Fire Bellied New Caresheet

[Natonstan]

Fire bellied newts are definately the most popular pet newt. They are easy to keep, and are fairly inexpensive to look after. In this caresheet I will go over housing, feeding and other usefull information.

<b> Housing </b>

When keeping fire bellied newt, you must remember that they are mainly aquatic, but do need some way of coming out of the water and walking on land, the easiest way to do this is to seperate the vivarium into 2 sections, 1 section full of water, the other with land. you can divide the 2 with a sealed piece of glass, or plastic. The water side should have a few aquarium pebbles on the bottom, and maybe an aquatic plant, but should include lots of room for swimming. The side with land should have some sort of substrate, I like to use eco earth with moss on top , but you could easilly use soil, or pebbles of some sort. Rocks and plants should be included to make the area more exciting.

<b> Feeding </b>

The best thing to feed the newts is frozen or live bloodworms, you just place them in the water and the newts will happily munch away at them. Frozen shrimp may also be used, or even micro crickets. Remeber to feed more food, if you have more than 1 newt.

<b> Cleaning </b>

Cleaning newts isn't very hard, they let out most of there waste in the water, so you must remember to change the water every week or 2, basically like you would if you kept fish.

<b> More than 1 newt </b>

You may keep more than 1 newt in an enclosure, but if you see bullying, you must seperate them, or it may result in the loss of a newt, remember they may get competitive at feeding time, if there is not enough food!

<b> Handling </b>

Newts should not really be handled, muchliek frogs they take in air through there skin so they could easilly take it harmfull toxins on your hand, but if you must pick them up, they do not bite, much like frogs, but do not pick them up just to " play "

<b> Heating/Lighting <b>

This species does not require any special heating, but if you feel they are getting too cold a heat mat may be used. You may also use a simple aquarium light to provide lighting at night.

so, I hope I have given enough information, if more information is need feel free to PM me or ask below!

[blackbat67]

but newts don't need a heater! they like it cold??!!

[spend_day]

ok there's alot of stuff on here i dont like

Originally Posted by Natonstan

<b> Feeding </b>

The best thing to feed the newts is frozen or live bloodworms, you just place them in the water and the newts will happily munch away at them. Frozen shrimp may also be used, or even micro crickets. Remeber to feed more food, if you have more than 1 newt.

i would not say that bloodworms as the only food is the best diet. mixed is always better

Originally Posted by Natonstan

<b> Cleaning </b>

Cleaning newts isn't very hard, they let out most of there waste in the water, so you must remember to change the water every week or 2, basically like you would if you kept fish.

FULL water changes arent recommeneded the sudden chemistry change in the water (even if it cleaner water) can cause a shock to the newts system this can lead to stress and even death change no more than 1/3 at a time

Originally Posted by Natonstan

<b> Handling </b>

Newts should not really be handled, muchliek frogs they take in air through there skin so they could easilly take it harmfull toxins on your hand, but if you must pick them up, they do not bite, much like frogs, but do not pick them up just to " play "

i dont think u have stressed enough how little u should pick newts up some1 might read this and say"oh im not gonna play with it just let it wonder around on my hand" newts shouldnt be picked up unless 100% necassery

Originally Posted by Natonstan

<b> Heating/Lighting <b>

This species does not require any special heating, but if you feel they are getting too cold a heat mat may be used. You may also use a simple aquarium light to provide lighting at night.

so, I hope I have given enough information, if more information is need feel free to PM me or ask below!

well unless your house goes under 12C on a regular basis (these newts can survive as low as 2C-4C for short amounts of time) then no heating should be used. inexperienced people might think oh its getting a bit chilly in her (17C-18C) and stick on a heat mat. these newts must not be kept over 21C for extended peroids.

i think this caresheet hasnt taken into account the fact that there are alot of stupid humans out there

[iain_thompson]

Fire Bellied Newts...
10-15 gallon tank, the more floor space the better.
I keep my 4 FBN's in a 15 gallon tank, pretty much entirely aquatic, they have bogwood in the water sticking out at a few different places as well as rock piles and numerous plants, it's heavily planted and endless places to hide in the rock piles and clusters of plants. The Water is room temperature, anywhere between 10-17oC most of the time and they eat frozen bloodworm. I do a partial water change every week or 2 with ages/treated water, probably change about a third or half of the water at a time. I have a few algae snails in there as well. Never had a problem with them and they currently breed. I've found this works great.
You will have no problems if you stay away from fish, high temperatures, provide enough food to go around if you have more than 1 and give a few places for them to crawl out of the water.
Im no expert but as i say this is the way that's works for me and as far as i know my FBN's are pretty happy and healthy...hope this helps at least someone

[ConnorM]

I bought my female Spanish red bellied newt? 3 months ago. i'm not quite sure if its a fire belly or not. But it hasnt eaten, well only once about a month ago and now refuses any food at all. ITs starting to hide alot and is running away when i open the tank. im wooried it might die or get ill. What do i do? thankyou..
connor

[iain_thompson]

As far as i know there isn't a spanish fire bellied newt? i could be wrong like. What does it look like? light with dark spots? that would probs be a spanish ribbed newt but if it's got a red/orange belly it could be a japanese/chinese fire bellied newt or a paddle tail newt. How big is it as well?
As far as mine went, they weren't eating at first because they were stressed, it just took a while to find out the best setup, and keeping the water quality stable and clean helped a lot. what are you feeding it as well?
hope i can help

[ConnorM]

thats what i thought, it had that tag at the aquatics. ive found out it is afire belly. its very small, with an orange belly and black spots. its probably about 2.5 inches from head to tip of tail.
i have been offering her bloodworm, mealworm, frozen daphnia, shrimp brine. about 4 weeks ago she ate her first meal, of a bit of bloodworm out of a pipette.
thankyou very much.
connor