On completion of the cycle we decided to use the 20ukg tank to house some Chinese Firebelly newts.
i filled the tank to just short of 3/4 full, this allowed some of the decor to stick out of the water to give the newts some dry sitting areas. the addition of a plant, which has leafs sitting on top of the water, gave them plenty of places in air. i used 1/4 inch gravel, it seems they have a habit of swallowing smaller grades, and popped some little cave/box type decorations for them to explore. apart from that, a 13w tube, i have the light on a timer giving 10 hours of light and that is the setup. i use no heater, the house rarely drops below 23c.
i bought and added two. keen to see how they went in the new environment. both bolted straight to the top of the filter, staying there for an hour or so, they then just dived in and made themselves at home. this was a thrill, as it can take some time for new newts to enter the water. i added a third about a month later. it went right to the filter too, but put its body straight into the water.
i have been doing 40% water changes, weekly, and feed every two days, with frozen blood worm, i will experiment with food types as time goes on.
watching them, they tend to spend long periods of time, almost, motionless. but they are far from one speed critters and both amble and fly around as the whim takes them. the do seem social, you often find all three sitting together looking in different directions, but on the whole they tend to wander alone. i have yet to witness any aggression, of any kind. all three have shed their skins, at least once.
and that's about all to report for the moment. apart for to say they are cracking critters.
i filled the tank to just short of 3/4 full, this allowed some of the decor to stick out of the water to give the newts some dry sitting areas. the addition of a plant, which has leafs sitting on top of the water, gave them plenty of places in air. i used 1/4 inch gravel, it seems they have a habit of swallowing smaller grades, and popped some little cave/box type decorations for them to explore. apart from that, a 13w tube, i have the light on a timer giving 10 hours of light and that is the setup. i use no heater, the house rarely drops below 23c.
i bought and added two. keen to see how they went in the new environment. both bolted straight to the top of the filter, staying there for an hour or so, they then just dived in and made themselves at home. this was a thrill, as it can take some time for new newts to enter the water. i added a third about a month later. it went right to the filter too, but put its body straight into the water.
i have been doing 40% water changes, weekly, and feed every two days, with frozen blood worm, i will experiment with food types as time goes on.
watching them, they tend to spend long periods of time, almost, motionless. but they are far from one speed critters and both amble and fly around as the whim takes them. the do seem social, you often find all three sitting together looking in different directions, but on the whole they tend to wander alone. i have yet to witness any aggression, of any kind. all three have shed their skins, at least once.
and that's about all to report for the moment. apart for to say they are cracking critters.
.
.
They are great for that reason, but you'll barely use any of the packet for 3 newts, you'll know they are so fatty it's only really a treat for them. I'd onl keep the packet for 2-3 weeks before putting the remainder out for the birds, otherwise you'll find you have a box full of beetles!
