How many newts?

[benjamin]

I have a 50 gallon tank, I intend to buy some C. orientalis over the next month to make up for ones I lost last winter who died from temperature shock. I was wondering how many of these little guys I could fit inside of the tank. One newt survived the winter and I gave him a tank mate this last sunday. I have two males now, both seem to be enjoying the tank. I've moved it into an area where temperatures do not fluctuate as rapidly.

 

[jeremy]

from what i've read on various google searches, a 50 gallon tank should support about 10 to 14 individuals. if i'm wrong someone please correct me.

jeremy

 

[jennifer]

It depends on how the tank is set up. If it's set up with the entire tank half-full of water, then you could have that many in there. But if a large amount of the space in the tank is taken up with a divided land area, or if the water is shallow, then you would be able to have fewer.

 

[benjamin]

Well the water is about 14 inches deep in most of the aquarium (2/3) then at one side it gets shallow to about two inches where there are rocks protruding making a small mossy land area. Both of my current newts make frequent visits to every part of the aquarium rather than just sticking to one place.