Reptile & Amphibian Forums

First, I am wondering if there are any other kind of newts that can successfully live together with chinese fire belly newts. I know it is not a good idea to mix different types of newts. But what ones have you been successful with?

Second, I have 4 chinese fire belly newts in a 30 gallon tank. I have had these 4 for a few years. Two of them are black with orange bellies, one is a green color with the orange belly, and the other one is a reddish/orange color with a orange belly. I bought all of these from pet stores and were labeled chinese fire belly newts. I never see any like this green and red one at any pet stores. Does anyone else have this type of fire belly newt?

Third, I have a VERY HARD time finding healthy newts. I have lost many newts to some sort of skin fungus. I notice that most pet stores have newts with these white spots on their bodies and I always make sure to get the one that doesn't have the spots. But once I take them home they always seem to develop this skin eating type fungus and slowly die. Recently I bought two new newts that seemed healthy, but after having them for a week or so they started to develop this skin fungus. One was so bad that the fungus ate away at his back limb, leaving his leg hanging by a strand. Then she died. While the other is still alive but his skin is very bubbly with the white spots. He is also shedding a layer of skin every 2 days or so. What causes this and it there any way to prevent it?

Thankyou for any help! Jill

I am definitely not an expert on newts...but I am picky about pet stores. I would recommend you not buy any more animals from the stores where you previously have purchased the fungus-y newts. If you are limited on the choice of stores, don't buy locally; buy from someone who advertises on the Kingsnake classifieds. I was recently embarrassed by my 7-year-old son, who wants to buy everything he sees. I had told him this particular store sold unhealthy pets, and we wouldn't buy any there; but we went to buy some crickets (I was desperate). He loudly asked, if the animals weren't healthy at that store, why was I buying some? I feel strongly about pet stores that don't care properly for their animals, or who buy them from disreputable dealers. OK, I'll get off my soapbox; but that's my advice. Also, find a vet who can at least give you some advice.

Jan

I call it "Petshop firbelly newt syndrome". They endure so much stress during and after import, that most die as you have seen. Consider that CFB are a relatively delicate species and they come all the way from China.

People have successfully mixed CFB with Eastern newts and Japanese firebellies, but I absolutely do not recommend this. No matter what kind you get, but sure to keep the new ones separately for about a month, or else you risk the new ones infecting the old ones with diseases.

I would love to see pictures of your green and reddish newts. Are they the same size and shape as the other two? You cannot trust the labels they have in the shop.

>>First, I am wondering if there are any other kind of newts that can successfully live together with chinese fire belly newts. I know it is not a good idea to mix different types of newts. But what ones have you been successful with?
>>
>>Second, I have 4 chinese fire belly newts in a 30 gallon tank. I have had these 4 for a few years. Two of them are black with orange bellies, one is a green color with the orange belly, and the other one is a reddish/orange color with a orange belly. I bought all of these from pet stores and were labeled chinese fire belly newts. I never see any like this green and red one at any pet stores. Does anyone else have this type of fire belly newt?
>>
>>Third, I have a VERY HARD time finding healthy newts. I have lost many newts to some sort of skin fungus. I notice that most pet stores have newts with these white spots on their bodies and I always make sure to get the one that doesn't have the spots. But once I take them home they always seem to develop this skin eating type fungus and slowly die. Recently I bought two new newts that seemed healthy, but after having them for a week or so they started to develop this skin fungus. One was so bad that the fungus ate away at his back limb, leaving his leg hanging by a strand. Then she died. While the other is still alive but his skin is very bubbly with the white spots. He is also shedding a layer of skin every 2 days or so. What causes this and it there any way to prevent it?
>>
>>Thankyou for any help! Jill

Is there anyway to just attach pictures. Without having a URL?

>>Is there anyway to just attach pictures. Without having a URL?

The only way is to load them into the kingsnake photo gallery.

I also have a green FBN and 2 others that are brown and 2 normal black ones. I was told that the black ones are Japanese FBN's and that the green and brown ones are Chinese FBN's

5 FB Newts
1 Veiled Chameleon
1 Bearded Dragon