NEED Tanks Ideas for orientalis

[billie]

Hi all, I just adopted/rescued 12 tiny chinese FBNs..They came into a petshop in a state where all cynops newts are illegal..so they called me to get rid of them..NO PROBLEM

All but 3 are doing great..

So now I get to setup another newt tank..cool.. They are in a 10 gal tank right now, half filled with water, and a "turtle ramp" for them to come out onto "land".. But with this many newts, I think they should have bigger tank... How can I decorate a 20 long for these guys???? Has to look great and still be easy to maintain..

Any Ideas??

Billie

 

[jeff]

For 12 I'd say a 30 gallon would be better than a 20g. Regardless, you should keep it well planted and have it cycled before introducing the newts, especially given their condition.

 

[jeffrey]

Hi Billie

My orientalis live in well planted tanks. My set up with 3 adults in does not offer any land at all but has heavily planted elodea they can climb out on. It is bare bottomed and has a piece of well soaked and rinsed bogwood (2 1/2 months of soaking and frequent water changes before putting in the setup) that anchors the elodea.

My other setup which has 13 approaching adulthood is again well planted. Elodea again but nowhere near as densely as the adults tank. 12 potted anubias nana nana which are screened by another piece of well soaked bogwood. The newts spend a fare deal of time searching among he pots. There is also a moss ball and a few pieces of hornwart in there. I have some Hygrophila polysperma in pots too 4 that I am bringing on, one will stay in there as it develops the others are for other setups and friends. These chaps are offered land in the form of free floating cork bark which has some moss on the top that trails into the water. They do use the land but not daily.

Good luck with them.

Jeff