Tank questions re: firebelly newts and toads

[Pugwinkle]

Hi, I'm wondering about the tank set up for the toads and newts. I know they both require about 1/3 land and 2/3 water. However, how do you go about cycling a tank like this if you have only a small amount of water. I have heard that you have to do 25% water changes at least once a week if you have a filter, and you should do 100% changes quite often as well, which includes having to strip down the entire tank and clean the gravel, decor, and the tank. By doing this 100% clean out of the tank aren't we then cleaning away much of the good bacteria?

Is it really necessary to completely clean the tank as many of the care sheets mention? If so, then does the tank never really cycle?

Also, as for the newts, can you list the different types of food they will eat. I am kinda leaning toward the newts rather than the toads because I have heard that you can feed them frozen bloodworms as well as tubifex worms rather than the crickets. Is that correct? Can I have 3 Firebelly newts in a 10 gallon tank? Do the males fight?

 

[onyx]

Hi Pugwinkle,

I'm by far an expert on newts, but seeing no-one has answered your post I'll tell you my experiences. I have two Chinese Fire Bellied Newts in a 15 litre tank. They seem to be doing really well and I get the impression they are hardy little creatures. One newt escaped from the bowl while I was cleaning the tank, fell off the washing machine onto the tiled floor and I couldn't get to him because I couldn't move the machine. Hours later he had crawled out from behind the machine, covered in fluff and dust which had accumulated there and looked pretty much dried up. I rinsed him off under the tap and put him back into the tank. He was quiet a couple of days and then back to normal. So he seems a tough litte character.

Although I had no idea at the time of purchase, my newts are a pair because they recently bred. Therefore I think I can safely assume that they are happy with their setup. I think the floor area of the tank would be more important than the overall volume as mine are only in about 6 cm of water (so that they only have to stretch up and be able to stick their heads out - Chinese Fire Bellied Newts are relatively small) and have a rather smooth rock to climb onto when they want "dry" time, which isn't very often. I don't have filtration but change the water entirely twice a week. I rinse the sand and plants in tapwater, scrub the rock and the aquarium and fill it up with water from one of my tropical fish aquariums. I leave it settle 10 minutes and pop the newts back in.
There is no heating, no lighting. I have about 12 baby newts which have survived the most harrowing introduction to life (see my post "Surprise! Baby newts"). All in all I'd say they're really easy to care for and make great little pets.

 

[Pugwinkle]

Thanks for the info Onyx! I had read about your baby newts. What an amazing story.

 

[vantgE]

i treat me newt tank like a fish tank and clean it the same, i didn't cycle my tank when i got it, didn't know what a cycle wasm, newts will eat frozen foods and freezedried sometimes too