RE: Re: RE: Re: RE: chinese firebellied newts
These used to be quite common (although expensive) in Melbourne pet shops about 10-15 years ago. I know a few people who have kept them and two who still do (on permit). Back when I was younger and newts were in every second pet shop and aquarium, I naturally assumed they were legal and obtained some larvae (I swapped seven for a Blue Tongued Skink), which I raised and bred for a few generations. Lovely little things and lots of fun, I eventually got sick of them and with no alternative I euthenased them all. It wasn't until a few years later that I found out they weren't legal and it wasn't until a couple of years after that that the department decided to inform everyone about the situation and the newts disappeared from the shops. I'm sure there are still quite a few going around in illegal collections, perhaps a few people still don't realise they're illegal. I know of one person who surrendered theirs to a research centre after discovering that they were illegal, which I think was about five years ago. I definately think we're best off not legalising these things if we want to keep our southern waterways exotic free as newts are quite fierce little predators. One or more species would newts would probably have become established in Melbourne during the 80's if it wasn't for the introduced mosquito fish.
