Newbie

[nedim]

Hey everyone, my names Nedim and I joined the forum because Im starting up a firebelly newt tank. Its a 20g long and I could sure use some advice as this will be my first newt specific tank ever. Look forward to meeting everyone!

 

[juston]

Welcome Nedim! What kind of fire belly is it?http://www.caudata.org/cc/articles/firebelly.shtml
A 20 gallon is good how many newts are you keeping? Heres some ideas on setting it up
http://www.caudata.org/cc/articles/setups.shtml
http://www.caudata.org/cc/articles/cyclingEDK.shtml
also make sure your newt cant get out!
http://www.caudata.org/cc/articles/escape.shtml

You can find some care sheets on that site also about the newt I would give you a link but I dont know what kind you have.

http://www.caudata.org/cc/articles/foods.shtml

 

[nedim]

i believe the newts are japanese fire bellies. I need help selecting a filter and a substrate. Also, how high should the water level be in a 20 long?

 

[juston]

Well it depends on how many newts there are but I would fill it half full at least. Here is a good filter http://www.tetra-fish.com/catalog/product.aspx?id=821 but it makes a current that the newts wont like so you should put a rock or somthing under where the water comes out so it doesnt make as big of a current http://www.caudata.org/cc/articles/filters.shtml
or use that to find one. As for substrate I use sand just whatever you use make sure its big enough that the newt cant eat it or its small enough (like sand) that it wont hurt the newt. I would recommend sand I think it looks better or you can use no substrate at all which alot of people do. Here is a care sheet for japanese fire bellys
http://www.caudata.org/cc/species/Cynops/C_pyrrhogaster.shtml

(Message edited by hank on July 10, 2006)

 

[tyler]

Hi Nedim, I'm so glad that you decided to come here for advice. You remind me of myself when I was a new-comer to this site. Juston's got you on the right track. All I can say is maybe "consider the Duetto DJ100 for a filter". It uses very little wattage which keeps your tank cooler.

A little question for Juston too. Do you use a gravel vaccum siphon when you do water changes? If so, does it suck out the sand too? Is there a little sand filter that goes on the siphon?

 

[ali]

Nedim, are you certain that you have Japanese fire bellies?

They are rarely found in the pet trade these days and are easily mistaken for their younger cousin the chinese fire belly, cynops orientalis. There is a really good chance that is what you have (or are getting).

 

[ian]

I will say that Chinese Fire belly is a SMALLER cousin than a YOUNGER cousin to JFB.

 

[ali]

Right you are, Ian. Thanks.

 

[nedim]

thanks for the welcome guys,how can i weigh down my driftwood? it keeps on floating to the top of the tank

 

[jennifer]

You can let the driftwood float, eventually it will sink on its own. If you can't wait, then you'll have to put a brick or rock or something on top of it. It's a good idea to soak driftwood in a bucket (not in the tank) until you are sure it isn't going to release a lot of brown color (tannins) into the water.