Comments on: Can a fire bellied newt live in my aquarium?

By: maxi

maxi — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 20:54:26 +0000

the simple answer is no you really shouldn’t keep them with other fish.

especially not the ones you have. they are more aggressive fish. they can easily stress your newt to the point of not eating or going into the water and if it does brave the water it is likely to get picked on by everything but the pleco but especially the tiger barbs. feeding will be a disaster the fish will eat everything before they can get to it unless you teach them to be hand fed which can be quite a head ache (i have one that was sold as an adult but is obviously still in his terrestrial stages) Join a forum and do some good research there, people can be very helpful

By: Moem

Moem — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 03:30:22 +0000

The newt will probably survive, but not thrive. Tropical fish are kept at temperatures that are too high for fire bellied newts. The newts prefer temperatures that aren’t over 20C.
But you know how it works, right?

Anyway, it’s possible. But the newt won’t be happy.

By: spaulv86

spaulv86 — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 03:11:04 +0000

I would give it more land for sure. It could work however watch your tiger barbs as they can become aggressive. Your gouramis should be okay. Put a couple of branches in the tank. Make sure clean them them of course. This would help make the tank more natural habitat for the fish and the newt.

By: justin p

justin p — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 02:25:53 +0000

Fire belly newts are tricky but not impossible to keep in an aquarium with fish. Firstly they will need somewhere to climb out as they are only partially aquatic. Secondly they will only eat frozen food such as bloodworms mysis and brine shrimp etc, feed a varied diet. You will need to submerge your newt into the tank to feed it as they don’t normally feed out the water. The trickiest thing about keeping amphibians mixed with fish is ensuring they get enough food as the fish will eat the frozen food quickly often before your amphibians get any. If you can hand feed your newt or find another method that ensures it gets some food they will mix fine with fish. Dwarf aquatic frogs (hymenochirus sp.) are better to mix with fish as they don’t need to climb out. Don’t confuse them with the aquatic xenopus frogs as they grow large and predatory.
Finally wash your hands after handling your newt as they have a very bitter mucus coating to stop them from being eaten.

By: Sarah

Sarah — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 01:32:08 +0000

I suggest you don’t do this, as the fish will become aggressive towards the newt, or vice versa.

Just keep one or the other. Fish obviously need to be in all water, and newts need both land and a little bit of water, therefore it is unsuitable.