Pachytriton labiatus breeding

[scott]

Does anyone know anything about P. labiatus breeding? I've had a pair together for about two years (they were young when I got them). For the last few months the male has been in breeding condition( very swollen cloaca, papillae present, tail fanning) but the female doesn't seem interested. Lately though, she has got much wider and have seen spermataphore remnents near her cloaca, but have seen no eggs. Any suggestons, help??
Thanks!
Scott

 

[kai]

Hi Scott,

Are you sure about the spermatophore? Summer is not exactly their preferred breeding season.

Try to keep them as cool as possible and let nature take it's course... (Provide enough hiding places since the female will prefer to deposit the eggs below stones; a little current won't hurt either.)

 

[francesco]

Years ago I used to have a couple of p. labiatus. The male used to go in breeding condition around march and he fanned his tale to the female.
The female was very plump but never seemed to be interested in him.
Talking to some people who had labiatus 2 years ago in gersfeld they seemed to think that to breed this species you need a VERY large aquarium. And you can only keep a pair in it because they are extremely territorial.

 

[kai]

Hi Francesco,

Large tanks are always nice. But AFAIK they don't need to be exceptionally large for breeding Pachytriton. Much more important seems to be to get the correct temperature (and possibly lighting) regime during the seasons. The exact temperatures in nature will differ due to the pretty large inhabited area but even the southernmost populations will experience several months of really cold water during winter. It doesn't seem necessary to get to "freezing cold" (below 4°C) but I'd recommend a few months at/below 10°C.

 

[kai]

BTW, that's not hibernation since they keep being active. A slow rising of the cold temps seems to be especially good (rather than keeping them cool and then transferring them to "normal spring temps"...).

 

[scott]

Thanks for all the information guys. I don't have plans to breed them, but after the prolonged tail-fanning,ect I became curious to their breeding nature and could find little information regarding to it.
Thanks again!
Scott