Fire Belly Newt
Description
Fire-Bellied Newts are usually dark brown to black with red or orange undersides, hence the name Fire-Bellied. The Japanese Fire-Bellied Newt is larger than the Chinese Fire-Bellied Newt and they tend to have red speckled bellies. They have rough skin, while the Chinese Fire-bellied Newts have smooth skin and a speckled orange underside. apanese Fire-Bellied Newts average at about 9-12 CM (3.5-5 inches), while Chinese Fire-Bellied Newts will only grow to 6-10 CM (3-4 inches). Fire-Bellied Newts can live up to 30 years with appropriate care, but average at about 10-15 years generally.
Temperament
Fire-Bellied Newts are a very active species of newt, so they make great pets. They are great first amphibians, because they are relatively easy to care for. They may be quite shy when they are first introduced to a new set up, but usually become more active when they become accustomed to their surroundings.
Fire-Bellied Newts can be housed together with other Fire-Bellied Newts, but be careful if you choose to co-habit them with other species. Fire-Bellied Newts secrete a toxin from their skin that can harm other inhabitants with prolonged exposure.
Housing
An Aquarium or glass terrarium will be needed to house your Fire-Bellied Newts. Fire-Bellied Newts are semi-aquatic and need a 70/30 split within their tank, with 30% being land based, while the other being a water area. Alternatively, you could have a fully aquatic set-up, with floating islands of cork bark or large rocks pertruding out of the water to give your newts a place to rest and bask. They are good at escaping, so care should be taken to ensure your tank has a tight fitting lid.
Substrate
A rocky slope may be all that is necessary for the land area of your terrarium, but if you would like to partition your tank, then you can fill the land side with a burrowing substrate like coco husk, sandy top soil or compost (without fertilisers), orchid bark chips, sphagnum moss, peat, live moss and a selection of live plants.Gravel is a good under water substrate for the water side of your tank, which can also be decorated with aquatic or plastic aquarium plants.
Water
Most of the terrarium should be dedicated to providing adequate water for your Fire-Bellied Newts. The water should be at a depth of approximately 25CM (10 inch) and changed daily to avoid the build up of bacteria, unless a filter can be provided to keep the water clean. With a filter it should only be necessary to change one third of the water every week. If you have a partition between the land and water area in your terrarium, a ramp or stones near the division will help your newts leave the water.
De-chlorinated or bottled spring water should always be used as Fire-Bellied Newts are really sensitive to various chemicals and cannot handle water with Chlorine and chlorimines in. Fire-Bellied Newts like most amphibians will soak up water through their skin and since their water bowl is used as the main place to defecate it is important that it is cleaned regularly.
Handling
Fire-Bellied Newts have delicate skin and secrete a toxin from the poison glands on the side of their heads that can be an irritant to your skin. Regular handling is not recommended, but if it is necessary wear gloves. This will protect both you and your newts, who are sensitive to many chemicals that may be on your hands, such as washing up liquid, soap residue, hand cream etc. When cleaning your terrarium you can safely remove your Fire-Bellied Newts to another tank using an aquarium net usually used for pet fish.
Cleaning
Your Fire-Bellied Newt’s terrarium should be inspected and spot cleaned daily. Every one to two weeks clean out the tank completely and sterilise using a reptile/amphibian friendly disinfectant. Sterilise any décor and carefully remove any live plants to replace when the tank has been cleaned. The water side of the tank also needs to be emptied, cleaned and refreshed with fresh de-chlorinated water.
Your Fire-Bellied Newts should be moved to a temporary tank whilst being cleaned and care must be taken to make sure no chemicals are used in the cleaning process, as these can harm your newts.
Feeding
Depending on your newt, you may have to try a variety of food sources. Bloodworms, frozen or live, seem to a favorite among newt keepers. These (especially the frozen bloodworms) are quite readily available at pet stores. They may also eat earthworms (chopped), brine shrimp, glass shrimp, daphnia, and freeze-dried tubifex cubes. Floating reptile/amphibian sticks such as Repto-Min can also be fed, although many newts refuse them. Larger newts, particularly the larger Japanese fire bellied newt, may also eat feeder guppies if offered.
Fire bellied newts do not have to be fed every day - every other day or every three days is often enough. It may take a little experimentation to figure out how much and how often they should be fed, but you can try to judge by their growth and body condition (fat or skinny) and whether excess food is being left (which will cause toxins to build up in the tank).
Fire-Bellied Newts are usually dark brown to black with red or orange undersides, hence the name Fire-Bellied. The Japanese Fire-Bellied Newt is larger than the Chinese Fire-Bellied Newt and they tend to have red speckled bellies. They have rough skin, while the Chinese Fire-bellied Newts have smooth skin and a speckled orange underside. apanese Fire-Bellied Newts average at about 9-12 CM (3.5-5 inches), while Chinese Fire-Bellied Newts will only grow to 6-10 CM (3-4 inches). Fire-Bellied Newts can live up to 30 years with appropriate care, but average at about 10-15 years generally.
Temperament
Fire-Bellied Newts are a very active species of newt, so they make great pets. They are great first amphibians, because they are relatively easy to care for. They may be quite shy when they are first introduced to a new set up, but usually become more active when they become accustomed to their surroundings.
Fire-Bellied Newts can be housed together with other Fire-Bellied Newts, but be careful if you choose to co-habit them with other species. Fire-Bellied Newts secrete a toxin from their skin that can harm other inhabitants with prolonged exposure.
Housing
An Aquarium or glass terrarium will be needed to house your Fire-Bellied Newts. Fire-Bellied Newts are semi-aquatic and need a 70/30 split within their tank, with 30% being land based, while the other being a water area. Alternatively, you could have a fully aquatic set-up, with floating islands of cork bark or large rocks pertruding out of the water to give your newts a place to rest and bask. They are good at escaping, so care should be taken to ensure your tank has a tight fitting lid.
Substrate
A rocky slope may be all that is necessary for the land area of your terrarium, but if you would like to partition your tank, then you can fill the land side with a burrowing substrate like coco husk, sandy top soil or compost (without fertilisers), orchid bark chips, sphagnum moss, peat, live moss and a selection of live plants.Gravel is a good under water substrate for the water side of your tank, which can also be decorated with aquatic or plastic aquarium plants.
Water
Most of the terrarium should be dedicated to providing adequate water for your Fire-Bellied Newts. The water should be at a depth of approximately 25CM (10 inch) and changed daily to avoid the build up of bacteria, unless a filter can be provided to keep the water clean. With a filter it should only be necessary to change one third of the water every week. If you have a partition between the land and water area in your terrarium, a ramp or stones near the division will help your newts leave the water.
De-chlorinated or bottled spring water should always be used as Fire-Bellied Newts are really sensitive to various chemicals and cannot handle water with Chlorine and chlorimines in. Fire-Bellied Newts like most amphibians will soak up water through their skin and since their water bowl is used as the main place to defecate it is important that it is cleaned regularly.
Handling
Fire-Bellied Newts have delicate skin and secrete a toxin from the poison glands on the side of their heads that can be an irritant to your skin. Regular handling is not recommended, but if it is necessary wear gloves. This will protect both you and your newts, who are sensitive to many chemicals that may be on your hands, such as washing up liquid, soap residue, hand cream etc. When cleaning your terrarium you can safely remove your Fire-Bellied Newts to another tank using an aquarium net usually used for pet fish.
Cleaning
Your Fire-Bellied Newt’s terrarium should be inspected and spot cleaned daily. Every one to two weeks clean out the tank completely and sterilise using a reptile/amphibian friendly disinfectant. Sterilise any décor and carefully remove any live plants to replace when the tank has been cleaned. The water side of the tank also needs to be emptied, cleaned and refreshed with fresh de-chlorinated water.
Your Fire-Bellied Newts should be moved to a temporary tank whilst being cleaned and care must be taken to make sure no chemicals are used in the cleaning process, as these can harm your newts.
Feeding
Depending on your newt, you may have to try a variety of food sources. Bloodworms, frozen or live, seem to a favorite among newt keepers. These (especially the frozen bloodworms) are quite readily available at pet stores. They may also eat earthworms (chopped), brine shrimp, glass shrimp, daphnia, and freeze-dried tubifex cubes. Floating reptile/amphibian sticks such as Repto-Min can also be fed, although many newts refuse them. Larger newts, particularly the larger Japanese fire bellied newt, may also eat feeder guppies if offered.
Fire bellied newts do not have to be fed every day - every other day or every three days is often enough. It may take a little experimentation to figure out how much and how often they should be fed, but you can try to judge by their growth and body condition (fat or skinny) and whether excess food is being left (which will cause toxins to build up in the tank).