Cynops pyrrhogaster — Fact Sheet
Cynops pyrrhogaster · Cynops pyrrhogaster
📋 At a glance
| Adult size | 9-15 cm |
| Lifespan | 15-25 years |
| Subspecies | No captive-care subspecies split |
| Origin | Japan, where regional forms use ponds, rice fields, ditches, and slow vegetated water. |
| Activity | Cathemeral |
| Difficulty | Intermediate |
| Legal | CITES: not listed; EU: not listed; local rules still apply |
🏠 Enclosure
- Aquarium, paludarium, or terrarium matched to aquatic, semi-aquatic, terrestrial, or arboreal lifestyle
- Adult size must allow normal movement, stable water/soil conditions, and multiple hides
- Substrate: safe aquatic sand/bare bottom for aquatic species, drainage and leaf litter for terrestrial frogs
- Avoid sharp decor, contaminated water, soap residue, and mixed-species setups
🪨 Enclosure furniture
- Hides, plants, leaf litter, cork, water area, and climbing/resting surfaces as appropriate
- Easy access between land and water for semi-aquatic species
- No rough decor that damages delicate skin
💡 Lighting
- Strong lighting is usually unnecessary; planted setups may use moderate LEDs
- Low-level UVB can be useful for some species but must be paired with shade
- Keep a stable day-night rhythm
- Photoperiod: 10-12 h; no constant night light
🌡️ Temperature
Water: 14-22 °C
Measure water with a submerged digital probe and keep it within the stated range; overheating is the main concern. Do not provide a basking lamp or impose a separate night-temperature cycle on the aquarium.
💧 Humidity & water
- Stable clean water or high humidity according to species
- Dechlorinate all water and monitor aquarium parameters for aquatic amphibians
- Ventilation must prevent stagnant moldy air
- Avoid sudden temperature, pH, or moisture changes
🪳 Diet
Feed regularly:
- Earthworms, roaches, crickets, fruit flies, or aquatic foods sized to the species
In moderation:
- Waxworms, mealworms, and rich foods
Avoid:
- Wild-caught insects, oversized prey, hard sharp prey, feeder fish
Supplements:
- Gut-load feeders; use calcium/vitamins carefully for terrestrial frogs and none in aquarium water
🩺 Health — warning signs
- Red or inflamed skin → water quality, infection, or toxin issue
- Curled gills or surface gulping → water quality/flow/temperature problem
- Refusal to eat → temperature, stress, or disease
- Bloating → serious illness or water-balance issue
- Shedding problems → humidity, water quality, or skin disease
Consult a reptile- or exotic-animal veterinarian for severe weakness, injury, breathing signs, swelling, or prolonged refusal to eat.