Is it poisonous?

[amy]

Hi there! I'm getting some oregon newts (Taricha granulosa)and whilst researching them to set up their home, I read that their skin toxins are really quite powerful. How careful do I have to be? I don't handle my newts but I usually pick them up with my hands when I move them or clean out their tank - can do this with this species?

 

[rob]

Hello there. Yeah, no more of a problem then other species. Was your hands gently with warm water before handling them, and then use soap and warm water after handling them before doing anything else. Same routine as any other species of newt or salamander, it's just because they're so potent you really don't want to get it on your hands and rub your eyes or anything.

Rob
BTW: They're called rough skinned newts...a lot of people will fill you in on that.

 

[steve]

Robs correct, ALOT of people will YELL at me/you for calling granulosa a "oregon", some people HIT BAD {nate} LOL

*here's a couple links for you:

http://enature.com/fieldguide/showSpeciesGS.asp?sort=1&curGroupID=99&display=1&area=99&searchText=newt&curPageNum=4&recnum=AR0501

http://www.caudata.org/caudatecentral/caresheets/gran.html

HOW TOXIC ARE NEWTS?:

http://www.caudata.org/caudatecentral/articles/toxin.html

http://www.calacademy.org/calwild/sum98/eye.htm

Hope this reading helps.


Steve

 

[amy]

thanks folks - sorry for getting the name wrong! x