Fire bellied newts advice please

[GrantW]

Hey everyone, I'm new to this site and I am looking to get some fire bellied newts very soon! I'm getting an 88L tank, but some questions first:

What are the best plants to use, i want some live plants this time instead of the silk ones in my fighter fish tank.

Also whats the best substrate, do they even need substrate? I'm only asking as my fighter doesn't have any gravel in his tank anymore and I think it looks better.

Where can I get a good filter from that is not too powerful?

Are floating islands better than say a large ornament that rises out of the water?

Anything else that I need?

Thanks

Grant

[pugant06]

Able to give some advice here from experience setting up with these critters.

For plants i use Java moss & Java fern. Both thrive in lower temperatures on lower light levels. You dont need too much a light input with these newts.

I have just a single layer of 10mm gravel in bottom of my tank. A single layer so they are able sift it about to get to food that falls through and 10mm is big enough that they cant inadvertantly swallow it.

Any small filter is satisfactory as long as output is directed upwards & towards the rear of the tank so majority of water is not subjected to flow. These prefer mainly still water so even a small air operated type will be sufficient.

I use cork bark for my floating island. It is also very good to establish the java moss on. When mine were youngsters they spent a lot of time on this but now matured very rarely leave the water. Bogwood is used for hiding areas with the jave fern attached.

I have probably overdone the hiding areas in my set up as often i look in and not see a newt. However, once i drop a bit of bloodworm or earthworm in they appear from nowhere - LOL.

Good luck with your set up and try and get captive bred newts if you can.

[GrantW]

Originally Posted by pugant06

Able to give some advice here from experience setting up with these critters.

For plants i use Java moss & Java fern. Both thrive in lower temperatures on lower light levels. You dont need too much a light input with these newts.

I have just a single layer of 10mm gravel in bottom of my tank. A single layer so they are able sift it about to get to food that falls through and 10mm is big enough that they cant inadvertantly swallow it.

Any small filter is satisfactory as long as output is directed upwards & towards the rear of the tank so majority of water is not subjected to flow. These prefer mainly still water so even a small air operated type will be sufficient.

I use cork bark for my floating island. It is also very good to establish the java moss on. When mine were youngsters they spent a lot of time on this but now matured very rarely leave the water. Bogwood is used for hiding areas with the jave fern attached.

I have probably overdone the hiding areas in my set up as often i look in and not see a newt. However, once i drop a bit of bloodworm or earthworm in they appear from nowhere - LOL.

Good luck with your set up and try and get captive bred newts if you can.

Thanks for the advice, I found a good filter with a spraybar so that allows me to angle the flow of water and hopefully keep it as still as possible.

I know they don't need light, but will it hurt them if I do light the tank up, and keep it on a timer so its 12 hours day 12 hours night?

I will look into getting fern and moss, what about elodea? Any other plants I could get?

I'm buying newts from Alexandria on here, so they are definitely captive bred newts

[pugant06]

My newts are in a large tropicquarium88 tank which has provision for two strip lamps but run it with just the one working (20W) for about 8 hours a day.
My newts seem fine with that.

The java moss is a bit slow to get going but once established grows well. Not always easy to get hold of locally and eventually got mine off ebay from last-trading-post.

I would not think there is any aquirium plants unsuitable for use with newts. You may find however that some are easier to maintan than others in the lower temperature and light conditions.

I expect someone else will chip in here with their veiws to help you out.

[GrantW]

Thats weird, thats the exact same tank that I have just bought! Got it for £20, but the electrics in the hood don't work, have you ever had any problems with your electrics?

Could you put a couple of pics up of yours please?

So it's basically trial and error with the plants then, try something and if it doesnt like the low light levels then bin it and try something else?

Really looking forward to getting it all set up and getting the newts in it. How many do you have in yours and how much water?

[pugant06]

Yes - i used to have problems with this tanks electrics and its a common problem apparently with them. When i used it as a tropical set up years ago if one lamp failed the other would not work either. Prior to using it for the newts i stripped the lid down for a good clean and reconfigured the wiring to just operate one lamp only. I should have made a diagram of what i did to help you out. However, i'm sure you can get a good electrician to do this for you for a pint?

I have risen my water level to 10" now my newts are 99% aquatic, a height they seem to swim up to with ease to reach the floating island if required. I only have 5 fire bellies in it and look a bit lost in there sometimes. Its a good volume of water for just 5 and i only do a partial water change every two weeks.

DONT be tempted to overfeed them. I usually feed mine every other day or third day and sometimes think they would eat more if put it in more frequently. However, any overfeeding will only lead but poor water conditions if left uneaten.

Will try and take a picture or two sometime. That said you would have to PM me your email address so i could send pics as i have not got a clue how to post pics on here -