What is the mininum water level for C.Orientalis, or any other kind of newt?

[Zac]

Hi there,

I've always had interest in shallow water setups, with sand.. Just wondering what is the absolute mininum of a water level for 3 Cynops Orientalis in a 10 gallon tank? I'm thinking about ditching the gravel and putting in a nice non-toxic play sand from the local mitre 10

Also, how do you clean the dirt of moss you find in the backyard? I've tried but it doesn't seem to come off!

 

[evut]

I think a shallow set-up would be a mistake. Less water means the quality will suffer and temperature will fluctuate too much. These newts don't really spend any time on land when they're adults so you'd be wasting space you could offer them for swimming. I think shallow paludaria are only recommended for frogs (?).

 

[Zac]

I think a shallow set-up would be a mistake. Less water means the quality will suffer and temperature will fluctuate too much. These newts don't really spend any time on land when they're adults so you'd be wasting space you could offer them for swimming. I think shallow paludaria are only recommended for frogs (?).

But what is the minimum water level?

 

[evut]

Hi Zac, I'm sorry I can't answer your question.

I just know that if you want happy newts you should give them as much water as possible. Having a large tank and not giving them good use of it's size would be a waste.

 

[Jennewt]

I've seen a Cynops maintained in a critter keeper with an inch of water and a sand embankment. It was healthy like this for a couple of years, but I consider this kind of setup really sad. When I moved this newt to a proper setup with 8 inches of water, he was visibly more active. If it's possible to judge a newt's "happiness" he certainly seemed more happy. So I would say you CAN have a setup with only an inch of water, but it's not in the best interest of the newts.

Moss from outdoors is useful for a terrestrial tank, and you normally wouldn't remove the dirt from it. It is not typically used in a semi-aquatic tank. If you are going to put it in a semi-aquatic tank, you just have to tolerate the dirt getting in the setup. Or not use it.

 

[Zac]

Woops, my bad, when I meant by shallow I was referring to a height of around 10 cm.

 

[Crysta]

If going by eye, I say at least twice the newt's length in height. (btw) Have you thought about getting a bigger tank? The more space they have the happier they seem, I have two c.orientalis in a 95L tank atm [others are on their way] but those two seem very, very happy/active.

10cm sounds like it may do, but when it comes to aesthetics over your newt's health the latter is the obvious choice.

As for cleaning dirt off moss, I don't think it can be done, at least not every last bit.

 

[Zac]

If going by eye, I say at least twice the newt's length in height. (btw) Have you thought about getting a bigger tank? The more space they have the happier they seem, I have two c.orientalis in a 95L tank atm [others are on their way] but those two seem very, very happy/active.

10cm sounds like it may do, but when it comes to aesthetics over your newt's health the latter is the obvious choice.

As for cleaning dirt off moss, I don't think it can be done, at least not every last bit.

As much as I would like a new tank, my dad wont let me get a new one, but fair enough.

There's about 20 or more cm of water. I took out the turtle dock and stack a bunch of java moss and this other popular plant to make a sought of land area that doesn't submerge from the water.

 

[Joost]

All my Cynops species (incl. larger ensicauda) have a max. depth of 20 cm. My C. orientalis have not more than 13 cm of water. Most of the time they walk around on the bottom of the tank, so if you want them to have more space, I would use a larger tank with more bottom space.

 

[Crysta]

20cm is more than enough. it's a shame you can't get a bigger tank, do they at least have enough space to walk around in, as in lengthways, the longer the better.

 

[Zac]

20cm is more than enough. it's a shame you can't get a bigger tank, do they at least have enough space to walk around in, as in lengthways, the longer the better.

It is a 50 cm long tank.

 

[Joost]

3 orientalis in a 50 cm long tank, with 20 cm of water will do fine. Nothing to worry about

 

[Zac]

3 orientalis in a 50 cm long tank, with 20 cm of water will do fine. Nothing to worry about

Awesome, thanks Joost!