WC Lissotriton Boscai

[pms17]

Hi
I have been planning to buy an aquarium for newts, and I would like to have Lissotriton Boscai.
I know that Lissotriton Boscai are protected by national law in Spain, but I don´t know if they are also protected in Portugal.
I dont want to have ilegal newts at home so, are Lissotriton Boscai forbidden to catch/have at home in Portugal?



Sorry if there is any english mistake...

 

[eljorgo]

Cynops orientalis....

 

[froggy]

I am not sure of the law in Portugal, but I would strongly advise you to get some captive bred (CB) newts. There are lots of species available CB, most of which are much easier to care for than L. boscai. I would not follow the advice to get C. orientalis unless you can find CB ones. Most C. orientalis are wild caught and, apart from ethical issues of buying WC newts, they are likely to have lots of health problems.

Cynops pyrrhogaster is a good species to look for, but C. ensicauda and Tylototriton verrucosus are good if you live somewhere warm (most newts require cool conditions to do well - under 20C for most of the year).

There are often people on this site selling CB animals in the EU, and at the moment many people will have eggs, so should have juveniles for sale by the end of the summer.

All the best

C

 

[pms17]

Thank you for the advice!
I'm gonna have to look hard for newts because there aren't many pet shops with newts >.<.
But thak you again!

 

[Azhael]

As far as i´m aware, the law in Portugal is the same as in Spain, which means that catching wild caudates is illegal. In protected areas, like national parks, you can´t even disturb them without a permit.
I also strongly recommend that you leave wild newts where they belong, in the wild. You can buy CB newts from all over europe, and get them shipped to you. There really is no need to take anything from the wild with so many species being bred already in captivity. Keep in mind that wild caudates are protected in europe for a very good reason, their populations and habitat have been seriously damaged.

I feel the same way as Chris, Hypselotriton (Cynops) orientalis is hardly the best choice. There are plenty of species that you can easily find CB and that won´t give you all the problems that pet-shop animals carry with them.

Before getting any new animals, make sure to be VERY well prepared. Read as much as you can, cycle the tank, prepare food cultures, etc.

 

[pms17]

Thanks for all the information:happy:!
I'l follow your advice and see if there is any CB C. orientalis avaible online for sale!
Right now, i'm gonna start cicling my aquarium/pauldarium.
Oh, by the way, for a C. orientalis, should I use a pauldarium or a fully aquatic aquarium?

 

[stavroske]

Triturus dobrogicus
Triturus carnifex
Triturus karelinii
C. ensicauda
C. pyrrhogaster
Tylototriton verrucosus
Ichthyosaura alpestris
Taricha granulosa
Lissotriton vulgaris
Pleurodeles waltl
Axolotl

All of them are easy to keep and often sold as CB...

 

[Azhael]

I must disagree about L.vulgaris, Stravoske, mine are a bit of a pain in the *beep* xD Also, Taricha granulosa is not bred frequently. All the others are very easy to find and are excellent choices!

 

[stavroske]

I must disagree about L.vulgaris, Stravoske, mine are a bit of a pain in the *beep* xD Also, Taricha granulosa is not bred frequently.

Thanks for editing Azhael. What difficulties do you experience with L. vulgaris?

You might be right about the availibility of Taricha... Though I see them more and more bred.

Having choices between Triturus dobrogicus, Triturus carnifex, Triturus karelinii, C. ensicauda, C. pyrrhogaster, Tylototriton verrucosus, Ichthyosaura alpestris, Pleurodeles waltl and the Axolotl must be satisfiyng enough to new hobbyist and will probably result in succesful keeping. There even might be some more species that don't think about of right now...

 

[evut]

Oh, by the way, for a C. orientalis, should I use a pauldarium or a fully aquatic aquarium?

C. orientalis only needs a land small area, they are fully aquatic newts.

Have a look at the caresheets of different species here. Be aware that many newts require quite low temperatures. Aquarium cooling is quite tricky and expensive so it is advisable to take this into consideration when you're choosing the species.

 

[Lusiwarrior]

Hi,
this guys knows a few things! But if you want to be more knower of this reality hoobie in Portugal, you can always get in my blog!

abraço

 

[Azhael]

It´s not that i find L.vulgaris to be difficult, but because of their defined amphibious life (pretty strict terrestrial phase) it makes things a little more complicated than fully aquatic species. Also, mine at least are very good at making things complicated, like cyclically going off certain foods, etc. They are lovely, though

It´s true that T.granulosa has been bred more frenquently in the recent past, but they are still rather rare. Hopefully we´ll see many more future breedings!