Good choices for bottom of Chinese Firebelly newt tank?

Hi, so I'm not sure what kind of tank bottom I should have that works best for my newt. Right now I have about an inch layer of small rocks(but bigger than pebbles), but I've read that if fed in the water, the worms can fall between the rocks and make it hard for your newt to find them, get to them and eat. I've seen some pictures around the forums here that look to have sand in the bottom. Is that something okay for this type of newt? I have fake plants for now, but looking at possibly having a low-maintenance live floating plant possibly if something like that exists. I've also seen just plain glass bottoms as well. Just could use some advice on different bottoms and which seem to be or work best :happy: Thanks!!

Hi Megan,

I have used both the bare bottom, plain glass method for my orientalis, as well as washed sand. The bare bottom method does help to make clean up easier, but I didn't really like the look of it. Wanting something a bit more natural for them I decided to go with the sand. The Caudata Culture article on this species says that they are found in muddy bottomed ponds and specifically says these ponds are rock/ stone free. With that in mind I avoided the common aquarium gravel and simply went to a local home improvement store and purchased a bag of play sand. It did take some time washing it in a bucket before the dust was rinsed away, but I like the looks of it and the newts as well as the water quality have done well with this set up. That being said I don't think they have done any better than when they were in the bare bottomed aquarium, but I like the looks of it myself and I think it contributes to more stable water quality. I do think that debris ( including food) can more easily get stuck between the aqaurium gravel rocks than settling into the sand but lots of people do pick this type of substrate and it works for them. I think you just need to be prepared to vacuum the gravel in addition to routine water changes if you go this route. With sand or bare bottomed, I simply siphon accumulated detritus off the surface with every water change and call it good.

Best of luck with whatever method you choose!

HJ

Thanks for the reply! I think I will go with the sand just for ease of mind since the stones worry me he's not getting to his food and the sand does look nice. Thanks again! :happy:

Hi Megan,

Glad it was helpful! Also, check out what ChinaDog has done in his fire belly tanks: http://www.caudata.org/forum/f46-be...7-newt-salamander-help/107695-oak-leaves.html (scroll down to the 7th post down). I think this is a really cool substrate alternative!

HJ