Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Just curious if anyone else keeps these guys, or breeds them, etc.

Thanks
Kristen

Hi Kristen,

Where did you get you T. torosa from? If it was in a pet store here in Canada I would wager they are T. granulosa and not torosa. Pet stores invent cover names for aniamls that are completely inaccurate. If you check out www.caudata.org/caudatecentral I believe there is information provided there on how to tell which species you have. If it's not there I know on the forums at www.caudata.org would help you find out for sure.

I used to keep a group of 4 T. granulosa that bred for me. I gave them to someone in Nova Scotia who said she raised some of the eggs to morphing offspring. Now she needs homes for them!

Tarichas are probably one of the best newt species to keep as a pet. My T. granulosa were the most friendly newts, and I had them eating from my hands and begging for food. And talk about photogenic! They loved posing, but my camera skills were too poor to take any worthwhile photos.

How long have you been keeping yours?

>>Just curious if anyone else keeps these guys, or breeds them, etc.
>>
>>Thanks
>>Kristen
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Hope my opinions help,
Rob

Hey Rob,

I actually got this animal last weekend. I did my research before hand though. I traded a couple of animals and got him in the trade. The guy I traded with said it was a California newt but for all I know it could be the other species you were talking about. I know what you mean about the changing of species names by pet stores! I have seen pics of both and they look similar. I have a couple pics I have taken of it, but they are not that great, its hard to get pics of these guys, as my newt doesn't really like posing, like yours did!...

http://community.webshots.com/s/image3/1/60/73/97116073uSapck_fs.jpg
http://community.webshots.com/s/image3/1/62/19/97116219odcfqk_fs.jpg
http://community.webshots.com/s/image6/1/62/90/97116290ApBUUU_fs.jpg
http://community.webshots.com/s/image6/1/63/75/97116375nEGHWi_fs.jpg

If you can tell me your opinion on the species that would be great. Also I was wondering how to sex these guys. And if the woman you gave yours too is still trying to find homes for her babies, if she doesn't mind the shipping I would love to get some.
Thats awesome that you had them eating out of your hands! As I said before I just got this little guy, so I havent been keeping him long, but I wanted to start keeping more amphibians other than anurans. I will definitely look at that site to try and id what species I have!

Thanks for the info
Kristen

Hey Kristen,

Great idea to get into the hobby, and Taricha newts are probably one of the hardiest newts out there!

As for being photogenic, just wait they'll get that way. Especially if you try hand feeding him/her things such as moths or small worms. I used to take the dead beetles from my mealworm cultures, dead moths from my waxworm cultures, and live worms from my compost bin to feed them, and they were very very fat and healthy enough to be breeding.

After looking at the photos I'm fairly confident they are T. granulosa, the rough skinned newt. Some places call tehm Californian newts or Oregeon newts, but both terms are incorrect names for any species of Taricha. Just pet store ignorance.

As for how to sex them, it becomes VERY easy when they get older. As Aaron said on Caudata.org wait until breeding season and it will be night and day. Males have big thick tails and a large swollen private area. Also females are usually longer and fatter then males.

One thing important to metnion if you wish to eventually try breeding these animals is that, I feel, the key to successfully breed them is to have at least equal males to females, but for better chance have males outnumber the females. I believe I read articles on this species that show the males compete against each other to try and get a female in their native populations, and without that competition in captivity the males are less likly to breed. As I said, I believe that was an article I had read about T. granulosa.

She doesn't mind shipping, but it depends on where in Canada you are located. If you're patient with you new one I'm sure he/she will be eating from your hands in no time. Also be sure to have a tight fitting lid (as newts are escape artists) and to handle your newts VERY LITTLE. I'm sure you're used to it from other amphibians, knowing the salts and oils in our hands can harm them. A quick rinse with warm water before handling, and a soapy wash afterwards is what will help you and the animal. Also, it is important to note that T. granulosa has the highest toxicity of any caudata around, so don't accidentally rub your eye after handling but before washing (TRUST ME it hurts alot! LOL). If you have any cats or dogs as well you may want to ensure the room your friend is located in is off limits, so in the off chance of an escapee you're only out one animals, not two.

I hope that helps, and feel free to email me for more information.

>>Hey Rob,
>>
>>I actually got this animal last weekend. I did my research before hand though. I traded a couple of animals and got him in the trade. The guy I traded with said it was a California newt but for all I know it could be the other species you were talking about. I know what you mean about the changing of species names by pet stores! I have seen pics of both and they look similar. I have a couple pics I have taken of it, but they are not that great, its hard to get pics of these guys, as my newt doesn't really like posing, like yours did!...
>>
>>http://community.webshots.com/s/image3/1/60/73/97116073uSapck_fs.jpg
>>http://community.webshots.com/s/image3/1/62/19/97116219odcfqk_fs.jpg
>>http://community.webshots.com/s/image6/1/62/90/97116290ApBUUU_fs.jpg
>>http://community.webshots.com/s/image6/1/63/75/97116375nEGHWi_fs.jpg
>>
>>If you can tell me your opinion on the species that would be great. Also I was wondering how to sex these guys. And if the woman you gave yours too is still trying to find homes for her babies, if she doesn't mind the shipping I would love to get some.
>>Thats awesome that you had them eating out of your hands! As I said before I just got this little guy, so I havent been keeping him long, but I wanted to start keeping more amphibians other than anurans. I will definitely look at that site to try and id what species I have!
>>
>>Thanks for the info
>>Kristen

-----
Hope my opinions help,
Rob

Hey Rob,

You sure know your newts! LOL Everything you said helped a lot and your probably right it about it being T. granulosa. I am very familiar with handling amphibians very little. I rarely handle mine with the exception of cleaning cages! And I am also aware of the toxicity of these animals, thats all I heard or read about these guys when I was reesearching them! I can already tell that newts are escape artists because mine is always looking for a way out of the cage. Thanks for the breeding advice and all the other advice! I am located in Ontario, if thats too far to ship I understand. E-mail me and let me know my e-mail is kristenm40@hotmail.com!

Thanks a bunch
Kristen