Is the Chinese fire-bellied newt poisonous? Here's how to keep one properly
The Chinese fire-bellied newt (Cynops orientalis), also known as the Chinese dragon, is a species of amphibian in the genus Cynops. It lives in mountainous areas at altitudes of 30-1000 m, dwelling in marshes, ponds, muddy fields and nearby ditches that are rich in aquatic plants, and it is quite numerous there. So is the Chinese fire-bellied newt poisonous? How should it be kept?
1. Is the Chinese fire-bellied newt poisonous?
The Chinese fire-bellied newt is poisonous. As early as the 1930s, an experimental embryologist discovered that a very strong toxin exists in the eggs and embryos of the newt, and this toxin is tetrodotoxin.
When the newt is attacked, it immediately secretes this deadly toxin. If this toxin gets into the eyes, it can cause temporary blindness, so you should not touch them directly with your hands; it is best to wear gloves when moving them, and be sure to wash your hands afterwards.
2. How should the Chinese fire-bellied newt be kept?
The Chinese fire-bellied newt is about 10 cm long in the wild and 6 to 8 cm when kept in captivity. It has well-developed ear glands and red spots behind the eyes. Although it looks very similar in appearance to the Japanese red-bellied newt, this species is a small one with a total length of 90 mm, and most are kept as ornamental newts. Because it contains tetrodotoxin, eating it and using it as food are prohibited. Below, the editor will tell you how to keep the Chinese fire-bellied newt!
1. Choosing a container
After catching newts, it is best to keep them in a fairly large glass fish tank so that their activities can be observed. Spread some gravel and crushed stones in the tank, add water about 30 cm deep, and put in a small amount of aquatic plants to create an ecological environment similar to their habitat. The sand and stones absorb dirt, while the aquatic plants carry out photosynthesis, increasing the oxygen content in the water and providing a place for the newts to lay eggs.
2. Water quality requirements
For keeping newts, clean pond water or well water is most suitable. If tap water is used, it can only be used after standing for 3 to 5 days; otherwise the residual chlorine in the tap water will poison the newts and kill them. In addition, changing the water is a regular management task; keeping the water fresh and clean helps the newts live normally. In winter, change the water once every 1 to 2 weeks; in other seasons, change it once every 3 to 5 days.
3. Choosing food
Newts like to eat small live animals, and tubifex worms are one of the easiest foods to find. You can put in a small amount every other day, or wrap the tubifex worms in a single layer of gauze and hang it in the water with a string; the tubifex worms will stretch part of their bodies out through the gaps in the gauze, and the newts will swim over and pull at them to eat. In addition, small tadpoles, mosquito larvae, water fleas and so on are also favourite foods of newts. Moreover, when small live animals are not available, you can also buy some frozen shrimp, thaw them and cut them into small pieces to feed, or cut lean pork into small pieces and feed that. But note that you must not feed too much; it is best to leave no leftover food, to prevent the food from rotting and affecting the water quality.
A friendly reminder: the container for keeping Chinese fire-bellied newts must be covered.
Summary: the above is what the editors of Tuliu.com have put together about whether the Chinese fire-bellied newt is poisonous and how to keep it. We hope it is helpful to you.