Newts for room with no air-conditioning

[martin]

I live in Ottawa, Canada and I don't have air conditioning, and the summer temperatures are in the 80's during the summer. But I can't find a newt that will do alright in this temperature. I'm not worried about them getting too cold in the winter, but I'm worried about them getting too hot in the summer. I originally wanted Japanese fire-bellied newts but their care sheet says the temperature should be in the 70's, and even high 70's is bad. Also, the only newts I've been able to find in Ottawa are Japanese fire-bellies. My tanks is 20g and I'd like a breed that can have tank-mates of the same species, and one that is semi-aquatic. Does anyone have any suggestions?

 

[danny]

Martin if you are afraid of the temperature of the tank getting to high, one option that I use is a big fan placed to blow directly over the tops of the tanks, and I also use reusable ice packs. I just switch them out twice a day and it keeps the tank temps in the low 70s during the hottest part of the year.

 

[alan]

If a newt comes in direct contact with a frozen icepack it can easily be damaged. Either don't place the icepack where the newts can reach them or wrap them in towelling.

 

[jennifer]

Martin, I live in a climate where summer daytime temps are in the 80s-90s, but it always cools off at night. I keep Cynops pyrrhogaster (JFB) and Tylototriton verrucosus in my livingroom, no problem.

The good news is: JFB can easily tolerate temps in the 70s, so you'd be fine with them. The bad news is that your pet shop is most likely actually selling C. orientalis (Chinese fb) and mislabeling them. CFB are less temperature tolerant.

If you pick the coolest room in the house, use a screen lid, and get a filter with little or no wattage, I think you have several options for types of newts that will do fine. The problem is going to be finding them. For ideas see this recent thread:
http://www.caudata.org/forum/messages/8/30427.html?1108212271

 

[danny]

I place the ice packs directly in, no place in particular. The newts will hang out together directly below the floating ice pack, as there is now a cool spot. The only time they actually approach the ice pack is it has thawed out which takes about 30 mins, its still cold to the touch but they turn it into a basking island.

(Message edited by bitzer on February 17, 2005)

 

[martin]

Thanks for the advice and the links! I am still uncertain what to do since so many people have different opinions. Is C. ensicauda available to pet owners? They're listed as endangered.

Jennifer: Do you have any air-conditioning in your living room, or is it basically around the same temp as outside the house?

(Message edited by MartinW on February 17, 2005)

 

[jennifer]

C. ensicauda are rarely exported from Japan, and now maybe not at all. There are a few breeders, but you'd have to hunt.

My house has no AC. It gets quite hot in the afternoon, but always cools off at night. Water takes a while to change temp, so my tanks never get above 78F water temp. The one with a solid lid is always a couple of degrees warmer than the one with a screen lid. (By the way... my other newts live in the basement where it's cooler.)