Tag Archives: newts

The Pets Blog Week in Review for Jun 25-Jul 1

Last week Aimee and I wrapped up June and ushered in July here in the Pets Blog. From Jacques Cousteau to chinchillas, I guess you could say we again covered the gamut. If you missed a day, reference the handy recap below to catch up with what we covered on: Monday, June 25 He took us to the depths of the ocean and paved the way for other animal activists. To him we pay tribute in In Memoriam: Jacques Cousteau. Providing a suitable living environment is important for your sensitive-skinned amphibian friends. Aimee looks at three types of tanks for … Continue reading →

Fire Bellied Newts

Easy to find and easy to care for, fire bellied newts are a great choice for a first amphibian pet. There are two types of fire bellied newts that you may encounter in your local pet shop: Chinese fire bellied newts (Cynops orientalis) and Japanese fire bellied newts (Cynops pyrrhogaster). Both types are dark brown or black on most of the body, with bright orange and red markings on the stomach — hence the name! The Japanese variety has an average length between three and a half and five inches; the Chinese variety is slightly smaller with an average size … Continue reading →

Tank Care For Newts and Salamanders

Salamanders and newts have very porous skin — it makes them very sensitive to changes in environment (just like frogs and other amphibians). If you aren’t careful in your tank care, your pets can become seriously ill or injured. First things first — all tanks need water. Even terrestrial tanks have water trapped in the mossy substrate and/or in shallow pools. Don’t use distilled water to fill your tanks. You can use tap water or rainwater — but either one may need to be treated or left standing to allow chemicals to dissipate. Tap water should be treated with dechlorinating … Continue reading →

Three Types of Tank For Salamanders and Newts

There are three different kinds of environments for your pet salamanders and newts. Like other amphibians, salamanders and newts have sensitive and very porous skin that can make them very sensitive to changes in the environment. Land dwelling salamanders will need a terrestrial style tank. That doesn’t mean your salamander doesn’t need water! The moss used for the tank substrate will provide most of the moisture your salamanders will need. You should also provide a shallow container of water to help maintain humidity — just don’t make the water too deep. Terrestrial salamanders are poor swimmers. Place sticks or stones … Continue reading →