Proper newt ID, please

[Littlefish]

Hello:

I am a fish guy; ...or I was until about five months ago when I bought a couple of ...newts at a LPS. The LPS manager told me not only that they get very well along but also that they were fully aquatic. However, one of them died a couple of weeks after (tail bitten by the other one). The survivor has scaped my 55-G aquarium in couple of ocassions already.

They were selling them under the name tag as "Giant Rock Newts", and that's where the problem began (for me) as I have not been able to find any reliable source referring to these creatures by this name.

I pretend to upload some pictures of my newt for your kindness helping me to properly identy it. Please excuse the quality of my pictures as I am also new to the "aquatic" pictures now.

The newt is a 5" male, and has not noticeable grown since bought five months ago.

Should you need further pictures of specifics parts or positions, please feel free to ask me. I will always try my best to shot them properly.

I thank you all in advance for your time and help.

GP.

 

[Azhael]

It is a Paramesotriton, most likely P.chinensis.
The pet shop gave you bad advice, typical...They can be very territorial and agressive sometimes.
Make absolutely sure to have a completely secure lid!!!!!

 

[Jennewt]

You are lucky that the escapee isn't dead. See
Caudata Culture Articles - Escape

I agree, it is a warty newt (Paramesotriton).

 

[Littlefish]

It is a Paramesotriton, most likely P.chinensis.
The pet shop gave you bad advice, typical...They can be very territorial and agressive sometimes.
Make absolutely sure to have a completely secure lid!!!!!

You are lucky that the escapee isn't dead. See
Caudata Culture Articles - Escape

I agree, it is a warty newt (Paramesotriton).

Hello Azhael and Jennewt:

Thank you very much for your input. The lids are kept closed down all the time now; the only opening where the heater and filter cables get in is now plugged with a sponge.

I have now done my research (or part of it anyway); I have read and read a lot by now (one of the reasons it took me so long to say thanks). But the more I read, ...the more confused I get! (just kidding). It is a HUGE world (totally unknown to me until now). I am still not sure if mine is a P. chinensis or a hongkongensis, but definitively not a Cynops, and overall I respect your conclusion (thank you both again).

Just expect a few more questions coming down along the time. So, please be patient as I will read before asking but I might still try to get a "short cut" (from you folks) from time to time.

Thanks!

GP

 

[Azhael]

I´m pretty sure that it is chinensis because of the yellow spots along the sides, which are characteristic of the species, but certainly Paramesotriton can be a tricky genus.

I´m glad you blocked the lid, one can never be too careful whith caudates, they are amazingly good at scaping when they want to.

Reading before asking, ah, that´s music to my ears xDD Feel free to ask any doubts you are left with. Sadly we don´t have a caresheet for this genus, yet, so the information is scattered around the forums, but using the search function should make things easy for you.