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mummyhamster
Pondweed
United Kingdom
13 Posts |
 Posted - 30/03/2010 : 13:16:12
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Hello Everyone!
I'm new to all this but need a little bit of help if you please!
I have done a lot of research on Fire Bellied Newts, I set up my tank and bought 2 Chinese Fire Belly's. I bought them on Friday 26th March. It is now Tuesday 30th March and I still don't see them very much. They are not very big, a little over 2inches. I was wondering if anybody had a rough idea as to how long it would take them to feel settled in their new home and start being more active. Also I have been wondering if I have put in too many plants? They are just the fern like strands done up with a bit of metal to hold them in bunches. I have quite a bit and then towards the other end of my tank, not as much. I have given them a land area. It is a deep tub with a lot of gravel in it to give it weight, then some moss patted down so they can't get to the gravel, and then more loose moss on top with a couple of small plastic plant pots for them to hide in. The tub is then standing on four upside down plant pots holding it about 3 inches above the water. There is a big slate rock breaking the surface of the water and a rubber reptile pretend branch that is in the water and goes right out to the tub so they can get in there. There is a filter which has a very gentle output. They have feed once since I've had them but I don't think they ate a lot. There are plenty of places to hide - which ofcourse is why I never see them! Any ideas whats going on? Is there too many places to hide or are they just not settled in yet?
I hope someone out there can help!
Thanks in advance 
Veronica. |
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Kazerella
The Amphibian Administrator
United Kingdom
969 Posts |
Posted - 30/03/2010 : 15:41:42
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I would say they are settled in yet, but they are also tend to be secretive creatures anyway.
I think the set up seems right and you've obviously done your research. I would watch them for a few more days and let then get used to things a bit more before worrying |
 
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mummyhamster
Pondweed
United Kingdom
13 Posts |
Posted - 30/03/2010 : 21:59:35
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Hi, thanks for your reply. I hate waiting!!! They are a little over 2 inches in length, any ideas on how old that might be?
Thanks again.
Veronica |
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Kazerella
The Amphibian Administrator
United Kingdom
969 Posts |
Posted - 31/03/2010 : 09:29:51
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It all depends on how much they've been eating etc, but I would think they aren't very old at 2 inch. Probably between about 7-9 months ish  |
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mummyhamster
Pondweed
United Kingdom
13 Posts |
Posted - 01/04/2010 : 16:20:20
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OK, next question!! I read that you can use 'Sphagnom Moss' (not sure I've spelt it right!) I can't remember if I wrote it in my first post, but my land area is a tub with gravel in and then moss patted down so they can't reach the gravel, then loose moss on top with a couple of flower pots to hide in. My question is, although I spary the moss every day, it has almost died! And so will obviously need chaging in the next couple of days, is this normal or am I doing something wrong? And I also read that you can put it down as a substrate... So can I just lay it down on top of the gravel, should I remove the gravel first? And, doesn't it float?! I'm actually talking about under the water, or is it only suitable for the land area.
I have since removed a little bit of the plants, and spread the remaining ones out a bit more. The Newts still don't seem to be very active, but I can now see them! There are still places for them to hide though. Another thing, I was under the impression that Newts this size spend a lot of time on land, but my two don't go anywhere near it...?!
Thank you to anyone who replies!
V' |
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punkman
Tadpole
United Kingdom
153 Posts |
Posted - 01/04/2010 : 17:48:03
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http://www.caudata.org/cc/species/Cynops/C_orientalis.shtml
takle a look at the above caresheet.
sphagnum moss is generally too acidic to use in newt set ups, although most other mosses are fine.
They should only be used on land though.
If you are wanting a moss type plant for underwater get hold of some java moss or willow moss.
Once mature, Cynops orientalis are almost completely aquatic, but should have a land area just incase.If you got the newts from a pet shop they will be adults as they are collected from ponds to send around the world when they enter the ponds to breed.
Juveniles rarely enter water.
As the newts get used to you they will show more often, and will in the end probably look at you through the glass following you around the room whenever you go near. |
LOVE PUNK-HATE RACISM
HATE HOMOPHOBIA.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EFOBdoWLnRI&feature=PlayList&p=3899DB3A44FFDD8D&playnext=1&playnext_from=PL&index=2
htpp://punkradiocast.com |
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mummyhamster
Pondweed
United Kingdom
13 Posts |
Posted - 01/04/2010 : 19:07:18
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Hi, thanks for replying. I'll remove the land area until I can get hold of some different moss. There is still a rock so that they can escape the water if they need too. They are only just over 2 inches long and the other post reckoned they are less than a year old.... They seem to be floating in the water at the top but still submerged. I really hope they are ok.
V' |
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punkman
Tadpole
United Kingdom
153 Posts |
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mummyhamster
Pondweed
United Kingdom
13 Posts |
Posted - 01/04/2010 : 19:31:00
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Oh! I put a ruler up against the glass the other day to try and measure one, I think it was about 2 1/4 inches, so they could be adults then?! Well thank you for clearing that up. I have done research, in fact when I type in 'Chinese Fire Bellied Newt' into my internet, everything comes up in purple, where I have already been on the site! Obviously I just want to make sure everything is ok for them, and all the websites say different things!
Thanks again. |
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punkman
Tadpole
United Kingdom
153 Posts |
Posted - 01/04/2010 : 20:27:44
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some of the care sheets you find online will be good, some not so good, while others can be downright missleading and wrong.
As long as you keep them cool, well fed and do regular water changes with dechlorinated, or aged tap water, this species are a hardy and long lived.[up to 20 years], although i did read one unbelievably bad care sheet that said they only lived for 2 years.
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LOVE PUNK-HATE RACISM
HATE HOMOPHOBIA.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EFOBdoWLnRI&feature=PlayList&p=3899DB3A44FFDD8D&playnext=1&playnext_from=PL&index=2
htpp://punkradiocast.com |
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mummyhamster
Pondweed
United Kingdom
13 Posts |
Posted - 01/04/2010 : 21:08:23
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| From what I've read, I think I have been able to pick out a few of the bad care sheets. Sorry to be such a pain asking all these questions, how cool can they be? I've read between 14.C up to 20.C is ok, but no higher than 24.C Any idea's how low the temperature can go without it causing a problem? |
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punkman
Tadpole
United Kingdom
153 Posts |
Posted - 02/04/2010 : 15:18:41
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I keep most of my newts in an unheated room, which goes as low as 10c in the winter, this along with the correct photoperiod brings most into breeding condition, but they can go as low as around 5c with no ill effects, although they probably wont eat as much at that temperature.
No problem at all asking all the questions, im always glad to be of help if I can be
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LOVE PUNK-HATE RACISM
HATE HOMOPHOBIA.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EFOBdoWLnRI&feature=PlayList&p=3899DB3A44FFDD8D&playnext=1&playnext_from=PL&index=2
htpp://punkradiocast.com |
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mummyhamster
Pondweed
United Kingdom
13 Posts |
Posted - 02/04/2010 : 15:32:35
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Thank you! I am so pleased that you said 5.C. Unfortunately my house is West facing and all I have opposite is a field , so come about 3pm the sun is starting to shine into the house and warms it up. I bought a fan for the tank which is working well to keep the temperature between 15.C and 18.C, however I left it on overnight one night in an attempt to keep it cooler so that it wouldn't heat up too quickly during the day. When I got up I saw that it was 12.C! It was the lowest I had ever seen it and I was a little worried, but if you say 5.C with no real problems, I feel much better!
Also I have re-arranged the tank, and I think I've done it right this time. I've got rid of the moss and there is just some peat in there (no fertilisers or anything) that's until I can get some live moss to put on top. Then I have heaped the stones all the way up, so they come out of the water very gradually and then slightly spill over into the tub, and for the first time I have seen both Newts up on the stones out of the water. So I am assuming that is why they were 'floating' at the top, obviously wanted to get out of the water, but my previous method didn't work for them. Well I'm starting to ramble on! Anyway, I think they are happy with the new setup, so I will just leave them alone to explore
Thank you for all your help. |
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punkman
Tadpole
United Kingdom
153 Posts |
Posted - 02/04/2010 : 15:45:43
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Ive found that for mostly aquatic newts like chinese fire bellied newts,the easiest way to provide a land area without having to cut back on the water is to just add a piece of floating cork bark.
You can even make these quite attractice by growing some java moss on them and maybe even adding an anubias plant which grows just fine this way.
As long as water quality is good you may find that the newts rarely if ever use this cork bark area
If you want more land area you can fix a shelf above the water level, which again means you can have more water.
see set up 6 and 7 here
http://www.caudata.org/cc/articles/setups4.shtml |
LOVE PUNK-HATE RACISM
HATE HOMOPHOBIA.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EFOBdoWLnRI&feature=PlayList&p=3899DB3A44FFDD8D&playnext=1&playnext_from=PL&index=2
htpp://punkradiocast.com |
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punkman
Tadpole
United Kingdom
153 Posts |
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mummyhamster
Pondweed
United Kingdom
13 Posts |
Posted - 02/04/2010 : 20:23:16
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Great tank. I must learn how to add pictures...! I don't have as much water as you do, about 7" worth. In total I want to get 7 Newts, as I'm sure you know one of their other names is the 'Dwarf Newt', so I would like to get 7 in total and name them after the 7 Dwarfs! I know that this tank would be too small for all of them, but I will be upgrading to a bigger tank in a few months or so, and then I hope to get the rest. Although I have already ordered 2 more. These ones should arrive at my pet shop next week, and I have been led to believe that they are between an 1" and 1.5". I do have a spare slightly smaller tank that they could go in, if they seem to small to put in with my first 2. I hate for one or both of them to be lunch!
Thank you so much for all your help, I really appreciate it, and I think that my Newts do too! At the moment they are both at the top of the land area of stones, which is still slightly submerged in the water - one of the Newts had his head above the water. Here's hoping that they feel happier now and will settle in properly.
Thanks again.
V' |
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Chinese Fire Bellied Newts are hiding all the time
