Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hello all. I am new to the forum. I am thinking of getting a fire bellied newt. I have searched for hours on the web for any and all information reguarding these adorable amphibians.

Icy

make sure to get an adult firebelly. the young ones may want to stay on land most of the time, inwhich case you might end up feeding him with tweezers for like a year...

Oh really? I didn't know that. How do I know if the newt is an adult? From past experience dealing with LPS's. . . a lot of the employees don't know their rear from a hole in the ground.

Icy

Bravo to you for doing your homework before getting the newts! I would say skip the heater, unless your water is at risk of freezing! My newt tanks are currently at 58-60F, and i know people who keep them even colder. Forget about "newt pellets" and freeze dried foods, they suck. Get some frozen bloodworms or live earthworms (like baitshop kind). For many other questions, read the FAQ here:
http://www.caudata.org/cc/

>>Hello all. I am new to the forum. I am thinking of getting a fire bellied newt. I have searched for hours on the web for any and all information reguarding these adorable amphibians.
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>>So far I have a 10 gallon terraium tank with smooth good sized pebble rock covering the bottom. . . a large smooth basking rock. . . several silk bottom plants. . . a penn plax smallworld filter (very low current). . . and a 25wtt submersable heater that is set at 65 degrees (as I am in Montana and it is still VERY cold here) It is all set up and awaiting its new occupant.
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>>I will be picking up my newt this coming weekend. Is there anything else I should have that I have not mentioned? I also have some freeze dried bloodworms, but have plans to pick up actual "newt" food while at the LPS.
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>>Any further advice or suggestions is greatly appreciated! Thank you.
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>>Icy
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Hey thanks! I will also look into getting some frozen bloodworms and other live food. Appreciate the advice

Icy

As mentioned before,
THANK-YOU, very very much for researching before getting one of these little charms. There cute looks, and small price is often very misleading to those, and think "heck, them newts look cool". Of course they don't even know what they eat, or that they need to be kept cool, instead hot.

I also agree that;
-1) Get an adult newt that is plump, under water, and larger
-2) Give up the newt food/freeze dried stuff. Often newts don't even eat the expensive little pellets, aswell freeze dried isn't as nutritional as the real live thing... PLUS, it smells funny, and make the water offly funky.

Foods to try with are; earthworms, liver, beefheart, guppy now and then, ghost shrimp, crickets, frozen bloodworms,etc!

Goodluck with your lil guy,

OH, I also recommend you buy your lil guy an aquatic plant. Cobumba, and hornworts are nice Your lil guy will appreciate it!

Thanx to everyone who has been kind enough to reply to my posts with your advice and suggestions. I am truly greatful. I will continue to keep up on my research regarding these amphibians. . . the more I know, the better "newt" owner I will be. I would hate to have disaster strike because of my lack of knowledge. I am sure I will have more questions at a later date, and thanx to those of you who posted I will not hestitate to ask!

Icy

another food i have found to be useful are pillbugs. they are very easy to gather and breed in a plastic container.
~nick