P. honkongensis eggs

[TJ]

Hmmm...it's been suggested to me that perhaps the light-colored ones are actually C.ensicauda that may have hiked in as eggs on the plants. I'm afraid I can't dismiss this theory outright!

Anyway, there are 22 hatchlings now, and only 3 of them are light-colored.

 

[TJ]

 

[paris]

ok, now im in the running too, just went to the shop to rearange some set ups and found eggs in with my hk's. only 5 so far-but they are fertile and have started to cleve already. my big issue is what they are- i think i may have fuzhongensis or guanxiensis another similar species in together-i have 2 males and 2 females-and the belly patterns vary. i have to find out -i think they are different due to belly pattern differences...but i really dont know-it would be a bummer if what i have is a hybrid between two species..all i can get to work ok is my scannner-which means belly pics- would it be possible to identify them by this?

 

[TJ]

Congrats on the eggs, Paris! How're they coming along? Perhaps the coloring of the larvae will reveal what they are. Pics, pics!

I don't think belly patterns are reliable means of distinguishing between most Paramesotriton species but I may be wrong.

Anyway, here are some new pics of my 30 hongkongensis larvae and their new, roomier setup.

 

[TJ]

 

[chris]

I once had eggs, but female was sick and she and eggs died shortly after laying. The female was already pregnant when I bought her. Now every newt I buy seems to be male - it's really annoying - Ive got two male pachytriton Lacbniatus, two male paramesotriton ? and two younger ones I have not sexed yet. Paris, where is your shop? The one I got mine from don't keep them in aquariums, so it's hard to tell what state of health, etc they are
Chris

 

[TJ]

Haven't lost a single larvae yet! I had thought they'd be more sensitive and difficult to care for than Cynops...but I guess that's AFTER morphing. The 3 C.e larvae that are still in there with them (which I had originally mistaken for P.hongkongensis) are about a third larger in size despite having hatched around the same time.

Here's a honkongensis larvae "stalking" a bloodworm:

 

[nate]

When I raised P. chinensis, I thought they'd be tougher than Cynops too. They were not. And that did not change after morphing.

Hope your success continues!

 

[TJ]

Thanks! Success on some fronts, setbacks on others...

Any tips on post-morph Paramesotriton care? Anything you did differently with them than you did with Cynops?

 

[TJ]

I was surprised today to find that around half of them (same number as before) have become lighter in color, almost the same shade as the three C.ensicauda in there with them (though the white around the hongkongensis' eyes, in adddition to their smaller size, makes them easy to tell apart)

 

[nate]

Tim, you are a wealth of pictorial knowledge! These photos are going a long way to answering some questions I've always had about Paramesotritons but didn't have the breeders to answer. Keep 'em coming

BTW, what's it going to take to get a caresheet for P. hongkongensis/P. chinensis on Caudate Central out of either you or paris? You guys obviously know what you're doing with them and a caresheet is desperately needed for them.

 

[TJ]

Nate, stop that, you're making me blush

hahaha

But seriously, I really must retake those pics as I noticed the following morning that the larvae didn't seem nearly as light as they were the previous evening (when I took the pics), though some are indeed lighter than they were before.

I'm wondering if it's because the pics were taken just after switching the light on, prior to which time they were in total darkness. With my tropical fish (cardinals, etc.), for example, their colors are initially pale and don't darken/brighten until the light's been left on for some time. Same phenomenon. perhaps?

Also, I don't want to muddle things further so I'm going to remove all 3 C.ensicauda before taking any more P.hongkongensis pics. In the 1st of the 3 new pics, that seems to be a C.e on the right side. The P. hongkongensis have white both above and below the eye, while the C.ensicauda have white just above the eye, besides being bigger in overall size.

As for the caresheet....who, me?!

Well, I'd be more than happy to help out with one someday if I can successfully shepherd these larvae through metamorphosis and beyond. But I should acknowledge I've been pretty unsuccessful in keeping hongkongensis adults for any length of time -- though that could be partly due to the poor condition in which they arrive in my "care".

So the ball's now in Paris' court!
I should mention though...word has it that Ralf's hongkongensis breeding efforts have recently borne fruit, so there's another candidate!

 

[nate]

I think everyone has had trouble with adult hongkongensis. The adults I've tried have croaked, but like you mention, they all had at least one spot of infection on their body when I got them. Once established though, they seem to be pretty hardy, eh?

Based on my experience with chinensis larvae, I'm betting you raise them right up to adult with no problems. I'm pretty curious to see the metamorphs...

No pressure!!