Taricha blotches??

[mark]

I have noticed this many times with taricha newts, especially at the pet stores. There are one or multiple dark blotches on the underside of their yellow bellies, and sometimes legs. I have always stayed away from this when buying them, although my last one had a small blotch or 2 and I took a chance. That was several months ago, and it has gone away completely. Although on occassion, I notice tiny blackish spots on their brown backs that usually disappear after a day or 2.

The reason I am really wondering what this is, is because I have been having a hard time finding some new tarichas in my area at pet stores, and finally did and would like to get a couple more. There were 2 at the store, and they each had the blotches on the underside.

I currently have 2 in a 20 gallon long. I believe them to be granulosa.

I fear that these dark blotches may be a disease (such as redleg), and if so would avoid them. In any case, I would quarantine them for about 3 weeks. I admit, the store did not appear to have the greatest conditions, although their health and size appeared good. Sure, part of me goes in with the attitude of "rescuing" them, but I really just want a couple more!

Is there any chance this condition is harmless or normal? (as I almost always see it in taricha specimens at pet stores)

 

[mark]

From caudata culture...

"...and can also have heavy dark blotches on the belly."

"Some populations in California and Oregon contain individuals with dark blotching on the dorsum"

I hope this is what I am seeing, and not any type of disease....although the first comment appears to be from a very rare subspecies...

Anyone have any experience with this??

 

[mark]

Found this on another website...


"Some Alaskan, Oregon, and northern California populations are often dorsally and ventrally mottled with dark coloration."

Still skeptical that that is what I am witnessing.

 

[liz]

Mark,
I see similar blotches on the back of my Taricha sometimes... since they don't usually last long, I don't worry about them much. I think they might be associated with shedding? I'm not sure...
Liz

 

[nate]

Hi Mark,

What you're seeing does not sound like actual pigment. I've seen what you're describing in Taricha as well, particularly rivularis. Every time they would appear, the animals would stop eating and I'd change the substrate. They'd disappear within a day or two. I dunno if it's bacterial or fungal, but it did seem directly related to the animal's health. I wouldn't worry so much about it if the animals still look healthy otherwise. I'd bet after purchase, they'd recover just fine when placed in a nice tank.

Animals from Gravina Island, Alaska and Crater Lake, OR have dark pigment encroaching on the belly to various degrees. There's a black and white photo of this at:
http://www.nps.gov/crla/notes/vol18g1.jpg

Also, animals with blotching on the dorsum are found in a few lakes in CA and OR.

Good luck!

 

[pin-pin]

Hi Mark,

Tarichas (usually granulosa) that make it into the pet trade should not have "natural blotching."

Quarantine for three weeks is a good idea. If the dark spots have gone away from your previous experiences, that's great, obviously not a mortal wound/disease.

I've seen my Taricha shed, and some of skin does hang around the appendages and tail for a few days, giving it a darker look. The pet shop newts probably are shedding more frequently since they are in a stressful enviroment (i.e. pet shop).

Giving the new guys a rock to rub themselves on and also some water to sit in might help.

Hope they are ok. Maybe if you could take a picture, that would be helpful in figuring out what exactly it is.

 

[mark]

Well, there is a change to the situation. I went to another pet store that i thought would be a long shot, and there were exactly 2 T granulosas there. They are both quite large, although quite skinny, and as usual at pet shops, probably not fed properly or nearly enough. No blotches whatsoever on these 2, which I was suprised to see. So I bought them, and they are in a quarantine tank now.
It is the best feeling to rescue an underfed animal and be able to watch it eat a good meal. One of them was very excited to be fed some small earthworm bits, but the other tried eating one, and eventually spit it out. I tried some more with him, but no success yet. I also put some tiny crickets in the tank as an option. I will attempt worms again today.
I eventually will feed them non-live food as well, but not until they are back to a healthy size.
I still feel bad for the ones at the other store, but the reality is that rescuing them probably wouldnt have accomplished all that much in the long run.
Thanks for the responses.