C. pyrrhogaster male (wild)

[TJ]

I only managed to take a photo of one C. pyrrhogaster (Kanto race) today in the low hills of far western Tokyo -- a male with a damaged tail:

(that's not rough handling, it's the newt twisting in my fingers just as the pic was taken

)

It was found in a pond that Hynobius tokyoensis uses for breeding.

 

[TJ]

(H. tokyoensis on the left, C. pyrrhogaster on the right)

 

[rachel]

That's what Sid's tail looks like. He's still got the pointy tip, but there's 3 bites out of it. Sid has eaten several other C. pyrrhogasters (and some plecos, which I am very impressed by). Is the damage from fighting other newts?

 

[TJ]

Hi Rachel.

The damage is probably from American crayfish that now infest ponds all over Japan.

By the way, I hope you're not keeping your newt with plecos. If swallowed, plecos have spikes that could result in them becoming lodged in the newt's throat, killing it

 

[rachel]

Nope, I've only had him for a months or so. I got him from a friend who had him for 5 years. They tried getting him tankmates, and tried algae eaters to keep the tank clean, and were amazed at his predatory prowess. I personally spent about 2 months researching newts and salamanders before actually trying to get one, so I knew better long before I got Sid.

 

[TJ]

That's nice to hear.

IMHO, the only tankmates that newts require (besides other newts of the same species for the purpose of mating) are <font color="119911">tasty</font> and <font color="119911">temporary</font> ones like worms

Most animals that we routinely see added to newt tanks (i.e. frogs, goldfish) by people new to the hobby are there only to satisfy "needs" conjured up by the human mind and projected onto the poor newt, often with dire consequences.

See: Species Mixing Disasters
http://www.caudata.org/cc/articles/Mixing_disasters.shtml

Anyway, I can hardly imagine a newt eating a plecostomus unless it were a tiny baby one. You must be using the words "pleco" (Loricariidae) and "algae eater" (Gyrinocheilus) interchangeably. I have, however, heard of newts dying from choking to death on catfish. I'm unaware of any record of adult C. pyrrhogaster engaging in cannibalism unless you are referring to legs being nipped say amid the competition for food or some of the nipping that goes on among starving newts being kept unfed at pet shops...

(Message edited by TJ on April 19, 2005)

 

[foster]

Tim,
I agree with you on not mixing species. Most home aquaria are too small to even consider mixing to begin with. Unfortunately even popular books and magazines (at least here in the US) often continue to advocate mixing. I was reading a childrens Q&A column in a popular aquarium magazine last week. One of the questions had to deal with mixing frogs and goldfish. In this letter the kid also mentioned having a 20 gal (I think) with various fish, newts , and turtles of all things. The magazine answered that the fish and frogs should be separated however nothing was said about the 20 gal tank. I found this to be irresponsible as saying nothing can be as bad as giving permission. Another author of a very popular series of books also advocates species mixing (different species of anoles, fish, geckos, frogs, newts, green snakes, etc). I feel that this case is particularly bad because the author otherwise gives excellent advice and I often recommend his books. With all of that being said I think that it would be fun to setup a 300 gal tank with either some paramesotritons or pachytritons and a school of white clouds.
Chip

 

[foster]

Sorry but I should clarify the first sentence of my previous post by saying that I am against mixing species in general. OK I'll shut up now.
Chip

 

[dawn]

Hi,

I just thought I'd add to your very good post about mixing species by pointing out the bad advice given by some of the pet shop owners. I'm still feeling very guilty about buying a paramesotriton without doing the research first

He died on sunday only a week after I bought him. When I bought him I was told it was fine to keep him in a 25L tank with two goldfish. No warnings about how well they can escape or how essential it is to have somewhere for them to get out the water. I know it's my fault for not doing the research by myself and believe me, I have learned my lesson, but I'm sure there are plenty other idiots like me who trust the advice of pet shop owners without question. How can these people know so little about what they're selling? (and why don't dummies like me get banned from pet shops?) OK, rant over.

I think I want to try again now that I have done some reading. I have a new tank (18"x10"x10"), with a bit of wood for climbing out the water. Are fire bellies a good species to keep as a beginner? They seem to be quite easy to get hold of. I've heard Axolotls eat fine gravel and it harms them, is it the same with fire bellies?

Thanks

Dawn

 

[jennifer]

ROFL... you've just given me a new signature line for my profile, Tim. Do you mind me quoting you?

Dawn, firebellies can be good starter newts IF you get ones that are healthy to start with, which is often not the case. They don't often have problems with eating gravel, although it's always safer to have it a size that they cannot ingest.

 

[TJ]

Jen, I'm honored