Care Sheet for Salamanders, NewtsAverage Rating Given To This Care Sheet Is 5.00 (1=lowest, 5=highest) Last Updated: 01/18/2007 |
Main Category: | Aquatic/Land |
Sub Category: | Salamanders, Newts |
Care Sheet Submitted By: | Nikki&Houdini |
Years Experience: | 1 to 2 Years |
Species: | Cynops Orientalis- Chinese Fire Belly Newts |
Other Species or Phases this Care Sheet May Cover: | none |
Sexing and Characteristics: | The males have noticeably shorter tails, whereas the females tails are about the same length as their bodies if not slightly longer. In the breeding season the male’s tails become laterally compressed, they develop a swollen cloaca (bump underneath their tails), a sheen/bluish tinge to their bodies but mostly noticed more on their tails and they seem more active and aggressive. The females are quite a bit larger or robust than the males as well.
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Mostly Active During: | Both |
Substrate and Water Needs: | The water should be changed approximately every 2-3 weeks allowing time for much needed bacteria to form, the water should also always be cycled, as in always leave about 1/3 of the old water in when adding fresh water. Bottled water should never be used, regular tap water is fine but make sure to treat the water with an aquarium safe chlorine treatment, ask local pet store what they would advise that would be best for your tank. The pH level should also be tested regularly. When trying to decide on a filtration system remember that, in the wild they live in very slow moving ponds and streams and do not favor fast moving currents, they tend to enjoy deep tanks with about 1/2 to 3/4 of the tank filled. |
Lighting and UVB: | If you are going to place live plants in your tank a bulb that is appropriate for this is fine, they are not too picky, as long as it does not affect the water temperature. |
Temperatures and Humidity: | They tend to prefer cooler waters with temperatures ranging around 68-73 degrees Fahrenheit. Humidity can build up in the tanks and so it is a good idea to have some kind of opening at the top of the lid, where they won’t be able to get out but provide sufficient air movement. |
Heating and Equipment: | No heating should be provided, if the tank is kept in a hot humid area be sure to keep an aquarium thermometer and possibly a cooling system in the tank. |
Caging Provided: | I have a 25 gallon aquarium and that should hold no more than three to five newts. There are four in there plus babies.I have large lava rocks for them to sit on, there should always be land that they can get onto because some newts are only semi aquatic and spend most of their time on land. I also have fake and live plants and aquarium rocks. |
Diet: | Omnivorous |
Description of Diet: | I feed my newts Brine Shrimp and Blood Worms. They get 1 cube of each cut into three pieces every second day. For mine this seems sufficient but you have to work them into their own feeding habits. If you are finding that there is a lot left over and sitting on the bottom of the tank you are feeding them too much. They should not be fed everyday, but every second day. |
Supplements, Nutrition and Usage: | At times I will add Pimafix and Melafix to the water, this helps to keep any kinds or sores or cuts that they might have acquired healthy and not get infected. |
Maintenance: | These little guys are low maintenance and easy to care for, and fun to watch and handle. |
Some Words on this Species: | If your like me, and have newts that like to lay many eggs, look into how to care for them, they are a lot of fun and really neat to watch grow up and mature. They have a mind of their own as well so don’t leave them unattended with the lid off because they will try to make a run for it. |
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