Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hello,

I have kept corn snakes for years and am interested in trying my hand at newts. But I don't know what kind I would like! There is so much information out there it's hard to sift through, and none of the local pet stores carry newts. So I thought I would ask for recommendations.

First, the setup I have in mind: I have a 29 gallon tank and a 10 gallon tank - I intend to use the ten gallon as the water area and fill the rest of the area in the 29 gallon with soil. I have several miniature orchids I'd like to put in the soil area, a locking screen lid and a plant-specific light strip to keep from having to have the tank near a window.

I'd prefer not to have to do fancy stuff like gut load crickets or do a lot of vitamin dusting, so if there are some species that can get by on frozen bloodworms, mealworms, pellets and other such low-maintenance foods, that would be preferable. Plus, I've gotten the idea that it's not wise to mix most species, but are there any that are known for doing better with this type of arrangement? I feel it would be more interesting to have at least two kinds of animal in the setup. Perhaps an arboreal, small frog since they would inhabit a different level in the cage?

Thank you so much and I apologize for the long post!
-Julie

Firebellies make interesting and lively pets and they can feed exclusively off of the frozen foods which you speak of. They could really care less for the pellet foods though. As long as the water is clean, cool, and dechlorinated, and there is a land area, they are very happy newts. They also love lots of vegetation in their water. Personally, I wouldn't mix species, as newts can be poisonous to each other and other species, so if you get one kind of newt, just get a lot of that kind and stay away from the mixed species. It can result in a lot of disasters. Hope my info has helped. Also, a wonderful forum and place to visit is caudata.org, where cynops orientalis (chinese firebellies) are frequently discussed. They are probably the most common species out there found in pet shops.