Scientific Name: Tylototriton verrucosus.
Common Names: Crocodile Newt, Mandarin Salamander, and Emperor Newt.
Distribution: Asia, western China and Indo-China.
Size: 18cm.
Colouration: Dark brown background marked with a broad orange vertebral stripe, the large parotid glands are also orange and a row of orange nodules runs along either flank marking the end of each rib.
Requirements: Adults of these large colorful Newts are mainly aquatic throughout most of the year, a 15-gallon tank would be adequate for a group of 2-4 adults. These Newts can be housed in a fully aquatic set up with a substrate of gravel or sand. Furnishings such as drift-wood, cork bark, rock, pebbles and plants (live or otherwise) can be arranged to provide a number of hiding places. Land areas can be created by floating a number of large cork bark slabs on the waters surface. The water will need to be filtered or partially changed daily to avoid the build up of ammonia and bacteria in the water whilst changing the water it is a good idea to visually inspect the land areas of the tank and remove, clean and replace any soiled items. The tank may require additional heating to 18-22°C, this can be done with the use of a submersible aquarium heater controlled by a thermostat. A low wattage fluorescent tube should be used as a light source. Once every two-three weeks the tank and its contents should be completely cleaned and sterilized using an amphibian / reptile friendly disinfectant.
Feeding: For adults a mixture of suitably sized insects including earthworm, waxworm, mealworm, maggots, crickets and small snails should be fed every two-three days. A calcium and vitamin supplement should be used once a week. Young Newts will take whiteworm, and hatchling mealworm & crickets these should be fed every day and a calcium and vitamin supplement used two-three times a week.
