Fire bellied newt

[D12DetroitD12]

I got my first newt last night, Ive always wanted one but could never find one. I currently have him in a 10 gallon with access to drift wood above the water but he hasn't yet got up there to breathe. Do they really need to come out of water as adults? If not could he go in my 75 with my bichirs? (none of them are big enough to eat him yet) Any advice about fire belly newts is appreciated thanks

 

[Alexxxxsv14]

mine lives fully aquatic with big sa/ca cichlids

 

[D12DetroitD12]

mine lives fully aquatic with big sa/ca cichlids

thank you. Been wondering all day and couldn't find anywhere if it was safe to have them fully aquatic.

 

[Bottomfeeder]

That's a VERY bad idea. Not only are they highly toxic to anything that eats them, but they get extremely stressed and succeptibe to fungus (fatal in Newts) at temperatures long-term over 75 degrees Faremheit. To the OP, no, to the guy above, please do the right thing and move them into their own tank... you can keep a LOT in a 5 or 10 gallon... and get them cool water and somewhere to climb out. They MUST have access to air and land areas.

 

[kjfan1]

Seal your tanks. The escape.

 

[Alexxxxsv14]

That's a VERY bad idea. Not only are they highly toxic to anything that eats them, but they get extremely stressed and succeptibe to fungus (fatal in Newts) at temperatures long-term over 75 degrees Faremheit. To the OP, no, to the guy above, please do the right thing and move them into their own tank... you can keep a LOT in a 5 or 10 gallon... and get them cool water and somewhere to climb out. They MUST have access to air and land areas.

my newt has been living fully aquatic for almost 2 years now. Hes nice and fat and holds his ground with my oscar and gt.

 

[Bottomfeeder]

^^Especially if they don't have land areas or the water is too warm

 

[Bottomfeeder]

my newt has been living fully aquatic for almost 2 years now. Hes nice and fat and holds his ground with my oscar and gt.

Like I said, low temperature and land areas are 100% necisarry for long term well-being of Firebelly Newts. If you only have one, you can keep it in a 2.5g if you can keep it clean and regulate the temperature. But the situation the Newt is in now does not have happy ending, and may end in the death of one of the Cichlids as well. They don't have that orange belly for show... it's aposamatic coloration, just like a Coral Snake, it warns that it's very poisonous. They can even cause a human to get very sick and throw up if you swallow enough of it... Imagine what eating the whole Newt would do to a small fish. And besides, how would a slow Newt compete for food with large, aggressive Cichlids? Please... do the right thing... FB Newts can live for 20 years under the right care. Please strive for that

 

[Alexxxxsv14]

^^Especially if they don't have land areas or the water is too warm

i never see mine go up for air. it just minds his own buisness eats and goes under his cave thing lol. i have temp at 76-78.

 

[D12DetroitD12]

Like I said, low temperature and land areas are 100% necisarry for long term well-being of Firebelly Newts. If you only have one, you can keep it in a 2.5g if you can keep it clean and regulate the temperature. But the situation the Newt is in now does not have happy ending, and may end in the death of one of the Cichlids as well. They don't have that orange belly for show... it's aposamatic coloration, just like a Coral Snake, it warns that it's very poisonous. They can even cause a human to get very sick and throw up if you swallow enough of it... Imagine what eating the whole Newt would do to a small fish. And besides, how would a slow Newt compete for food with large, aggressive Cichlids? Please... do the right thing... FB Newts can live for 20 years under the right care. Please strive for that

Alright ill just keep him in the 10gal, He hasn't gone up for air any idea why?