Are C. orientalis toxic?

[ryan]

I've read where C. Pyraghaster is very toxic, but nothing seems to be written about C. orientalis toxicity. Are they toxic, and should I be concerned about handling them? Occasionally, I have to pick them up and put them in the water for feeding because they don't seem to take food when out of the water.

 

[joan]

http://www.caudata.org/cc/articles/toxin.shtml

http://www.caudata.org/cc/articles/newt_toxins.shtml

 

[melissa]

the ones who are bred in captivity are not toxic i believe, where as ones taken from the wild still have their toxins in them.

 

[benjamin]

That's true with poison dart frogs because they eat special ants in the wild to obtain and concentrate their poison. I believe sals produce it on their own so CBs are just a potent as their parents. I wouldn't put one in your mouth, or over an open wound.

Recently I had my first experience with newt toxins with my paramesotriton. I had a freshly healed cut on my hand and when I picked one of my newts up and it was more pain than I would have ever expected, like having salt on a wound, that kind of feeling except worse.

I've never changed my orientalis's water with a cut on my finger, and after the experience I had with my paras I I'll make a point of avoiding such a situation.

 

[ryan]

The articles above seem to be implying that all of the newts tested are infact toxic, but they do not specifically mention that C. Orientalis as being tested for toxicity, nor do they specifically mention them as being toxic. They do mention C. Pyroghaster as being tested as toxic, however, that is not my question.

 

[william]

yes is the answer. you should really wash your hands well after handling them anyway, not just because of their toxins. so you shouldn't be worried

 

[melissa]

benjiman - why would you put a newt in your mouth?

 

[joan]

Your question was "Are they toxic, and should I be concerned about handling them?" All newts are toxic. They all have bacteria. Don't handle your newts. Especially don't handle your newts and then eat a sandwich. But mostly don't handle them for their sake.

 

[jennifer]

Ryan - your question seems to be whether you should worry about picking up an orientalis briefly. Regardless of how toxic they are (or aren't), the answer is exactly the same: it's OK to pick them up briefly, but wash your hands afterward. You'd want to wash anyway because of germs. Even if they are highly toxic, they won't hurt you just by touching your skin to them - you'd have to touch the toxin to your eyes or mouth for it to hurt you.

As far as I know, captive bred newts would be just as toxic as wild ones. They make their toxin, they don't get it from their food.

 

[benjamin]

Melissa Phillips, I can think of almost endless reasons why irresponsible behaviour, foolishness, and carelessness could lead to a newt ending up in someone's mouth:

1. The person is an absolute idiot and licks their newt.

2. A person licks their newt hoping to get high.

3. A person is already high or drunk so they decide to do strange things with their pets.

4. A person wants to kiss their newt.

5. A person wants to eat their newt live, because they're crazy.

6. A person eats a newt on a dare.

7. A newt is put into the hands of a small child or baby.

I can think of more but they are all pretty basic things to avoid as the keeper of newts or of any other type of animal.