Sexing

[rayray10584]

I have looked at several different sites and I have seen a million different ways to sex newts.:errr: I have four newts and out of the four three of them have long tails and are somewhat skinny not like they are under fed just not fat. The other one has a really short tail and is rather chunky. I just baught then withing the last week or so and that is how I bought them. I don't think they are ready to breed so I can't look at their cloacas to tell. They are all about the same except the fat one with the short tail does seem to have a larger cloaca. I have pictures of them but I can't find the cord to upload them to my computer.

I was also wondering if anyone could give me some advice about breeding. Such as the conditions need for them to breed? Will they breed if I don't season them? Do females lay eggs even if they are not furtile? This is the first time I have had more than one at a time, so I am not sure about the hole breeding thing. Also how many times a year would they breed if I chose to try it ?

 

[Azhael]

Even out of breeding season, male newts have a larger cloaca when compared side by side to females. Shorter tails with round tips are very likely a sign for male.
This species breeds very easily. You just have to provide good care and they´ll thrive. No significant cold period is required although lowering the temps during winter is very recommendable as it helps with a normal hormonal variation and results in healthier animals and easier breeding.
If you have just acquired your animals, i would advice to forget about breeding for now and center your efforts in providing excellent care so that they can recover from the ordeal they have been through. The importation process and the generally negligent care they suffer at the shops leaves them very vulnerable. They will need your best care to recover. Once they do, i bet it won´t be long until they breed, this species is not strict with the time of the year they choose to breed and healthy animals can breed for months on end. My female has laid eggs for up to 9 months of the year!

Take a good read at the caresheet for this species.

When you find the cord, upload some pictures, it should be fairly easy to sex them.

 

[rayray10584]

I didn't want to breed them right now if ever. I was just wondering because the last one I had, the day after I got it I saw what I thought was eggs but I am not sure that they were/are eggs as it has been several weeks and they still haven't hatched. I think they may have been the spematophores. As soon as I find it I will upload pictures if I can figure out how to upload them.

 

[epyllion]

Here's a question about sexing: Are female pyrrhogasters usually larger in size than males, all other factors (like age) being roughly equivalent? I'm getting used to males being a third smaller than females but that is based on limited experience. The tail shape and head shape seem to be the biggest giveaways...

Azhael, last year you helped us figure out what was happening with a poor ailing male newt. Alas, he didn't make it. But the elder of our two newts, a female, is thriving still, and Jennewt just sent us a beautiful new male who arrived today. They seem to be getting along well so far... She is very interested in the little patch of java moss was sent with him. And he seems interested in her favorite log. A good beginning! I'll post some pics soon.:happy:

 

[epyllion]

Here are some pictures of our pair, taken today after our new male's arrival. They are in her old tank right now with good old water--but we're planning to move them probably in a week to a big new tank setup, which we've filled with more plants and such--slowly adding her old water and rocks to get some good old slime over there before we move them in. There's a picture of our new tank in this bunch.