Starfleet

[Starfleet]

Starfleet: Help with Newts

Hi, everyone! I've had my 2 Newts for about 9 months now and I have been throughly enjoying them. I have a few questions and a possible problem. First, I want to be sure I have identified them correctly. After reading the information available on this site, I believe them to be wild caught Japanese Fire Belly Newts(Cynops pyrrhogaster). As to sex I really can't tell. I'm hoping that some of the more experienced members will look at the pictures newly posted in my album(My Newts) and let me know if my identification is correct and, if you can tell, what sex they are. Size may not be able to be considered because the smaller one(Newtrino) is that way do to not eating. That is my possible problem. When I got them they were about the same size, and stuck together like brothers. That's why I bought both of them, I couldn't break them up. However, after a few months I noticed the size difference and began to suspect that the larger one(Newtron) was keeping the other one from eating. Newtrino became so emaciated that I really thought he/she would die. I am very thankful to"flyangler18" for his post of 22 May 2008 where he suggested dripping Calcium Gluconate on the skin of another members' skinny newt. After 2 treatments, I did Newtrino to eat a small piece of earthworm. However, he/she has gone back to not eating. I've tried give him/her bloodworms and pieces of earthworms but he/she won't eat anything. I have separated them into separate tanks. I, of course, left Newtrino in the "Home" tank so as not to stress it. Neither of them have liked to be in the water since I got them. Is that OK? I don't really have a preference either way, I'll do whatever is best for them. Right now each of them are in an aquatic environment with a place for them to get out of the water, which is where they stay all the time. If it's not bad for them I'll switch them to a mostly terrestrial environment. I tested the water and the stats are:

pH = 7.2
Alkaline = 120
Hardness = 150
Nitrite = 0
Nitrate = 0
Ammonia = 0

These numbers are great for an aquarium, so I assume it's the same for the the Newts. Is this true?

I would like some suggestions as to what I might do to get Newtrino to eat, and any other advice to make their lives better.

Thanks in advance,
Scott

 

[Azhael]

What you have are Cynops orientalis.
They should be 100% aquatic. After 9 months under your care they really should have gotten over the stress of the importation and shipping (which usually causes them to go terrestrial).
In orderto make them go aquatic again, you need to provide EXCELENT water conditions. That includes, parametres which sound fine, but also a minimum water volume, lots of live plants, easy access, no tank-mates of other species, ideal temps, etc.

Also, for the emaciated one, try waxworms. they are excelent in getting picky eaters to eat again, plus their high content in fat make them a good fattening fodder. Do noy abuse them, though, as they are nutritionally uncomplete. As soon as you get it to eat, include earthworms.

I don´t know if you´ve already read it, but take a look at the Caudata Culture caresheet. You can also find a huge wealth of information about this species around the forum.

 

[Starfleet]

Thank you, Azhael for your response. I will try the waxworms, however he/she ate a piece of earthworm last night (2-8-10). I am going to change their habitat. What is the proper depth for the water to be? Are live plants necessary or would the silk type be OK. I was planning to go to a bare bottom tank, but the live plants will require a substrate. I would probably go for sand; which sand is better for them - fine, medium, or course? Is it possible for anyone to tell what sex they are?
Scott

 

[Azhael]

Well, depth per se is not so much important, it´s more about water volume. However i wouldn´t keep them with less than 20-25 cm od water depth, although that´s my personal point of view.
For two of these newts you need a minimum of 38l. You should also try to use as much volume of those 38l as possible.

Live plants or fake ones is a matter of personal choice. Both have their advantages and disadvantages. Live plants contribute to water quality by absorving nitrogen compounds from the water, oxigenating it, and providing shelter and food for a variety of microorganisms. Fake plants don´t, but they don´t create waste since they don´t grow and die. I´m a live plant person...i really recomend them, specially for beginners who may be more prone to water quality issues, or for species that inhabit still waters (such as Cynops orientalis) who will benefit from not having a filter creating currents.

About the sand, fine sand is best, although you can go bare bottom if you use the correct plants. Elodea, java moss and even java fern can be grown by simply leaving them float around. you can also keep the baskets in which some plants are sold in as an anchor. It´s not the most aesthetic option, but it sure is practical, and the newts just couldn´t care less xD


If you upload pictures of their cloaca, i´m sure we will be able to sex them for you (although the emaciated one might be unsexable until it recovers).

 

[Starfleet]

Again, thank you Azhael for great information. Sorry I have been so long in getting back to posting. First an update on Newtrino (the smaller C. orientalis). He/she has been eating pieces of earthworm both hand-fed and laid on the fake rocks and is doing much better. Also I have seen him (I will use this gender until I know different) in the water, so it appears he is going aquatic. I have posted pictures of their cloaca in my album (My Newts) if someone would look at them and verify their sex for me. After looking at the help of Sexing Caudates, I am thinking that Newtrino is male and Newtron is female. However I will wait for a more expert opinion. I am planing on dividing my 20 US gallon (76l) tank in half with holes in the divider so the water is common, but the newts are seperate. Is that idea OK for the newts? I am hoping to get away from having 2 tanks. However, if it is better for the newts I would get 2 - 10 US gallon (38l) tanks. I am taking your suggestion Azhael and getting live plants for their habitat, although I will probably mix in a few silk ones.

Scott

 

[Azhael]

You don´t need two tanks, you can house them together as long as they are both healthy. You won´t have any problems.

Best of lucks with them, they are a great species

PS: i´ll try to take a look at the pictures latter, sorry.

 

[Azhael]

I would venture that you have a male and a female. The male, though, is quite thin, and once it fattens up it might proof to be female, although i seriously doubt it. The female, is a female for sure.

 

[Starfleet]

Thank you for all your help! It has been great.

Scott