Notophthalmus viridescens backward amplexus?

[newtbabies]

Hello. I own four Notophthalmus viridescens. I had five, 2 females and three males, but one of my koi sadly attacked one. So I'm currently not sure of the genders of my last four. They're housed in a 30 gal tank, fed once a day+ (switching foods currently so it's a process), and I've recently discovered a strange behavior between a pair of newts.

It appears to be what looks like.... backward amplexus?
This was the first time I saw them engaged.

http://i.imgur.com/dIgvWUq.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/hJipO8p.jpg

I have not noticed any tail wafting.

The second was... less than ten minutes later?

http://i.imgur.com/89VvfvN.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/VsAAEuB.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/HKITzCI.jpg

One of them seemed to be a newt that I wasn't entirely sure if she was an eastern spotted-- she was of lighter color with almost a lack of red spots. I thought she may have been a central newt, but at this point, I don't even know!

Could someone help me out here?

 

[Otterwoman]

I"ve never seen them do amplexus this way...but it's a matter of exciting each other, maybe the direction isn't too important? They look like the same species to me, from the bottom anyway. Did you get them both from the same source?

 

[slowfoot]

The most likely explanation is that newts just aren't very smart. Mine do this all the time.

 

[newtbabies]

@otterwoman: I got them from the same vernal pool, yes.

I'm just wondering if it is, indeed, a reproduction-related behavior, and if it says anything about my chances of successfully breeding them?

 

[otolith]

If that koi is still in the tank I think that would definitely reduce any chances of successful breeding. If the newts are in a tank of their own I would think they could probably figure it out on their own:happy:

 

[newtbabies]

If that koi is still in the tank I think that would definitely reduce any chances of successful breeding. If the newts are in a tank of their own I would think they could probably figure it out on their own:happy:

The koi have been moved-- it was a mistake to place them with the newts, I've realized this now. ^^ When I bought them, they were smaller, but they've grown. But regardless, the newts are alone in the 30 gal.