Fire Belly Newt setups

[sunstarmoonfire]

Just wondering what others have for their setup?

I have a 10 gallon tank with gravel, a few fake plants, a cave type rock in the water. There is about 1/4 of the tank with gravel above water and a piece of slate creating another little hideout. I just recently added an air stone and a uva red light above the screen top. He seems to really like both of these things.



Thanks!

 

[desertiguana]

My setup consists of a tetra reptofilter in one corner. Some java moss in another. Asand bottom. And a hollow log with pothos draped across it.

 

[Jesper]

Hey,
One of my new "tanks" is about 35 litre, contains a couple of H.orientalis and a few apple snails in the way of animals. Will introduce Caridina japonica aka amani shrimp and/or Neocaridina heteropoda var. red aka red cherry shrimp soon.

The tank has a bare bottom with a large piece of wood, a small cave and a hollow floating log.
In the way of plants I have three Microsorum pteropus var. "narrow" aka Java fern, Taxiphyllum sp.(1) aka Java moss see For info on misidentification and Anubias barteri var. "nana". Trying to get rid of Riccia fluitans and introduce Taxiphyllum sp.(2) aka Peacock moss.

The lighting consists of 3x14w 6500K flourescent bulbs. Temperature hovers around 20C. Light is a bit high atm.

 

[evut]

Hi, there are several problems with the set up you described.

I am not familiar with the type of light bulb you describe but it's unnecessary and perhaps even harmful. Newts do not bask like reptiles and they need their enclosure to stay cool. If what you have is a Chinese firebelly (Hypselotriton/Cynops/ orientalis), the temperatures should be kept under 20°C.

The tank is quite small so you have to be very careful and make sure the water quality stays good. This will be difficult with the gravel - it will trap too much dirt, especially where it's piled high to create the land area. I assume the water level doesn't reach anywhere near the top of the tank - so back to the water quality issue.
Gravel presents another problem - if the newt can fit a piece in its mouth and swallow it, which it might accidentally do, it could die.
Sand or bare bottom are much more suitable. You can use a piece of floating cork bark to create a land area instead of the gravel. Newts love live plants which are also good for water quality.

My suggestion would be to completely re-do the tank to suit your newt's needs better - as much water as it can have, small land area, lots of live plants, sand or no substrate. Make sure the water is still (don't create too much flow with the airstone) and check the water parameters on a regular basis. Another thing - the tank must have a 100% escape proof lid, preferably breathable to keep the temperature down.

Check out these links:
http://www.caudata.org/cc/species/Cynops/C_orientalis.shtml

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

http://www.caudata.org/photoplog/category-aquariums-terrariums-vivariums-85/

 

[Jesper]

Hey,
Yeah the UVA is unnecessary, but it will not penetrate water very well and will just end up heating it. I would remove it anyway because of the land area where water will not protect the newt. Its kind of like ppl taking a swim in the sun, when you move around at the surface you tan quickly because you get both reflected light and direct light. Newts dont tan very well

 

[carlcaruana]

Mine has small beige gravel with small artificial plants in the gravel and small grass in the gravel and the same on the land area. Then i have a gravel slope to form sort of like a beach and some pebbles and small rocks ... I also have a log in the water that is half in watter and half in air. he loves the setup