Japanese Fire-bellied Newt (Cynops pyrrhogaster)

Japanese Fire-bellied Newt Cynops pyrrhogaster
Name	Japanese Fire-bellied Newt
Name Lat.	Cynops pyrrhogaster
Family	True Salamanders
Family lat.	Salamandridae
Order	Salamanders
Order lat.	Caudata
Origin	Japan
Habitat	Wetlands
Diet	Carnivore
Humidity	70-90 %
Behavior	Semi-aggressive
Keeping	Individual, group
Care Level	Moderate
Breeding	Moderately difficult
Housing	Aquaterrarium
Life Span	15-20 years
Protection	No
Metric Units
Size	15 cm
Temperature	22-28 °C
Housing Size	80 x 40 x 40 cm
US Units
Size	5.9"
Temperature	72-82 °F
Housing Size	30" x 15" x 15"

Distribution and habitat

Diurnal Japanese fire-bellied newts are common on the main Japanese islands, except Hokkaido. There they live in vegetated, slow-flowing and stagnant waters, such as streams, ponds, pools, swamps and rice fields.

Maintenance

The specifications are minimum dimensions for the aquaterrarium, according to the size and number of animals:

1-2 animals

ground area in m²: GL x 0,01

The total length (GL) is measured at the largest animal. For each additional animal the base area must be increased by 25 %. An aquaterrarium of L 80 x W 40 x H 40 cm is recommended, which should be placed in a quiet and vibration-free place.

You need an aquaterrarium structured with roots, flat stones and cork tubes (hiding places and visual protection), a moisture retaining substrate, e.g. of sand-peat mixture with coconut fibers, foliage and sphagnum moss as well as a water part of approx. 30 % of the bottom area with aquatic plants roots and stones, which rises flat to the land part. A filter to maintain water quality is recommended. To allow burrowing, the substrate should be about 20 cm deep in places and about half should be kept moist at all times. Ficus pumila and Scindapsus, for example, are suitable for planting. Once a day, preferably in the evening, the inside of the terrarium should be finely sprayed with water (humidity), but a rain or mist system is better.

Temp. day: 22-28 °C

Temp. night: 15-20 °C

Humidity: 70-90

The lighting duration must be 10-14 hours depending on the season. Daylight fluorescent tubes with low UV content are very suitable.

Diet

The food supply consists of live food, such as daphnines, mosquito larvae, artemia, mysis, earthworms, slugs, maggots, caterpillars, etc., supplemented with frozen food mixtures, vitamin and mineral supplements, and a high-quality dry food (pellets, granules) for insectivorous reptiles. Adult animals should be fed every 2-3 days, young animals daily. Unaccepted food must be sucked out after 2-3 hours. A regular and varied diet promotes health and prevents deficiency symptoms.

Reproduction and breeding

Mating and egg laying takes place in the water after winter dormancy. The female lays 100-600 eggs individually folded in water plant leaves. The larvae hatch after about 60 days and can be fed e.g. with cyclops, daphnia, artemia and mosquito larvae. After 80-120 days the transformation (metamorphosis) is completed and they leave the water. This is followed by a purely terrestrial phase of about 3 months. Their life expectancy can be up to 22 years.

Important

The coloration of their underside is very variable. They are well tolerated among themselves. A prerequisite for breeding is a hibernation period of 2-3 months. For this, the lighting duration must be shortened by 4-6 hours and the temperature lowered to approx. 10 °C, depending on the origin.

They can climb vertically on glass panes, accordingly the terrarium must be well covered.

Before buying, an aquaterrarium should be prepared that meets the species-specific needs. Necessary is good ventilation without drafts, as well as equipment for measuring temperature and humidity. The lighting must correspond to the day-night rhythm appropriate for the species and must be installed so that the animals cannot injure themselves. The aquaterrarium should be closed in such a way that neither unauthorized persons can open it nor the animals can escape. Special attention must be paid to thorough hygiene and impurities must be removed regularly.

Further literature can be found in your pet store

References

Text: petdata; Image: Franz Lowak

Source: ENGELMANN (2006): Zootierhaltung - Tiere in menschlicher Obhut: Reptilien und Amphibien, Harri Deutsch Verlag; HANS-JOACHIM HERRMANN (2005): Terrarienatlas Bd. 1, Mergus Verlag

• Gemäß § 21 Abs. 5 Tierschutzgesetz idgF