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Care Sheet: Hong Kong Warty Newt (Paramesotriton hongkongensis)

Common Name: Hong Kong Warty Newt, Giant Fire-bellied Newt, Dog Faced Newt.

Scientific Name: Paramesotriton hongkongensis.

Distribution: Hong Kong.

Size: 14-16cm.

Sexing: Males have more swollen cloaca. Females are often plumper when viewed from above.

Description: Smoothish light - dark brown or olive skin with a bluish black colouration to the underside of the body marked with irregular yellow-orange markings.

Requirements: 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 20-22°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.