C/H.Orientalis

[Neonetic]

Hello, I'm new to the forum and I'm keeping two fire-bellied newts in rather imperfect conditions. So I'm hoping you guys can offer me some tips to better my keeping of them. Right now, I have two in about a ten gallon tank, which is quite densely planted in one area, with sand (which is not very fine). On the other half, there is swimming and feeding area, and it only has a single plastic plant and a coconut husk hide.
The waters are kept cool, but I don't know how cool, which is an issue. Please advice me on which sort of thermometers I can use to measure the temperature.
Although consistently fed with frozen blood worms, my newts remain thin, until I recently came back with some live tubifex for them, but they are now thin again. How do I maintain the weight of these newts, is there any indication of whether they are fat/thin? I have also somehow managed to find live tubifex in the tank today from the meal last week, do these affect water quality? What kind of filter would be suitable for firebellies? How does acidity affect the newts?

Clearly, I am far from being a good owner and thus I thank you for all the help I can get.

 

[Jennewt]

First, I would recommend reading the FAQ and articles here:
Caudata Culture - Frequently Asked Questions
Caudata Culture Articles

There is one article that has many methods for keeping the tank cooler. Thermometers are available in any aquarium shop, just be sure to get one that sits in the water, not stuck on the outside of the tank.

There is also an article about filters. You could use just an airstone if you don't want a filter.

Be sure the tank is 100% impossible for the newts to escape (common problem). Using a screen lid will help keep the water cool (more evaporation = cooler water).

Leftover tubifex will affect water quality if there is a large amount of them. If you want to use tubifex as food, I would recommend reducing the amount of gravel, or try feeding the tubifex to the newts in a separate container.

Acidity is rarely a problem. Did you measure the pH?

 

[Molch]

Clearly, I am far from being a good owner and thus I thank you for all the help I can get.

clearly, you are a good owner for asking the right questions

your set-up doesn't sound so bad at all - just make sure of the lid and also a haul-out area where the newts can get above water.

You could also take the sand out entirely and just have a bare bottom tank. That makes cleaning up leftovers much easier and the newts sure don't care.

Aquarium thermometers are just a couple bucks; the best ones are little floating glass tubes with a suction cup. They sell these at pet shops or even large grocery stores with a pet section.

 

[Neonetic]

Thank you for your swift replies. I have read most of the articles, however the FAQ has been particularly helpful. After upgrading recently, I suspect that the driftwood I have used is seeping tannins that acidify the water, is there any way in which I can leave the driftwood in and yet make the water more alkaline? I also need to know how to maintain the weight of the firebellies, and how often I should feed them. Lastly, I would like to again know specifically which type of filter orientalis keepers would choose to use, and how I can keep my plants healthy and anchored with a substrate.

Thanks again!

 

[evut]

What pH readings do you have at the moment? And are you sure about the wood lowering it?
It might be best to leave the wood to soak somewhere else for some time if it's really so bad. I think artificially adjusting th pH is a risky business. The most important thing (unless the pH is really high or low) is stability. Some types of rock or seashell can help with low alkalinity. Try searching the forum to see what others do. Definitely avoid the pH up/down products that pet shops sell.

About the filter - you said you have a lot of plants so the tank should be ok without one, with regular water changes. Air driven sponge filters are good or just an airstone.
Filters with motors are generally not suitable because the motor generates heat and they also produce a lot of current which is not good for the newts.

In the UK, equipment like filters and thermometers is generally cheapest on ebay so it might be worth checking it out.

 

[Azhael]

As Eva says, you´re better off avoiding using a filter at all. You can fully substitute the effects of having a filter by having lots of live plants. With weekly partial 20% water changes, you should have no problems with water quality.
In order to get your newts to gain some weight you can try earthworms and waxworms. Earthworms should be the staple of their diet anyway. Bloodworms, tubifex, and the like are very good options but only as means of offering variety in a diet based on earthworms (if used alone they may well cause problems in the long run).

 

[Jennewt]

Using earthworms as a staple food will help to maintain the animals' weight. Also, keeping them cool will help maintain their weight (higher temperature = higher metabolic rate = more food burned). You probably need to feed them daily, at least until they get fatter.

I recommend either the sponge filter or box/corner filter.

Don't worry about the pH, unless it drops below 6.0. You can probably keep it in the right range by increasing the amount of partial water changes. If that isn't enough, then add a small amount of shells or limestone. Healthy live plants will also help raise the pH.