Paddle Tail Newts....

[funky1]

Ow do,
I`ve been doing a fair bit of research on, and am thinking of buying a couple of Paddle Tails from a local shop. I was just wondering if anyone knew much about them, as in do they make good pets (in general - obv not to handle), are they easy enough to look after, any special requirements/things I need to know about them? Or if anyone has them, would anyone say that they wish they hadn`t bothered - as in, they`re too aggressive, too inactive, too smelly etc, etc??? Cheers for any advice.

[JustJordan]

Paddles are awesome.. but dont buy in pairs as they dont get on and take chunks out of eachother
i took on one with her whole side munched off.
she started to get the flesh and ribs back and was on a good road but she got stuck in her decor, via her wound and drown

i had another and he was fab and got huge lol
basically all you need is a fish tank with pleanty of plants ect so they can sit on under water and a small floating thing so if they feel like sitting out the water they can.. but usually dont

fed em on frozen blood worms, they loved em.
i also kept them with mollies who bred and he munched up the babies haha (well i have no room for them)
probs thats why he got so big.
but he never botherd the other fish

they need below 65 degrees ish so maybe a water heater will be needed but they can deal with 70's for a short period of time

careful tho they are great escape artists, so no open holes at the top for them to squeeze thro, lost mine that way.. ended up drying out and dying after me being out for 3 hours.
just because i topped up the water in his tank

oh and they always seem active, great fun
and i did handle mine now and again, only to clean out or do checks and he was awesome

[funky1]

Brilliant info - just what I was after, thanks

With regards potential breeding (I know, don`t run before you can walk!) - just out of curiousity, is it a big no-no then as they`re so aggressive to each other? I read on one of the info sheets that none have ever been bred in captivity - but I found that pretty hard to believe really.
The place where I`m meant to be getting some from have at least 2 dozen in a 2 by 2 tank - obviously just to maximise space etc... but if they don`t get on so well, then I think that`s pretty bad practice on their part. Swines.
How`s about Warty fire salamanders? I mean as an alternative to the paddle tail - which would you go for???
Anyhow, I think I will get at least one and do a really attractive tank - plenty of living pond weeds for them to hide between such as canadian pond weed, and some broken clay pots sunken to the bottome should look quite good with a splash of natural light thrown in.
The sellers also had some absolutely awe inspiring Mud Skippers for sale as well - mesmerising to see them `skipping` and literally doing someraults into the water. They`re a no-no though I take it, given their obv housing requirements - like waves?!

[JustJordan]

Originally Posted by funky1

Brilliant info - just what I was after, thanks

With regards potential breeding (I know, don`t run before you can walk!) - just out of curiousity, is it a big no-no then as they`re so aggressive to each other? I read on one of the info sheets that none have ever been bred in captivity - but I found that pretty hard to believe really.
The place where I`m meant to be getting some from have at least 2 dozen in a 2 by 2 tank - obviously just to maximise space etc... but if they don`t get on so well, then I think that`s pretty bad practice on their part. Swines.
How`s about Warty fire salamanders? I mean as an alternative to the paddle tail - which would you go for???
Anyhow, I think I will get at least one and do a really attractive tank - plenty of living pond weeds for them to hide between such as canadian pond weed, and some broken clay pots sunken to the bottome should look quite good with a splash of natural light thrown in.
The sellers also had some absolutely awe inspiring Mud Skippers for sale as well - mesmerising to see them `skipping` and literally doing someraults into the water. They`re a no-no though I take it, given their obv housing requirements - like waves?!

i wanted another paddle, but their arnt any local anymore unless i want to pay postage
but a few fires.. warty and non
iv been told and read they need very simular to paddles. maybe just a bit more floaty things.. but not much.
i read somewhere their a little less agressive and more likely to "hang out" lol but then again, some people have managed to keep paddles in groups?!?! but in the same 2 by 2 vivs they where eating eachother hmm
weird.
guess its a risk that could work for some, like housing beardies i guess lol

OMG i want midskippers, only looked into the breifly!
They need waves????? jeeesssss im not forking out for a wave thingy, and im not sitting their moving the water with my hand haha