new tank-help please?

[MissPiggy]

Hi,

I want to get a tank and some newts at the weekend but i am new to the whole tank thing. i helped my boyfriend set up his tank about a month ago but it was a tropical and mine will be cold water.

Can anyone help me by saying what i need to do to the tank before the newts move in? Do i need some tap safe to put in the water or is there something else i need?

and what sort of plants would be best in with newts and what wood or boulder do i need for land for them?

also, what is best to feed them?

TIA
Lorna
x

[Smitty]

just make sure that everything is clean inside the tank and that you have everything already set-up. Also, some species of newts actually prefer higher temperatures, so consider getting a small heater

[Smitty]

And feed them freeze dried blood-worms...they like those

Try to avoid wood in your tank as it will rot

And, any type of rocks will do fine..

[Jason]

imho not anyrock will do if your picking them up from the outdoors. rocks that are very porus will have hundreds if not thousands of little tiny tank killing buggers in them. rocks that are to shiny or have portions that are shiny may contain to many metals. i suggest bakeing them in the oven to kill whatevers lurking on it then soaking it in saltwater / vininger for a couple days before puttin it in the tank.As for wood you need to also clean it very well and yes depending on the heat and mosture it will rot, but that adds a certian " naturalistic" look to the tank and wont happen over the course of the week. I should also add i am in no way an expert in any one of these fields when it comes to careing for a Viv so if anyone has conflicting advise i hope thay post it here so we both can learn something