Paramesotriton growth

[chris]

This is just something that's been bugging me for a while...why is that almost every Paramesotriton I see in shops is not fully grown? None seem to be the size of my LTC adults, which grew considerably after purchase.
Perhaps they don't grow as large in the wild due to food scarcity, or maybe subadults are easier to catch...
any ideas?
Chris

 

[alan]

The same is also true of the wild caught C.orientalis in the pet trade: sub-adults.

 

[TJ]

I don't know if this is the case with Paramesotriton species, but with C. ensicauda popei, for example, in places where the populations are under heavy pressure, the average size is shrinking over time. This is because the ones that were older in age have already been captured from those localities for the pet trade. And since the larger ones are undoubtedly easier to spot and easier to catch, they'd be the ones to disappear first.

 

[paris]

since many newts are migratory, the morphs are timed from spring egg laying, pond size depletion, and temps -to morph around the same time. it is my thought that collection is timed to this, the new morphs will set out and be easy targets-as well as those that remained behind not yet ready to leave.