How to Breed Firebelly Newts

Firebelly newts, also known as Chinese firebelly newts, are small, brightly colored semi-aquatic creatures. These newts grow to between 2 and 4 inches in length, and therefore don't require too much space, making them easier to care for. Their dark, somewhat dull top coloring gives way to bright red or orange patches along their undersides, giving them their name. These little amphibians can be entertaining to watch, making them a rewarding pet. Breeding can be successfully achieved in the home habitat. However, a period of false winter must first be created, to stimulate the breeding response.

Things You'll Need

  • Small separate male and female habitats
  • Live newt foods
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Instructions

    • 1

      Separate the male and female newt, placing them each in a small aquarium or plastic container. This miniature habitat should be filled with about 1 inch of clean water. You can tell which newt is male and which is female by looking at the body shape. Males are smaller and more slender than the female newts. Males also have larger fins on the tops of their tails. Male firebelly newts display a bluish coloring along the sides of their tails, and also develop a swelling near the vent area on their undersides. Female do not display either of these markings.

    • 2

      Lower the temperatures of the new miniature habitats. Firebelly newts generally thrive in temperatures between 58 and 68 F. To create a false winter, the temperature should be lowered to between 40 and 60 F. Do this gradually, over a period of about a week. The newt habitats can be placed in a cool area, such as a basement, or an aquarium cooling system can be used to achieve this result.

    • 3

      Give only very small amounts of live foods, such as bloodworms, during the cooling period. Change the water in the habitats every week, so it remains clean.

    • 4

      Keep the newts at this cool temperature for four to six weeks. Then, gradually raise the temperature back up to between 58 and 68 F. Temperatures at the cooler end of this spectrum usually work best for breeding. Raise the temperature gradually, over a period of about a week, as you did when cooling the newts.

    • 5

      Place the male and female newts together in their normal aquarium habitat.

    • 6

      Feed the newts a steady diet of nutritious live foods. These foods can be things such as bloodworms or tubifex worms. Earthworms and small crustaceans, such as brine shrimp, can also be given.

    • 7

      Wait for the newts to breed. This should happen almost right away, after the pair is placed in the same habitat. The female newt will lay between 50 and 200 eggs after breeding. The eggs will hatch within three weeks.

    • 8

      Move the eggs to a separate aquarium, so the parent newts don't eat them.