New Chinese Fire Belly Newt Owner

Thanks. I think I've read it before. But that may've been a different website. Do you think it'd be okay for me to buy one from the pet store, Jeff, or should I strictly stick to buying from breeders?
 
Paddletails are one of the most difficult newt species to breed in captivity - mine never have. If you wait it out for CB paddletails, you could be waiting years.
 
Wow. They're really that difficult to breed? I guess I'll buy one or two from the pet store. Can you keep more than one in the same tank? I've never done that. But what is your opinion about buying the fire bellies from the pet store? Do you think it'll be okay, or should I wait until I can find a breeder who's selling some?

EDIT: Nevermind about the keeping more than one paddletails in the same tank. I read about it on that site.
 
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Paddletails are extremely aggressive and territorial. You'll need a substantial tank with lots of hiding spots in order to keep more than one in a tank.

I think everyone's plainly expressed their opinion. Buying directly from a reputable breeder helps to ensure you're getting the most healthy animals you can. Buying from the pet store, even if they purchase theirs from a breeder, just adds a middle man, which drives up the price and the stress the animals experience before coming to you.
 
I understand. I really wanted to buy those fire bellies, if they were healthy, because I didn't want that other one to be alone in that tank. But I don't want to support maltreatment of newts by buying them from places that maltreat them, and I also don't want to lose you guys' respect. I guess it wouldn't be that bad to wait a while until I find a breeder, so I'll probably not buy those fire bellies I ordered now.

I still want to buy the paddletail though. I really do.
 
With regard to your remaining fire-belly - do you have a hiding space or 2 for him? Make sure he has some sort of hiding space to help him feel more secure. The same goes for the paddle-tail - mine spend almost all of their time resting among the plastic plants, or sitting behind/inside one of the hiding pots.
 
Yes. I've got a rock cave and a tiny hollow skull in there for him if he wants to hide in those, but he doesn't. He's been sitting on top of a rock at the edge of some moss halfway in the water. And for the paddletail, I do have two caves in there for him, and he's been hiding in the larger of the two since yesterday. :)
 
I have a question about the sponge filter. Does the tube have to be fully submerged? Because the water level in my fire belly tank is too low. If it has to be fully submerged, is it okay if I cut the tube down? Or is that bad?
 
Being fully submerged makes it more effective. It works a bit like a siphon, and having the water too low will make it ineffective. Firebellies can handle fairly deep water. Is there a reason you have it low?
 
I have it low so that the rocks I have in there will be above the surface, so that he'll have a land area.
 
Forget the rocks- You can raise the water level by providing a material that floats for land area - a small "turtle dock", or a piece of untreated wood. Any live plant that floats upon the surface (elodea, for example) would work as well. Fake Lilly pads or floating betta logs are also readily available. Healthy, unstressed CFB's will spend almost all their time in the water. A land area is not too critical.
 
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Well, mine spends most of his time on a rock with half his body out of the water. Does this mean there's something wrong with him? If so, how do I find out what?
 
My paddletail I just bought yesterday has whitish stuff on his face. Could this be him shedding some skin? Or is it fungus? Should I be worried?

EDIT: Nevermind. Posted separate topic just for this question.
 
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Scorpion said:
EDIT: I'm pretty sure I can take good care of it, but what I wanted to know is if you guys think I shouldn't buy it from the pet store, since you all don't approve of newts bought from pet stores. They all looked healthy, so that's why I was thinking of buying one. But I want to know what you all think. Also, I'm still not sure if I'm going to buy those fire bellies I ordered. It depends on if they're healthy when I go in to see them, and what you guys think I should do.
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but we told you what we think already - do not buy pet shop newts. They may look healthy now, but quite likely are stressed and will become sick too. MOST IMPORTANTLY (pardon my caps, but I think this point has not sunk in yet): by buying pet shop newts, you support wild-caught mass imports. When that shop told you they got the newts from a place that breeds them, they most likely lied or just plum don't know what they are talking about.

Many of us bought pet shop newts at one point, but as soon as we became educated about where they come from and how they are treated, we wised up and stick to captive bred newts now. :)
 
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I'm sorry I'm so thick-headed... I understand now. I'm not going to buy pet shop newts anymore. The paddletail I bought appears to have a fungus or something. I PMed someone who posted that they were selling Cynops orientalis in the for sale forum. I'm going to get some from them instead of the pet shop. But what I want to know is where will I get paddletails from, since breeding them is so rare? Or will I just not be able to?
 
Another question I have is if I buy some fire bellies from a breeder, should I keep them separate from the store-bought one, at least at first? He seems to be doing okay, although if he's eaten, I haven't seen him do so.
 
Scorpion said:
Another question I have is if I buy some fire bellies from a breeder, should I keep them separate from the store-bought one, at least at first? He seems to be doing okay, although if he's eaten, I haven't seen him do so.
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definitely keep them separate, yes. It's generally a good idea to keep all newly acquired newts separate from ones you already have in case they may carry diseases. I would not let them come in contact with the pet shop newts, since those are obviously sick...

as for where to get paddletails, I don't know. Sometimes people on here may give away long-term captive paddle tails. Since they are rarely if ever bred in captivity, it would be not easy to find any that are captive bred.

My personal humble opinion would be to leave the paddletails (for now) to the experienced folks who may actually be able to breed them one day and produce offspring for the rest of us. :) In the meantime, there are so many fascinating and beautiful newt species that are regularly available as captive-bred offspring. There's several species of fire bellies, marbled newts, alpine newts, crested newts...a long list :)

Chinese fire bellies are maybe the least often produced in captivity among the fire belly species. More often you'll find captive bred swordtail newts (C. ensicauda), Japanese fire bellies (C. pyrrhogaster) or blue-tailed fire bellies (C. cyanurus) One species I can recommend are blue-tailed fire bellies, which are very easy to keep, regularly breedin captivity and are often available. Very pretty newts too :)
 
Thanks, Molch! I appreciate all the help. And also, should I not put any fire bellies I order in with the one I have now ever?
 
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