Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I've had a fire belly newt for about 7 years. When I first got him, I also bought two African clawed frogs and another fire belly. Over the years, the two frogs and other newt have died. I'm wondering if it would be safe to introduce a few young fire bellies to the tank without harming them or the older newt. Any input would be greatly appreciated! Thanks!

- Andrea

Hello Sassy,
First of all, once you get the new newts you'll have to quarintine them, for around a month-3months. As most firebellied newts are wildcaught and they could be bringing in new harmful parasites to your hopefully healthy newt! So, therefore you should keep them in a seperate cage from your other newt, so if they die, or appear to have parasites you can be assured your other newts safe.

Second of all, you may not want to have the little newts with a big newt, as he may believe the little ones, are food! SO, it would better be safe then sorry to keep them in a seperate tank, until there big and strong.

Steven

As mentioned previously, you have a few things to settle before you introduce any newt to an established terrarium. And We assume that you’re introducing similar species types to the same tank.
Disease: The wild-caught newt with parasites/disease was already mentioned. However, now that we’re seeing consistent supplies of captive-bred Spanish sharp-ribbed, crested and alpine newts in Canada (North America?), you still have disease concerns. Why? Well, most large pet shops tend to plop newts into tanks previously occupied by tropical fish from newt-knows-where … and that includes the bacterial/viral ‘soup’ that passes for water in some tanks. So … quarantine is the order of the day.
Introducing the newt. Well, if you’ve had a newt for any length of time … the tank is his (her?) territory now … off limits to all intruders. So, how do you try to mitigate the ‘alpha’ newt chasing the newcomers constantly? First, everybody in the tank has to be freshly fed … full bellies equal a lack of bloodlust – generally speaking. Second … just before introduction of the new newts … move the rocks and plants in the tank around … this upsets established territories and results in the ‘alpha-newt’ looking for a new hiding spot rather than chasing around the ‘new kids’. Last … a bit of medicine in the tank keeps the scent of the newcomers down and will go some way to mitigating immediate passage of new diseases.
Size: Smaller than me? … eat it! Same size? … mate it! Larger than me? … run away!
Last: As hard as this sounds … let them fight and bicker once you’ve introduced them … they have to sort out their new ‘pecking order’. After a couple of days you’ll want to make sure that everybody is getting food (and don’t make the mistake of feeding the ‘poor little newt’ first … the big ones will just race over, beat him up and eat all his food) and that everybody has a hiding spot (or two) until they’re used to each other.
Cheers
Wes