My first amphibians :)

Hi, I'am from Portugal, and I think my english is bad...but you can understand...eheh
I have 14 years old, and I'am fascinated with this little big world:grin:

This are my 2 Cynops orientalis, i have bougth them last Friday...





and this is their provisory tank (37x20x25) (I will "built" an premanent tank with 50x30x30 for more 2 Cynop luckly)

(this is an old photo)


in an amphibian portuguese forum, they told me that I have a couple and I thougth that too!

The "boy"


The "girl"


What you think?


But...well, I think that my female is pregnant or is with a disease...(that bloat thing)



I don't know if this is a cause to sutch alarm...but I'am a beginner...eheh

Cump:happy: and tell me what you think, please...

They look good to me. I can't say for sure, but it does appear to be male and female. I wouldn't worry about bloat.

So...you are just saying that she is only...a little bit fat? lol
I'am glad that is not some disease...ufff

Thanks:happy:

The tank looks very basic to me.
what are you feeding them and how are you maintaning the water levels .
have you really thought this through or have you just got 2 cynops for fun?

No! I don't have the cynops only for fun...I have them because I love animals! Ofcourse I enjoy looking at them...but I know that they need some "especial" needs! I only have these in this tank because these amphibians are rare in my zone and I were afraid that i couldn't find them 1 or 2 months later...troust me...here you only found some dwarf clawed frogs...

Yes, I know that the tank is realy basic, but if you read what I wrote in the first post, the tank is only temporary! I will post some ideas of the permanent tank

I feed them with frozen food, and some pellets for fish (they realy love that), but I will try feed them earthworms and wax worms (??).

What water levels are you talking about? Ph? Ammonia?....temperature?
The temperature is about 16-19Cº...I read that the ideal is 15-20Cº...so I think this is good, the Ph I thik it is around 7 or 7.5

Cump:happy: and thanks for the comments

Well...fresh photo and video!

My boy


Fedding time (the male is the closest (??))


And this will be thir home!

(if anyone wants the "inch" version of this photo, feel free to ask for it:happy in this tank I hope to have 3 more newts!

Cump:happy:

That would be a 52l tank. Should be ok for 5 C.orientalis, although i would choose a bigger one or fewer animals.

If you are going to keep them in such an sterile and basic way, even if it´s for just some time, you should at least try to provide them with much more water. The more the better, because the greater the volume, the more dissolved the nasty compaunds will be. Plus it will help stabilizing the water temp, and parametres.

I would encourage you to add some plants even in the temporary tank, some plants live well just floating there.

Thanks for the comment:happy:

yes in the temporary tank I want some plants...elodeas, but I don't found them...this week end, I will see that:wacko:

so in that tank you should put only 4?...

In one week I chenge water 3 times...it has no filter so...I only touch them when necessary...like the water changes:happy: I could feed them flies? pill bugs?

Cump:happy:

Wellcome to this amazing world. You'll love them and hope you will become a great herptologist.

I just would furnish the tank with some plant (elodea is great) and some stones and replace the porexpan island with a cork bark. This will make the setup more natural.

Be aware of the raise of temperatures, and keep them in a cool place.

Yeah! I hope that too

I would like the tank more natural...but this is only temporary, so I tryed not to spent a lot of money...the porexpan I had it home...so but I'll try to get some elodeas

What substracte I should put in the bottom? sand? gravel?...

And if some one, can tell me names of flutuant plantes? I was grateful:happy:

Thanks:wink:

Only for some "update"

I bought 2 feet of elodea (3€...) and they love them...they pass all the time there ehehe see the pictures:





Cump:happy:

I see there are bubbles in the plants which makes me think the water has chlorine in it. You shouldn´t use untreated tap water, it´s toxic for the newts.
Also, water changes should only be partial, not total.
Check this link and learn it by heart, proper cycling of an aquarium is very important:
http://www.caudata.org/cc/articles/cyclingEDK.shtml

In fact, when you have time i recommend you read all the articles, and specially check the caresheet for Cynops orientalis.

Later I will read that, thanks now I can't....

I think the water don't have chlorine, because I leave the water "resting" more than 24 hours, so the water will be without chlorine...true? I don't make partial changes, because I don't have a internal filter yet...and there are a lots of poo eheh

Cump:happy:

Letting the water sit is not a very efficient way of removing chlorine. Here is a link on water quality http://www.caudata.org/cc/articles/waterquality.shtml. Look at the bottom.

I don´t understand....so you make total changes because you don´t have a filter?
Partial(20%) changes are enough to maintain water quality if the tank is not crowded.
Total changes will reset the cycling process each time you make them, which means you are never going to have a cycled tank if you do them....which puts your newts in risk.
You don´t need a filter. It´s up to you to use one or not, but this species inhabits still water, and strong currents will stress them and force them to leave the water, so if you use a filter, make sure the current is gentle.
Make 20% partial water changes every 1-2 days for the first month or so, until the tank is cycled, and you should be ok....but keep a close eye on the newts.

oregon newt said:

Letting the water sit is not a very efficient way of removing chlorine. Here is a link on water quality http://www.caudata.org/cc/articles/waterquality.shtml. Look at the bottom.

Click to expand...

Ok...so I need to use some product right?....I only don't use because I want it the more natural way possible...but I will use

azhael said:

I don´t understand....so you make total changes because you don´t have a filter?
Partial(20%) changes are enough to maintain water quality if the tank is not crowded.
Total changes will reset the cycling process each time you make them, which means you are never going to have a cycled tank if you do them....which puts your newts in risk.
You don´t need a filter. It´s up to you to use one or not, but this species inhabits still water, and strong currents will stress them and force them to leave the water, so if you use a filter, make sure the current is gentle.
Make 20% partial water changes every 1-2 days for the first month or so, until the tank is cycled, and you should be ok....but keep a close eye on the newts.

Click to expand...

Yes...I know what is the cycling process....eheh I have a fish tank but whena I have the permanent tank (with a filter...not too strong) I will do only partial changes...because the bacterias in the filter (and so on....:talkerbut if I do that in this tank....the water will be cloudy and full of poo I tried once...

However...I think I can have the tank in two weeks and they look very fine to me

Thanks:happy:

OMG! I saw...4 eggs in one of the elodeas...what now...I realy don't know what to do...but I know that the female don't put all the eggs in one time...correct?

Some help please I will be apreciated!

Cump:happy:

OK! BREATHE! lol

HOORAY! Eggs are good! Eggs mean your doing something right. I don't think this lay is from recent breeding, but from a past life, in another tank. Also GOOD, means she came from a healthy background. Now I don't know much else about CFB breeding so GOOD LUCK!!!

Other than that I think your doing a WONDERFUL job, just something to throw in for advice.

Your permanent tank needs to set for a few weeks before placing them in there, I'm sure you know the rest. Now for using chemicals to treat your water, it would just be best. The other way obviously hasn't hurt you, but for safe measure. The plants alone will help break down the Nitrates and Nitrites, turning them neutral. Newts LOVE them as well, so you have notice, so you permanent setup should have more than a few plants in there from the beginning to help with the cycle.

Just use the SEARCH option, look up Cynops Orientals breeding, water cycling for terrariums, Cynops Oriental care sheet, Preparation for a possible heat wave!!! (Important), Foods high in calcium and nutrients... You know, look around. Tons of people have already asked you questions AND more than what you've thought to ask. (It'll also help with the English practice! lol)

You're doing GREAT!!! your newts LOOK great. It's a good start!

Another tip. CFB (Chinese Fire Bellies) ARE intolerant to high temps.

I'll be checking in on this thread. Keep it goin.

Hi thanks for the comment...I realy apriciate that eheh
I will see more information around the forum:happy:

Yesterday I separated 3 eggs from the elodeas, today I have 5-6 more eggs oh-oh...eheh

Cump:happy: