Pyrrhogaster vs orientalis - which is which

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billie

Guest
Hi all, I just picked up 6 very tiny FBNs and I can't tell if they are C. pyrrhogaster or C. orientalis.

they are very small, little over an inch in length. Black on smooth body, red on belly. The tip of tail on 2 of them is pointed, the rest are flat/broad but they look alike except for the tail. I can't tell if these are juveniles or adults, but I can determine the sex of most of them.

I need to know so I can house them properly, and for correct record keeping.

thank you in advance,

Billie
 
They are most likely orientalis. If you could provide pictures it would help to confirm this.
 
For starters, Billie, secure the tank lid! Those guys can climb!
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What's their condition like? If you find one any that seem unhealthy, hurry and separate them from the rest! Orientalis from the pet trade are very often weak and ill.
 
<blockquote><hr size=0><!-quote-!><font size=1>Tim wrote on Saturday, 19 November, 2005 - 06:32 :</font>

"For starters, Billie, secure the tank lid! Those guys can climb!

What's their condition like? If you find one any that seem unhealthy, hurry and separate them from the rest! Orientalis from the pet trade are very often weak and ill."<!-/quote-!><hr size=0></blockquote>

They are set up in a large, see through rubbermaid sweater box, with TIGHT fitting lid...I fixed it so I can have small filter and airstone going, and not have them get out the holes.. Pretty good, I might say.

These newts were in bad shape when I got them.. One has open wound on inside part of tail. One has nose bite, and the third is missing a toe.. I am treating the wounds with Metafix??? I use sulfa blocks in my sick tanks.. I have had good success with those blocks..

For better results, I am also posting health questions on other parts of this forum..

Billie
 
Glad to hear about the secure lid. With some tank lids, they really need to be weighted down or there's a good chance a newt could slip through, as with this one:

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...and also secured where the air tube leaves the tank as the newt can also climb up the tube and out the tank.

I've never kept aquatics in Rubbermaid tubs for any length of time before. Is that going to be their permanent home? I would just worry that you may not be able to notice potential problems with your newts in time to take action unless they're kept in a glass tank with a light. For me at least, part of the joy of keeping fire-bellied newts is watching them swimming up and down the tank side of the tank, showing their bellies as they rise to gulp air. They also like to hang out on plants, and plants require light.

Too bad your newts are already ill, though it's not at all surprising as newts of this species are so often sick when you get them from pet shops. Best of luck with them!
 
Hi Tim,
I use rubbermaids for my quarantine tanks and they work quite well for keeping newts long term. If you are concerned about the visibility, the majority of the lid can be cut out and be replaced with plexi glass (which can be bonded to the lid or siliconed into place) or with glass (the weight can warp some cheap lids) with silicone.
In larger species, I typically cut out most of the lid leaving a two or three inch lip which the larger species cannot climb over (I would not try this with very small species or metamorphs) changing it into an open topped tank.

Ed
 
Heya Ed,

I use plastic containers (with secure lids) all the time for Cynops morphs and juvies and for Hynobiids. But for Cynops in their aquatic stage, I just don't find plastic containers aesthetically pleasing at all. Even with a plexi-glass lid, one would only see the dark-colored dorsum of the newts, and where's the joy in that? Then again, I combine my newt-keeping hobby with my photography hobby, so I like my newts to be "on show" whenever possible
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Well when you put it like that Tim, how can I argue with you...

Ed
 
Don't worry, the rubbermaid setup is only temporary.. I will be setting up a proper home in about a week. These guys need much more room to swim and play. But the plastic boxes make great temp homes.

thanks again,
billie
 
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