Plants for a Chinese Fire Belly Newt Tank.

[Gingrich]

What plants work best in a C. Orientalis tank (20 gallon)? Thanks.

 

[lims]

go to a fish aqurium and ask for the cold water plant section, they will show you a few plants to choose from, elodea is normally a sure shot "newt-plant" it survives very cold temps and will thrive in your tank.

 

[MRIGUY]

There are lots of plants that grow well in unheated tanks.

Java Moss (Vesicularia dubyana) - is awesome but requires mechanical removal on a regular basis though less so with cooler water. It is also great at removing nitrogenous waste products and thrives in lower light. It will grow op the walls and cover wood and rocks if left to itself.

Floating Water Moss (Slavinia natans) - is a great surface plant. It grows well in lower light though it prefers brighter light, is tolerant of cool water, and removes loads of nitrogenous waste. I scopp it from my tanks monthly (along with Java Moss) and toss it in the compost heap. Contact me off list and I'll send you some (you pay postage).

Guppy Grass / Southern water Nymph (Najas conferta or guadalupensis) - Grows well in almost any kind of water / light and is also a great filter.

All of the above are newt friendly. I use them in my tanks, along with lots of others but these are the staples for primarily aquatic tanks.

The other plants are dependent on your water and lighting but some examples are:

Hornwort
Vallisnaria
Sagittaria
Apongenton
Anubias
Marsilea
Lugwigia
Anacharis

I have always had success with fish (both fresh and salt), reptiles, and amphibians but I find plants are very difficult.

 

[jewett]

In addition to the above mentioned plants, you could try cuttings of pothos. This is a very common house plant so you or a friend/family member may already have a plant you can take cuttings from. I have pothos in my Pachy's tank, where the plant gets very little light and is in cool (~64F) temps. I don't have them anchored to anything, they just float around. Those cuttings have been in there for over 2 years and are doing well and growing.

PS If you go with pothos, just make sure the plant you take cuttings from has not been exposed to chemical fertilizers, leaf shines, pesticides, etc, as these could harm your future newts.

 

[Gingrich]

Thanks for all of the options and recommendations!

 

[lims]

and ''creeping jenny'',,, if you can find it, I dont know the latin name sorry,,

It will grow underwater and up onto the land and back in the water again, I love it,, the leaves develop different on land and underwtaer though.. bigger thicker and darker on land

 

[Abrahm]

I'm surprised nobody has mentioned it yet but Java fern is another excellent newt plant. You don't want to bury the roots (actually rhizomes) but instead leave them exposed. I typically tie mine with some hemp twine to a piece of driftwood and they readily use their rhizomes to attach to the wood before the twine dissolves. They are also supposed to be able to grow on porous rock too. It is a low light plant so a good newt choice.

 

[Gingrich]

Another question: What kind of moss(es?) do people usually grow on their land areas?