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Care Sheet: Sword-tailed Newt (Cynops ensicauda)

Common Name: Sword-tailed Newt, Paddle-tailed Newt, Brown Newt, Gold Dust Newt, and Okinawa Newt.

Scientific Name: Cynops ensicauda.

Distribution: Japan.

Size: 10-15cm.

Life expectancy: 20 years.

Sexing: Males have more swollen cloaca. Females are often plumper when viewed from above and their tail is longer than the rest of their body.

Description: Smooth slimy dark brown-black skin with a yellow-orange coloration to the underside of the body marked with irregular black markings. Long flat (side-to-side) tail.

Varieties: There are 2 sub-species of C.ensicauda, the first and most common form is C.e.popei which is characterised by irregular yellow, white or golden spots, these spots can occasionally merge to form stripes. The second form, C.c.ensicauda lacks these spots.

Requirements: Sword-tailed Newts are mainly aquatic and require a relatively small aquarium. A 15-gallon tank would be adequate for an adult pair. These Newts can be maintained in a totally aquatic set-up, provided they have a few floating islands (pieces of cork) to climb out on to. A base substrate of gravel or sand is ideal with large pebbles and lots of aquatic plants arranged to provide a number of hiding places. The water should be clean de-chlorinated or spring water at a depth of 20cm (8"). The water will need to be filtered using a submersible power filter to avoid the build up of ammonia and bacteria in the water, and partial water changes should be carried out at regular intervals. It is also a good idea to lightly oxygenate the water with the use of an air-stone. A water temperature of 22°C should be maintained, and low wattage fluorescent tube should be used as a light source.

Feeding: Juvenile Newts should be fed daily with a mixture of suitably sized insects including bloodworm, Tubifex, and whiteworm. Adult Newts should be fed every other day with a mixture of earthworms, slugs, maggots, and Tubifex.