Semi-aquatic Setups

Semi-aquatic Setup #8

Volume: 15 gallons
Dimensions: 60x30x30 cm
Animals: 2 Paramesotriton
Owner: Jennifer Macke

Comments: The island is made of a plant saucer filled with gravel and plants.

Semi-aquatic Setup #7

Dimensions: 50x25x30 cm
Animals: Chinese firebellies (Cynops orientalis)
Owner: Joeri Wielandts

Comments: I changed the gravel with larger rocks and saved a part to feed the guys (and to clean it easely afterwards). The driftwood is now horizontal on rocks providing a bigger land area, because the female still is on that part 50% of the time.

Semi-aquatic Setup #6

Dimensions: 35x20x20 cm; 14x8x8 inches
Animals: 5 juvenile Triturus marmoratus
Owner: Leonardo Ancillotto

Comments: It is a semiaquatic setup, with two "pots" with moss as islands, and about 2.5 cm of water with some ceratophyllum branches. Now the juveniles are larger and are in a similar setup, but larger and with more water.

Semi-aquatic Setup #5

Volume: 10 gallons
Dimensions: 50x25x25 cm; 20x10x10 inches
Animals: 8 juvenile Cynops ensicauda
Owner: Jennifer Macke

Comments: Because it has no filter, debris must be removed almost daily. Under the plant in the upper left corner is a shallow dish for feeding blackworms to the newts.

Semi-aquatic Setup #4

Dimensions: Approx. 1.5 meters; 4.5 feet
Animals: Adult Triturus marmoratus
Owner: Coen Deurloo

Comments: Contains gravel for water plants, normal gravel, and special swamp-dirt as soil for the plants on land. Divided by a large number of flagstones. In the future, I may add a glass divider so that the water remains stable, although this seems to work fine as it is.

Semi-aquatic Setup #3

Volume: 15 gallons
Dimensions: 60x30 cm; 24x12 inches
Animals: 5 juvenile Japanese firebellies (Cynops pyrrhogaster)
Owner: Jennifer Macke

Comments: The 'island' is a plastic dog dish filled with dirt and covered with a layer of bed-a-beast substrate. The other land areas are made of pieces of slate and a hollow log ornament. The water is only 2-3 inches deep. The water is aerated by a small airstone and kept clean by frequent removal of debris. Since moving these newts into this setup, they have completely stopped climbing the glass and have gone from 100% land-bound to mainly aquatic.

Semi-aquatic Setup #2

Volume: 15 gallons
Dimensions: 60x30 cm; 24x12 inches
Animals: Paramesotriton chinensis
Owner: Heather Bjornebo

Comments: This setup was made by stacking rocks. An internal power filter that makes a stream across the large flat rock on top. It is setup for Paramesotriton chinensis, a stream dwelling newt.

Semi-aquatic Setup #1

Volume: 55 gallons
Dimensions: 120x30 cm; 48x12 inches
Animals: Chinese firebellies (Cynops orientalis)
Owner: Nate Nelson

Comments: The rocks in this setup are just piled one upon another to form a sturdy structure. Above the water are various mosses and small plants. Below the waterline is java moss and java fern. This tank also has a powerhead.

For more setup photos, see Setting It Up.