd also like something that can be kept happily fully aquatic. Eventually I'd like to try breeding, but it is not a priority at this point.

I've been reading and I think I've come up with the choices:

- N. viridescens from the southern part of the range
- Pleurodeles waltl
- Cynops sp.

Am I correct in this list? Am I missing any good options? Do you have an opinion on where to start?

Cheers,

Eft

 

[Kaysie]

P. waltl all the way! They're hardy, personable, almost all captive bred, and easy to breed as adults!

 

[Wildebeestking]

All three are great choices. I'm somewhat biased having a small colony of N. viridescens, but they are really easy to care for and breed easily. P. waltl is another great choice, they are really beautiful newts and from what I understand really hardy. If you're looking for something cheap then Cynops might be your best bet. They are usually well stocked in local pet stores usually no more than ten dollars. Though, I have encountered an LFS that has paddletail newts marked as Cynops.

 

[Kaysie]

The downside to Notos is that they're not as readily available as captive bred. Cynops can be found from breeders; don't trust pet shops regarding these guys. They're either mislabeled like wildebeest pointed out, or they're shipped en masse in terrible conditions and can be difficult to nurse back to health.

 

[morg]

I would add Tylototryton verrucosus to that list if you can get hold of them where you are. very easy to keep, become very tame, are long lived and easy to breed if you decide to do that.

 

[eft]

Can verrucosus be kept aquatically? I was under the impression that you had to figure it out on an individual basis for each animal?

 

[morg]

I have always kept mine aquatic with a small land area, and all have been fine, very rarely if at all using the land