Reptile & Amphibian Forums

hey

I'm hoping to get my hands on a couple of fire belly newts (the smaller ones) So far I have a plastic tank (I'd say about 8 gallons). What ideal set up should I use? Like how much water, dry land, plants, etc. And do they eat crickets, if they do what size, if they don't would should I feed them? Thanks a lot guys, I hope you can help me out.

Hi, when you say the small ones, you probably mean cynops orientalis, check out this care sheet at CAUDATA CULTURE.

http://www.caudata.org/cc/species/Cynops/C_orientalis.shtml

You really should go to this forum if you want some really good information, they are pro's there.

www.caudata.org

Check out this site for ideas for you cynops housing:

http://www.caudata.org/cc/articles/setups.shtml

And for foods, check out this:

http://www.caudata.org/cc/articles/foods.shtml

Check this out too:

http://www.caudata.org/cc/articles/catastrophes.shtml

This also might have a bunch of info you could use:

http://www.caudata.org/cc/articles/articles.shtml

Okay, now for my opinion. (Not taken directly off of any site )

IT is good that you are finding out all this information before you just go and buy them, that is a big problem that some people deal with. An 8 gallon might be a bit small for many newts, I suggest may 2 or 3 newts at the most. For food, I highly suggest bloodworms, I have been feeding mine that for years, they love it, and it is good for them. If they are still juvies, they will spend a lot of there time on the land, at which at that time might be a bit hard to feed, so you should check out the forums at caudata.org . Good luck and I hope I helped.
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Mark B.

Fire belly newts are mainly aquatic,
but sometimes venture out to land. I did a gravel slope
so he could get on top of land. They eat blood worms,
feeder fish, and other frozen fish food. Mine never ate crickets. The water must be kept cool (59`- 70`)
The ph should rest around 7.0. I used an internal filter
(with a waterfall affect) Good luck on them!
ps: get a secure lid, for if they get stressed
they try to escape!!!!
GeicoGecko

Yeah, the cynops orientalis will not eat feeder fish, but all those other things he mentioned are good, esspecially the bloodworms, and chopped up earthworms are really good too.
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Mark B.