Newts and temperatures?

[carolyn]

Although I -was- planning on getting two CFBNs, I'm afraid it's going to be impossible for me to keep the tank cool enough for them. It's already set up, with about 5 inches of water, rocks, and plenty of hornwart and java moss. There's a land area at one end..I used a pot (about six inches across) filled wirh dirt, with a plant and a little hiding spot. I'm using a small sponge filter in the water portion. It's a ten gallon tank. The temperature would normally be around 75, and with frozen water bottles I can get it down to about 73. Since the CFBNs probably aren't going to work out unless I can build a really tiny aquarium chiller or something, could anybody recommend another type of newt that would do well in this setup? Thanks in advance, everyone.

 

[paul]

my tank stayed at about 73-74 all summer and i didn't notice any change in their behaviour at all. You should get a second opinion though.

 

[jesper]

I wouldnt keep CFBN in that temperature range.
I am not sure but I am pretty certain tylototriton verrucosus can handle those temperatures in an aquatic setup. Ask someone who keeps them though.
Also check out the caresheets!

 

[mark]

cynops ensaudica(japanese sword tailed newt) would also probably do well at that temp.

Mark

 

[jennifer]

Is there a cooler room in the house where you could keep them? Maybe a basement or unheated room? Is your house really this hot? It would need to be over 75F in the room for the tank water to be 75 (unless something is adding heat, such as a strong lamp).

If you can find Japanese firebellies (Cynops pyrrhogaster) they would do OK at that temp for PART of the year. But beware, a lot of stores sell newts as JFBN, but they are really CFBN.

 

[mike]

What would help many people (myself included) is a table somewhere showing acceptable temperatures for different species. I know there will be some dabate over the meaning of "acceptable", but this could be taken into account in the table. The Caudate Central caresheets would be a good starting point, plus contributions from those on this forum whoih have kept these species. How 'bout it?

 

[carolyn]

There are no cooler rooms, and we don't have a basement, plus I'm not allowed to keep my critters in other parts of the house. =P I do keep it fairly warm in my room for the rest of the zoo (fishtanks, turtle, rats), but I'm wondering if the air pump is generating some heat, too? There's not much to do about that, though. Thanks for the suggestion, anyway. Would the other newts people suggested be ok with that amount of space..?

 

[jennifer]

Carolyn, yes, you could keep 2 of any of the species mentioned in a 10-gallon tank. The problem will be finding them. An air pump does not add heat to the tank.

Mike, it's a good idea, but has problems. On the forum, most people are expressing opinions about temperature tolerances based on their own experience or what they have heard. There isn't much solid data to base it on.

 

[chris]

Carolyn, where are you in the world? I'm in England and could possibly give you 1 or 2 juvenile verrucosus if you live here.
Chris

 

[mike]

Jenn,
I'd like to hear others experience! Rather than hijacking this thread, I've started a new one on this theme in the Newt Help forum.

 

[joel]

My CFBNs live in temps over 80 F. I can't help it, its so hot in Malaysia!

 

[carolyn]

Chris, I'm in Michigan, but it was nice of you to offer. =)

 

[chris]

wow Joel! CFBN at over 80f????
are they breeding??
I live in fl, its pretty hot here too but i can still keep my tank at under 70....im sure you can find a way to cool down that tank!
i was wondering if any experienced breeder could answer this:
Is it possible that after it's lived in a petstore for awhile a CFBN can 'get used' to living in higher temperature?
i have never seen a petstore use any kind of cooling device for theyre tanks! (but then again, i've yet to find a petstore that has cfbn available!)

 

[samuel]

Hi, i Live in S'pore, quite near Joel and my CFBNs are also at abt 80F or higher. They're not breeding and i'm glad they're not since the larvae will not make it (not too sure abt this too sonce many pple tell me my CFBNs won't last long in this temp but they are still thriving). Chris, there is NO cheap or even affordable way of cooling aquatic animals down. Try out CFBNs found in ur local pet stores. They shd have been accustomed to ur local climate in the pet store b4 u get em. Personally, i feel that as long as the water chemistry is stable and free of diseases and the newts have a constant supply of nutritious food, they shd do fine. However, my CFBNs have developed slightly blotchy skin and one of em has a tinge of grey, tell tale signs of orientalis being maintained at high temps, i was told. Overall health however seems to be great. I've had em for abt close to 2 mths already.