Verrucosus Tail fanning

[obrowell]

So my question is guys...do female verrucosus fan their tail to each other? The reason I ask is I have two chunky 'female' verrucosus and the last two days I have noticed the heftier, and bigger newt vigourously tail fanning the other slightly smaller newt on numerous occasions.

I thought it was only males that fanned as part of the mating ritual. Could it be I have a male? If I have, it is the least well endowed male newt I've ever seen as it's cloaca is certainly not 'bulbous'!

Of course, as luck has it my camera has chosen this moment to die on me so I can't get pics of them.

 

[Davo]

I have the same thing with my female Kaiseri, she is tail fanning to all the younger ones then lays eggs in the java moss.
There are no mature males in with her so it as if she is looking for a male.
Maybe it is something female newts do if males are not present or not in breeding condition.

 

[eljorgo]

Its a completely normal territorial expression. Female tail fanning translates to something like: Keep your distance; Watch out; Mind you, this is my personal space.
Nothing out of the ordinary. Many salamandrids do this.

 

[TylototritonGuy]

As Jorgo said, It's a normal Territorial Behaviour, I was actually talking about it with Cliff last night and remembered seeing a video on Youtube of a mixed sex group of T.verrs or another Tylototriton species all Tail Fanning each other. Was interesting to watch, as Jorgo said its basically a "Don't come near me Pal, not interested!" or "Back off, this is my area, you do not come here" sort of thing haha.

 

[mr cyclone]

They do yes.When I had 3 females I was convinced they were males,as they were all tail fanning,it wasn't untill I got my stud and sexed them properly

 

[obrowell]

Thanks for the responses - much appreciated.