How to care for newts?

[dnwolf]

Hey everyone so im new to the forum can anyone help answer the following questions i have in my mind ? :>
1) Where to purchase newts?
2) What type of newts are available in Singapore?
3) Do they require special needs to survive in Singapore?
4) Is a 34 gallon tank sufficient to make a vivarium for the newts to hang out?
5) How to distinguish a female and a male newt?
6) Is it possible to breed them?

Sorry for asking so many questions but thanks in advance

[vinz]

Hi,

1 & 2) Please do not discuss the purchase of illegal pets on AQ.
3) In most cases, yes they do need cooler and cleaner water.
4) Depends on the size of the newts, but yes for the smaller ones (house gecko sized).
5) Signs depends on the species. But it is not possible to distinguish them via external genitals.
6) Usually not. They require very cold water to trigger their mating and spawning.

[dnwolf]

U You mean that keeping newts in Singapore is illegal? LOL i dint didn't know sorry , but i saw many threads about fire belly newts lol

[eddy planer]

Hi, dnwolf

We can still discuss here, how to up keeping them, spoil them, breed them, show off its vivarium/paludarium habitat and train them to beg like a dog!

However, we cannot talk about how and where to buy /sell / catch / smuggle them in this AQ. We must respect our "beloved" AVA rules and regulations in order to stay away from insane troubles!

hope this help you.

[dnwolf]

So you mean that its okay to keep them?

[eddy planer]

Why not if you have one? Just keep yourself discreet for where/how you obtain this beautiful FBN! You can jolly boast how you keep, breed and show off its habitat here... many of us, here are hungry to hear your sharing and experiences but be more discreet of how you got it.

[dnwolf]

Oh i c see can anyone tell me what are the legal amphibians that i can buy in singapore?

[vinz]

dnwolf,

We're pretty strict about spelling properly on this forum: http://www.aquaticquotient.com/forum...rules_language

Please read our rules before you post further: http://www.aquaticquotient.com/forum...q=aq_faq_rules

Thanks.

[dnwolf]

Oh , okay , sorry By the way , what are the legal species of amphibians that are sold in singapore ?

[Trichopsis]

dnwolf: As far as I know, the only legal amphibian is white's tree frog. Though I don't think there's anything to stop you from buying a bag of those crab-eating frogs or American bullfrogs sold as feeders and sparing their lives.

And I believe there are plenty of people out there who have collected the tadpoles of common local frog and toad species and raised them at home to maturity.

[dnwolf]

Hmmm , Singapore is really hot , how do you all keep your amphibians nice and cool ?

[Merviso]

dnwolf, you will need a chiller to keep them in their most suitable temperature.

[dnwolf]

How much would the cheapest chiller for a 34 gallon tank be ? And how much would it cost? Thanks in advance

[fisherw]

Why not if you have one? Just keep yourself discreet for where/how you obtain this beautiful FBN! You can jolly boast how you keep, breed and show off its habitat here... many of us, here are hungry to hear your sharing and experiences but be more discreet of how you got it.

eddy

Purely out of interest as I don't have newts or frogs. Does the rule prohibit (1) having the newts or (2) import and sale? If I remember correctly, back in the 80s when floods were common (what am I saying, still common now) and there were reports of people being bitten by piranhas when wading through floods, piranhas were banned even as pets. A friend of mine fried them up and ate them as he said the South Americans treated them as food fish.

Do I understand you correctly, that it is OK to have them though it is illegal to import and sell, like chewing gum. Or is it like arowanas, no import of wild caught but OK to breed? I assume it is CITES related?

As I said, purely out of curiosity. Thanks

Apologies if I have hijacked the thread.

[vinz]

Hi,

That is not what Eddy meant or nor was he referring to Singapore laws. He was talking about AQ policy. AQ does not allow discussion on how to obtain illegal pets in Singapore, nor allow illegal pets to be sold/bought through our forums.

However, we allow the discussion of their care and husbandry. We strongly discourage boasting about one's own pets, though.

[Posted using Tapatalk 2 on Android]

[fisherw]

Understood. I can understand that AQ (and forumers/members of AQ) would want to respect and comply with the law. I was just wondering if AVA regulations prohibit keeping of newts. This would mean that someone in Singapore runs a risk when discussing or as Eddy puts it "jolly boast and show off". Would someone in Singapore posting a photo be inviting AVA attention?

I hope this does not stop forumers based outside of Singapore where it is not prohibited from letting us enjoy photos and discussions on the topic.

[vinz]

We can only speculate, and personally I do think they run a risk. There were periods where AVA cracked down on hobbyists... but those cases involved large or dangerous pets like snakes and large mammals. Complaints by neighbours are another trigger, but hardly anyone would notice or complain about a bunch of "lizards" living in a aquarium. A few years back, there was a glut of exotic reptiles and amphibians (including the very exotic looking axolotl) appearing openly in the pet shops. That prompted a crack down on all illegal amphibians including the previously illegal but ignored fire belly newts and paddletails.

[dnwolf]

Hey so how much is a chiller , for a 34 gallon tank

[fisherw]

Thanks Vinz. So has anyone got an answer for dnwolf re price of chiller. Sorry man.

[stormhawk]

@fisherw,

If one wishes to discuss further regarding herptile care, foreign forums are the best since they have specialised forums with a chunk of information to browse through. It is a pity nonetheless that the AVA wishes to prevent locals from owning such herptiles, but given our fragile native ecosystem (which is already host to several alien animals, including dogs and cats) I can understand their point of view. Maybe in a few years time they might soften their stance? Who knows.

Oddly, I can find books and magazines that describe the captive care and husbandry of exotic pets in the bookstores and even in the National Library, which still boggles me when these animals are not allowed to be kept here but okay in print format.