Newts & toads?

[robin]

The 2005 Reptiles USA Annual says that Chinese firebelly newts can live in the same tank with firebelly toads. Can the toads also live with Japanese firebellies?

 

[joan]

No, they can't. Chinese firebelly newts can not live in the same tank with firebelly toads. This is a common mistake beginners try.

Read http://www.caudata.org/cc/articles/Mixing_disasters.shtml for some good reasons why you shouldn't mix them, ontop of the fact that the temperature requirements for the toads is MUCH higher than what is comfortable for the newts.

 

[benjamin]

Well then Reptiles USA annual is wrong! Toads of any kind should not be kept with newts in a captive setting. The misconception that firebelly newts can be kept with firebelly toads is a common one, especially amongst pet shops. Most people who have tried this long term have lost animals (toads tend to eat the newts, usually nipping off appendages), and in situations where animals aren't physically injured they become stressed. Unless kept in a large outdoor enclosure, newts should be kept in species tanks. To find out what happens when you mix newts with other animals read this article: http://www.caudata.org/cc/articles/Mixing_disasters.shtml, you should find that quite a few of the disasters involve the exact species combination recommended by Reptiles USA Annual.

 

[edward]

Does it list the species of "Chinese" firebelly newt? If they are referring to C. cyanureus then Bombina does just fine with them (we have had a mixed exhibit of them for over ten years now with the same adults of both species in the enclosure). If they are referring to C. orientalis then there are problems as orientalis are a very small species.

Mixed species enclosures are possible but have to have a lot of forethought before the species are placed together.

Ed

 

[robin]

Thank you, Ed. The article did mention C. orientalis by name, but not pyrrhogaster, saying that orientalis & Bomina have similar temperature & dietary needs, so will mix OK. I currently have orientalis & pyrrhogaster in the same tank & have added some guppies (accidentally) that are also thriving. The pyrrhogaster have bred & produced offspring, as have the guppies, so I know that my well-established tank is meeting their needs. I know many people think species should never be mixed, but I feel they can be, as long as you're mixing appropriate species AFTER you've done the research.