Picture comingBreeds in the cool, wet season: in the wild from about October-November to June, in captivity mostly October-June after an 8-week winter cool-down. Eggs are laid singly over several weeks, folded into or stuck to water plants; larvae metamorphose in about 3 months.
Group of 4-6.
Cool aquarium with plants and a land ramp.
Winter cooling and spring warming.
Up to about 60 eggs per female per season, laid singly (keeper report; no published count).
Larvae eat daphnia and baby brine shrimp.
One breeding tank for the sword-tailed newt, drawn to scale from the breeding guide.
Water: 12–24 °C
A plan from the breeding guide and an adult size of 15 cm. Tank shape is a standard 2 : 1 : 1.2 box, at least 6 adult lengths long. Check each step in the guide above.
A 120 cm rack for breeding the sword-tailed newt in numbers.
In total: 3 tanks, about 270 L of water. A litre of water weighs about 1 kg, so check that the floor and rack can take the weight.
Sizes are worked out from the breeding tank in the guide. Tanks fit a standard 120 cm rack when they can; bigger tanks go on their own stands.
Females have a tail clearly longer than the body; the male's tail is about body length or shorter, and his cloaca is enlarged, especially in the breeding season. Males lack the tail filament and blue colour of other Cynops; Amami males may show a whitish sheen on the tail.
Typical for frogs, newts and turtles
Needs a special setup. Read the species guide first.
A general guide for this breeding type. Days change with temperature and species.
Needs a special setup. Read the species guide first.
Set up a virtual breeding tank and see what would likely happen.
An educational estimate from the breeding rules, not a promise.