How to Raise Fire-Belly Newts

Fire-belly newts, also known as Chinese fire-bellied newts, are not to be confused with fire-bellied toads. Fire-belly newts are easily identified by their short limbs, long body and tail, as well as their bright orange underside that contrasts with their dull brownish-black back. Chinese fire-bellied newts, like all newts, begin their lives as tadpoles. Raising fire-belly newts is easy.

Things You'll Need

  • Aquarium or plastic tub
  • Crushed fish flakes
  • Daphnia
  • Plastic bug traps
  • Gravel
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Instructions

    • 1

      Separate the eggs from the adult aquarium into their own aquarium or plastic tub, which should be kept at between 70 to 75 degrees F. If possible, add water from the old aquarium to the new one in order to not shock the eggs, which can be delicate. If you do not move the eggs into their own aquarium, the adult fire-belly newts may eat them. The eggs will hatch about 20 days after they are first laid. When the eggs first hatch, the tadpoles will have absorbed the yolk that was in their egg for nutrition and will not need to be fed for three to five days.

    • 2

      Crush fish food flakes into a powder and feed a pinchful to your newt tadpoles. If all of the eggs hatched, you may need another pinchful of fish food to feed them. In addition, alternate different foods when feeding the tadpoles. Small live food such as brine shrimp and daphnia worms are the perfect size and are available at some pet stores. Frozen brine shrimp and daphnia may be easier to find at pet stores.

    • 3

      Feed the tadpoles small amounts every few days, rather than large amounts less often. The tadpoles are too small for you to properly do water changes or tank cleanings without injuring them, so your goal is to prevent excess uneaten food in the tank. Within a few feedings, it should be apparent how much the tadpoles will eat.

    • 4

      Count the tadpoles frequently. If there appear to be some missing and they are not dead or otherwise still in the tank, the tadpoles may be cannibalizing each other. If this happens, separate the tadpoles into small groups. Use other aquariums or even plastic dividers.

    • 5

      Separate the newts into their own plastic containers in three or four months, when they begin to grow legs. The tadpoles are called metamorphs at this stage. At this point their gills will disappear, and they will need to leave the water periodically to breathe. You can still keep them in small plastic bug catchers, which are commonly sold as critter keepers in pet stores. Line the bottom of these containers with gravel and fill them with the same water they were in before to avoid shock. Ensure that you sculpt an island out of the gravel that the newt can climb to get out of the water.