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08.05.2007Cynops orientalis - the Chinese Fire Belly Newt
Keeping and breeding of the dwarf newt in aquariumThe small Fire Belly Newt, Cynops orientalis, is native to central and eastern China. Males are up to about 8 cm and females up to about 10 cm sized. The colors of the newt are as the colors of the known fire salamander very intense, but are limited to the ventrale site of the animals and red to orange rather than yellow. The ventrale drawing is interrupted by irregular black spots. At the dorsal site the newts are black to dark gray in color. The skin is a bit grainy. Sex differenceThe easiest way to detect the sex of fire belly newts is the form of the cloaca. In females, it is rather narrow and slightly tapered, at the males it has a rather round or hemispherical form. In addition, the tails of the males are much shorter and are overgrown by a thin cutaneous rim, in contrast to the tails of the females. This can be taken to assign also individual animals without comparision. KeepingMy group is living in a 100 x 80 x 25 cm basin with sand floor and banked up sandy beach on one side which rises from the water. The tank is illuminated during the day with an energy-saving lamp. The edges are secured with plexiglass strips to prevent an easy escape. The newts manage to climb up a pane of glass but not overhanging. Therefore it is possible to keep fire belly newts in an open aquarium. 
Since fire belly newts also live in slow-flowing or stagnant waters in nature, the flow in the aquarium should not be to strong. Thus I have dispensed with all filtering, in exchange Hornwood and Java moss are growing all over the basin to improve water quality. Of course, a partly water change is performed regularly. The newts are maintained all over the year at room temperature. I have not practiced a cooler keeping in the winter until now. Anyhow, I could repeatedly find eggs glued to water plants in March and April. My newts only rarely leave the water, so that they could be kept probably without any land part. Nevertheless, at least a floating pieces of cork should be provided for a partial stay on land. Everything is eaten that fits into their mouth. This must not necessarily be live food. Even frozen food such as freeze-dried red mosquito larvae and daphnia are greedily eaten. Under water, the newts are focused on their smell to detect food. On land, food which does not move will be ignored. Breeding
The females spawn from April to May in the water plants. Thereby leaves of aquatic plants are glued around the individual eggs with the hindlimbs to hide and protect them. The female remains for some time to let the egg, which is surrounded by a gelatinous mass, swell to better adhere. The best way is to collect the eggs along with the plant parts to which they are glued and transport them into a separate basin. I can not recommend to detach the eggs of the aquatic plants because the eggs can be damaged. 1 to 2 liter glasses are adequate for the storage of the eggs. 
The larvae hatch after three to four weeks and are initially light gray and relativ immobile. After several days, the larvae become black. Now the external gills can be seen. After some time, the forelimbs and later the hindlimbs begin to grow. At the time of hatching there is a large variability. Some larvae have already legs and are already black throughout. RearingI feed my larvae in the first month with Turbatrix aceti and just hatched daphnia. Artemia are also suitable. Thereafter, the larvae also accept frozen food as Bosmiden, Cyclops and finely grated mosquito larvae. As the larvae grow very differently and the eggs are laid in intervalls, it is advisable to distribute the larvae by several sizes in rearing basins, as they are prone to cannibalism. If legs or parts of the external gills are bitten, they can be fully regenerated in most cases. 
After 3 to 6 months starts the metamorphosis, which means the transformation of larvae into terrestrial newts. The animals are now around 3 - 4.5 cm sized. During this time, the newts must be given an easy way to leave the water because they otherwise run the risk of drowning. Since I don't want to supply unnecessary large amount of decorative material or soil to the breeding tank, I put the breeding tank crooked, so that a part of the sand rise from the water. For cleaning of the glass bottom I put some snails into the breeding tank. 
The newts will be put in a small aquarium with gravel after leaving water, which decline on one side. By spraying the gravel the dirt is collected in the deeper water part and can be removed. Feeding on land is somewhat more time-consuming, as the newt only accept live food. The newts can be fed at this stage with Springtails, Plant louse and Drosophila. After six to twelve months, the newts can be habituated will to water life and they are fully mature after 2 to 3 years. © Andreas Jδger |
