2 kinds · tap one for a closer look
Peaceful in groups; needs cool temperatures and a land area.
This one is best kept on its own, or with its own kind.
Peaceful in groups; needs cool temperatures and a land area. Not suited to fish tanks.
Good to know: Needs a land area and cool water.
Bloodworms, blackworms, pellets and earthworm pieces.
Tap a food to see what it is.
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.
Common problems. Tap one to see the signs. This is a guide, not a diagnosis.
Egg-wrapper ·
Breeds 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.
The largest living Cynops, from the Ryukyu Islands of southern Japan. It is more heat-tolerant than other Cynops (one wild population lives in water reaching 28 °C) and is now Endangered because of habitat loss and collection.
American herpetologist Edward Hallowell described the sword-tailed newt in 1861. It lives only on the Ryukyu Islands of southern Japan. Its long, blade-like tail gives it the common name.
First described by Edward Hallowell in 1861.
15 facts checked with sources
Amphibian (newt). Two subspecies: C. e. ensicauda (Amami group) and C. e. popei (Okinawa group); popei is the one more often in captivity (Caudata Culture). LEGAL: US: on the Lacey Act injurious list since 2016 (Bsal rule), so import into the US is prohibited; the 10 Jan 2025 final rule notes that after USARK v. Zinke (D.C. Cir. 2017) movement between states within the continental US is not prohibited, but shipment to/from Hawaii, Puerto Rico, DC and US territories still is. The legacy text "bans import and interstate movement" overstates the interstate part. Cynops is a listed genus. EU/GB: Implementing Decision (EU) 2018/320 requires health certificates and Bsal quarantine/testing for commercial salamander consignments (all Caudata); the GB retained version is the one checked here, so confirm current EU rules under the Animal Health Law. AmphibiaWeb: no CITES listing and "National Status None"; on Japan's Environment Ministry Red List (Near Threatened since 1999, Caudata Culture). The legacy claim "protected under Japanese law; wild exports restricted" was not supported by any source found.
Amphibian Species of the World: Cynops ensicauda (Hallowell, 1861) · US Fish & Wildlife Service: List of salamanders designated as injurious · Federal Register 90(6), 10 Jan 2025: Injurious Wildlife Species; Listing Salamanders Due to Risk of Salamander Chytrid Fungus · Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2018/320 (Bsal salamander trade measures), legislation.gov.uk retained versionNew value.
Amphibian Species of the World: Cynops ensicauda (Hallowell, 1861)Total length 10-18 cm; females larger. Largest living Cynops. Legacy 15 cm inside.
AmphibiaWeb: Cynops ensicauda · Caudata Culture (caudata.org care reference): Cynops ensicauda20-24 °C most of the year, 12-16 °C for 8+ weeks in winter; tolerates up to 30 °C. Legacy 14-22 is too cool at the top. Hobby reference.
Caudata Culture (caudata.org care reference): Cynops ensicauda60 x 30 x 30 cm = 54 L (source rounds to 50 L) for 2-3 adults. Legacy 60 L is a little above; fine as generous.
Caudata Culture (caudata.org care reference): Cynops ensicaudaGroups are fine, but no minimum group size given.
Caudata Culture (caudata.org care reference): Cynops ensicauda20+ years in captivity reported; legacy 10-15 years is too low.
Caudata Culture (caudata.org care reference): Cynops ensicaudaWikipedia (uncited) calls them "highly territorial" at breeding sites; the care reference is preferred for captive behaviour.
Caudata Culture (caudata.org care reference): Cynops ensicaudaAmphibiaWeb warns pet-trade animals are "sold and treated as aquatic animals, whereas in actuality they are partially terrestrial"; keep a land area. No tank level given.
AmphibiaWeb: Cynops ensicaudaDescribed as hardy, but no difficulty rating. Legacy 3 (hard) is not supported.
Caudata Culture (caudata.org care reference): Cynops ensicaudaNew value. IUCN Endangered (AmphibiaWeb).
Amphibian Species of the World: Cynops ensicauda (Hallowell, 1861) · AmphibiaWeb: Cynops ensicaudaLegacy "blunt tail tip / slimmer male" not supported; tail length is the main cue.
Caudata Culture (caudata.org care reference): Cynops ensicaudaLegacy "spring courtship" is too narrow; the season runs autumn to early summer.
AmphibiaWeb: Cynops ensicauda · Caudata Culture (caudata.org care reference): Cynops ensicaudaLegacy 100-300 is not supported.
Caudata Culture (caudata.org care reference): Cynops ensicaudaLegacy "cool-water dependent" is wrong. "Flattened tail like a sword" refers to the name; not quoted.
Caudata Culture (caudata.org care reference): Cynops ensicauda · AmphibiaWeb: Cynops ensicauda