Size of shanjing compared to verrucosus

[gord]

Hello all:

This summer I picked up three Shanjing from a local pet store. In retrospect I wish I'd bought more, as one died almost immediately, and I see Tylo's maybe once a year (usually in August) here in the frozen north of Ontario. They were $25 a pop however and that seemed a bit high at the time.

The two remaining Shanjing specimens are doing well. However, they are not very large - maybe 3 inches..and don't seem to be growing much. I assumed they would get as big as my two dark form verrucosus that look to be about 6 inches each. Will the shanjing grow that large? I have them in a ten gallon tank and wonder if maybe they need more room to grow..although they move around very little. It's cool in the basement so I don't think temperature is a factor. They both eat well. Any thoughts out there?

Gord

 

[foster]

Hi Gord,
Some of the shanjings that I purchased in the summer of 04 are close to the 6 inch mark. The others are smaller but all have grown some. Actually, I need to cut back on feeding them because all six appear to be overweight (they are in a cool basement as well and are not all that active either). In contrast the kweichow's and taliangensis' are not overweight but are much active. A ten gallon sounds OK for the time being however if I were just housing two I would probably go with a 20 long (just a personal preference).
Chip

 

[gord]

Chip:

Thanks for the response. I may have underestimated the size of the shanjings..they could be closer to 4 inches...but they are still much smaller then the Verrucosus.

I think I will move my two guys to a bigger tank..I have a 35 gallon that would be perfect.I just think they might be lost in there. Wish I'd bought them all now..as there were about a half dozen in reasonably good shape for sale this summer.

Just for interest...what do you feed your Shanjing? Mine eat earthworms.... and love them.

Gord

 

[foster]

I feed all of my Tylos (and Salamandra) three times a week. I generally alternate food items - chopped earthworms (sometimes slugs), insects, and prepared food (soaked reptomin, krill, fresh shrimp, etc). I try to provide a wide variety and reduce the need for supplementation.
Chip