Chinese Firebelly Newt

Zapher · #1 (**permalink**) 10-01-2006, 09:52 PM

Hello. My two chinese firebelly newts just laid some eggs (or what im pretty sure they are). They were on the leaf of one of my banana plants growing in the tank and look like green bubbles. I did some quick research when i noticed them and read that the newts may eat them and to remove the leaf and put it in a seperate container with just an air pump. I also read that it takes about 3-4 weeks for the eggs to hatch. I dont remember the aftercare i read and plan to do quite a bit more research over the next couple weeks but was wondering if anyone here knew anything about them.

Tindomul1of9 · #2 (**permalink**) 10-01-2006, 10:17 PM

Sorry no experience with them. But can you tell us what your setup is like. I'de love to breed them some time!
I would try looking for info here: http://www.amphibiancare.com/frogs/caresheets.html

Zapher · #3 (**permalink**) 10-01-2006, 10:55 PM

The two of them are in a 10 gallon tank. Since they are mostly aquatic and only come out of water for small periods of time at night i have the tank 90% filled with water. I have two pieces of Malaysian driftwood, 1 of which breeches the surface. I filter it with a Tom's Rapid Filter that hangs on the back. They are cold water amphibians and do best in temperatures ranging from 40 and not exceeding 74 degree's Fahrenheit. I have plain gravel on the bottom and have 2 banana plants, 1 java fern and a few sagitarius. I also have a half coconut shell that makes a little cave with java moss growing on it. I have it connected to one of the pieces of driftwood so that the javamoss will eventually spread to the driftwood. Other than the two newts, i have a few ghost shrimp, some guppies and two Ottocinclus (If you ever have problems algae in a peaceful tank get some of these as they stay small and are the only fish i know of that eat hair algae). The newts are only 2.5 inches to 4 inches full grown so they dont really harm the shrimp and fish. I feed them black worms (about half an ounce twice a week) which i have a easy supply of since i work at a LFS. I actually got my two newts cause i was interested in setting up a tank and one of my customers wanted to take down his Chinese Firebelly Newt tank so he gave me them. He raised them from eggs and they are two years old. Only just now did I find that they were a male and female as they are quite difficult to sex. From what i have read the females lay between 15-75 eggs over a weeks period and that 75% of them tend to hatch. They lay them on a leaf which they then fold togather to help protect the eggs. Though I noticed today a few other eggs layed on one of the pieces of drift wood. I am hoping to get back in contact with the guy that supplied me the newts but have yet to see him since i got them. Im going to take a few pictures of my tank in a minute and will post it up. A 10 gallon tank should be sufficient enough to house 2-3 newts though as long as theres enough hiding places. Hope that helps and they are neat little newts. I find them very entertaining and they are very active all day long. Earlier today i was moving the sagitarius and one of the newts came up to investigate my finger. It was quite cute

Tindomul1of9 · #4 (**permalink**) 10-01-2006, 11:18 PM

They do sound nice. I have one Oriental Firebelly newt, I think they are the same as yours. It spends all its time on land though. Then again I have it setup in a tank thats mostly land.

Zapher · #5 (**permalink**) 10-01-2006, 11:34 PM

Oriental and Chinese are the same. Japanese Firebelly Newts are different though and are commonly mistaken for the Oriental/Chinese Firebelly Newts. I dont know much about the Japanese though. Here are some pictures of my setup and the eggs.

Tindomul1of9 · #6 (**permalink**) 10-01-2006, 11:57 PM

Nice tank!
Now, are you sure those are eggs. Im no expert, but that kind of looks like algea balls to me. I hope you are right though. Crossing my fingers for you!

Zapher · #7 (**permalink**) 10-02-2006, 12:03 AM

See, im not positive that they are eggs but the only reason i actually noticed them is because my two banana plants were so overgrown that the entire top of the water was covered in lilies, so i was trimming them up and when i reached to cut off that leaf and touched it i felt something gooey. I have yet to feel algae gooey, so the only conclusion i can come with is that they are eggs, not to mention that they are clearish (another new thing for me with algae). Now, I dont mean to brag, but i consider myself to be a connoisseur when it comes to algae, like i mentioned before i work at a LFS and manage 98 tanks, all of which I have scraped algae off more times than i could ever want to.

Zapher · #8 (**permalink**) 10-02-2006, 12:05 AM

By the way, i forgot to mention, if they do happen to be eggs and they hatch, if you are still interested in them by the time I have raised them a bit then I would be more than happen to find some way of sending a few to you. I want to give them away to people I know would take good care of them isntead of selling them at the fish store.

Rainfrog · #9 (**permalink**) 10-02-2006, 08:27 AM

Nice set up! I hope they turn out to be egg. I would also be interested inrecieving a pair if it works out. I remember catching newts and salamanders as a boy. I lived on a small ranch (Chickens, turkys, and pigs, mostly) and our basement would partialy flood regularly, it was a great time. the water ran the ratle snakes out and the newta and salamanders would move right in! I also used to catch them out of an old well, that is until my mom cought me playing by an old well!

Zapher · #10 (**permalink**) 10-02-2006, 05:35 PM

Unfortunately I did some research last night and found a few pictures of what the eggs should look like. I dont believe these are it, or if they are then they are unfertilized. Though the description of the male trying to breed with the female is activity i did notice the day before i found them and the day of, so who knows. Ill keep the leaf in the container for now and maybe they will hatch.