Is the Chinese fire-belly newt poisonous? A detailed explanation of captive breeding key points

The Chinese fire-belly newt is called the Chinese fire dragon in our country, and is an amphibian with an orange-red belly and a black, bumpy back. I remember that as a child I would often see them in the mountains beside relatively clear spring water or small streams. The Chinese fire-belly newt is a species unique to our country, with a relatively wide distribution, and it also has certain medicinal value; it can be used to make infused liquor, and has the effects of relieving itching and clearing heat. So is the Chinese fire-belly newt poisonous? What are the key points for captive breeding?

1. Are newts poisonous?

Not every kind of newt is poisonous. Some are non-poisonous, while some contain highly potent toxins. Newts are amphibians and reptiles, and protective measures should be taken when touching them, because their body surface secretes mucus to keep the skin moist, and this mucus contains large amounts of bacteria or parasites! The representative venomous newt is the Chinese fire-belly newt; although the toxicity of its skin is not great, if it accidentally gets into the eyes it can also cause temporary blindness. So do not touch it directly with your hands. Moreover, the Chinese fire-belly newt also has a highly potent toxin under its skin, called tetrodotoxin, which is the most toxic toxin discovered in the world so far; 1 milligram can cause the death of an adult human.

2. What are the key points for captive breeding of the Chinese fire-belly newt?

The Chinese fire-belly newt likes to inhabit moist environments such as mountain ponds, paddy fields, or mountain stream waters with relatively slow flow, and likes to eat mosquito larvae, aquatic earthworms, water fleas, breadworms, small fish, and so on. It moves slowly, and when short of oxygen it often sticks its head out of the water to breathe in large gulps. Below, let us take a look at what the key points are for captive breeding of the Chinese fire-belly newt.

1. First, a large glass fish tank needs to be prepared, because the Chinese fire-belly newt is a relatively large-bodied pet, so that the Chinese fire-belly newt can have enough space to move around, and it is also convenient for us to observe it.

2. Next, a relatively good environment needs to be established for it. For example, spread a layer of clean gravel and crushed stone on the bottom of the fish tank, and add well water 30 cm deep. Then place a small amount of hornwort or aquatic plants, because the sand and crushed stone can adsorb the feces and dirt excreted by the Chinese fire-belly newt, while the aquatic plants can carry out photosynthesis, increasing the dissolved oxygen content in the water.

3. Furthermore, clean pond water needs to be provided. Well water or tap water can be chosen, but well water and tap water need to be exposed to sunlight for 3 to 5 days to remove the chlorine contained in the water before they can be used to raise the Chinese fire-belly newt. The pond water also needs to be changed regularly; because summer temperatures are high, the pond water is changed relatively frequently, once every 3-5 days, while in spring, autumn, and winter it does not need to be so frequent, and changing it once every 15 days is enough.

4. Finally, the Chinese fire-belly newt is mainly fed live small animals, such as leeches, earthworms, small tadpoles, mosquito larvae, water fleas, and so on. Secondly, frozen shrimp can also be bought at the supermarket, thawed, and cut into small pieces for feeding.