Poll: species mixing

[John]

Originally Posted by Ra

For instance, one could mix Dwarf Sirens with Dwarf Underwater Frogs

I find it interesting that your first post is a controversial one. Please, no trolling, thank you.

[eldaldo]

Only thing I have to add to this is that when I was a kid I kept an Eastern Newt with a Japanese firebelly. This was in the 90's long before this site when the only newt resource I had was a pet store book that had basic care things. I was also 8 years old and probably wouldn't have listened anyway. My experience was that they both did fine for quite some time. However, the Eastern Newt died after about 5 years of no apparent reason. I thought it could have been from old age at the time, but it is very possible it was from the stress of having a larger newt around all the time.

Maybe a good example of a mix where everything seemed fine, but animals died prematurely due to stress. I have not mixed since then, and probably won't.

[giantsalamander]

I tend to keep species seperate.

[Ra]

I wasn't trolling, I was just stating my opinion, giving my two cents to the discussion. I was unable to vote in the poll for the reasons stated in my post.

[taherman]

One interesting note to add to this poll...

The captive breeding of the P. glutinosus at the Toledo Zoo has always occurred in a large mixed species exhibit, which (during one or more egg laying events) has contained P. ruber, A. aeneus, D. welteri, E. longicauda, E. lucifuga, and E. cirrigera. One clutch of eggs has been attended by the female to virtually full term now, with no problems from other species. Though this is a very large enclosure, it contains many large salamanders as well.

That being said it takes some planning to end up with a large enclosure where several species can coexist without dramatic conflicts. It has been a trial and error process for ~8 years in the previous exhibit. The new exhibit was built with all of those lessons learned and so far has been very successful.

-Tim

[caudatadude28]

Just wondering, can Cynops ensicauda p. be housed with Cynops pyrrhogaster? Im not planning it but just wondering if both species were cb if they would fight, compete for food much, make each other stressed?

[John]

Tim, I think it would be helpful to tell people just how large that exhibit is - they probably have no idea.

[petlover516]

this thread really needs this link so that the newbies don't get TOO covinced:
Caudata Culture Articles - Species Mixing Disasters

[Lusiwarrior]

The first rule, but the first one of the first that I learned when I started to devote to this hobby that was never on any protest should be mixed species.
Some do it successfully, but the aesthetics is not worth the risk!
Just think about what they do after already be too late!

[jaster]

I generally use dirt/ rocks from outside to house my guys, so things pop up randomly. Right now there are snails in my enclosures with water, and I have a few dusky species together with no problems the past few years.