Keeping water cool

K

kristy

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I know shoulda done more research first, but when I saw them at the pet store for $2.99 a piece I had to have one. My first fire belly was injured by the stupid guy in the pet store who carelessly swatted the net about the tank. When he finally netted the newt, his bone was actually protruding from his leg. I bought it anyway because I knew if I didn't they would just flush it. He died about a week later. The next time I went back to the store to buy some crickets for my Leos they had just gotten a new batch of FB’s. I got someone else to fish them out this time and he carefully removed everything from the tank before netting the newts. I made a complaint about the other gut BTW. I purchased 4 this time. One disappeared and one died. The other two have survived for quite some time now, I got them in mid-December. Ok let me get to the point. I live in Florida. It is a warm place. My air conditioner only cools my house to 75 degrees at the lowest. I was unaware that fire-bellied newts required such low temps. Otherwise I wouldn't have got them. It seems really stupid for people to sell an animal requiring cool temperature in such a year-round warm area. Whenever I turn their light on I must place a frozen water bottle into the water otherwise the temps quickly climb to 78 degrees. With no lights on and no ice bottle, the temps stay around 75 degrees. With the ice bottle and lights on the temps stay at 68-70 degrees. I really want to find a way to keep the temps in the tank more consistent and cooler. Does anyone have any suggestions on how to accomplish this? BTW, I've learned that it is much easier to keep an aquarium warm than it is to keep it cool.
 
Well, first are you using an incandescent or fluorescent light? If you are using incandescent bulbs you might want to consider changing them to fluorescent. You are already on the right track with the frozen water bottle. If keeping the fire bellies cold is a problem, you may want to come up with a way to cool your necturus also.
 
Well I'm using a regular clip-on bulb about 6 feet above my firebellies. The light is only ever on for about 3 hours a day, when I come home from work, at which time I place a fresh ice bottle in the tank. I thought the necturus could handle slightly higher temps. He has a florescent bulb. Do you think he would benefit from a ice bottle in his water too? I read in another thread that fluctuating temps could be harmful to the necturus.
 
This post will be moved to the Newt and Salamander Help discussion area in a day or two so look for it there if you don't see it here
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http://www.caudata.org/forum/messages/7/7.html?1108084789
 
<font color="ff0000">This thread has been moved here from the Fire Belly and Sword-Tail Newts discussion area</font>
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the necturus are going to need water as cool or cooler than water requirements of the cynops-you may have to set him up in a basement or even the fridge.
 
Well, there are no basements in Florida, it's all swampy here so thats out of the question. And I am definitely not going to put him in the fridge! Gross! I think I'll stick with the ice-pack method until I think of something better. Thanks for the suggestions though.
 
It isn't gross.
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Keep with the ice packs definately if that is helping. Also, use a fan. ;) Try to have the fan blow over the top of the water that might help to shed a few degrees.
 
what lid are you using if your using a plastic lid with few air holes i would make a lid for the tank out of a wooden frame with fine chicken wire over the top and then do what Jarid said and use a fan and plug it in so it doesent use millions of batteries lol
 
Kristy,

I noticed you said that on of your FBN's dissappeared and that you have a 'clip on' light blub above the tank.. Do you have a lid on the tank at all?

If not ths may explain the reason that one went missing.. They are VERY good climbers and will squeese out of most gaps..
 
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