What do Chinese fire-bellied newts eat? A detailed guide to their diet and feeding methods
The Chinese fire-bellied newt, also called the Chinese fire dragon, is a species of amphibian in the family Salamandridae. Its upper skin is black and bumpy, while its underside is orange-red with black spots. Most are kept as ornamental newts, and because they contain tetrodotoxin, they must not be eaten or used as feed. They are distributed in the central and eastern regions of China. Let us take a look below at what Chinese fire-bellied newts eat!
What do Chinese fire-bellied newts eat?
Chinese fire-bellied newts prefer humid environments, inhabiting still waters such as mountain ponds or paddy fields, as well as slower-flowing stretches of mountain streams. They feed mainly on mosquito larvae, aquatic worms, water fleas, breadworms and small fish. They move slowly, and when oxygen is low they often stick their heads above the surface to breathe in big gulps.
How Chinese fire-bellied newts reproduce
For newts living in nature, the spawning season runs from March to April, with the most eggs laid in May. Because indoor temperatures are often higher than those in nature, Chinese fire-bellied newts kept indoors spawn about a month earlier, from February to March. When the average temperature is above 10°C, the big-bellied female newts begin to lay eggs, with April being the peak period, after which egg-laying gradually decreases. After laying an egg, the female newt sinks to the bottom, rests a moment, then floats back up to continue laying; usually she lays only one egg at a time. The fertilized egg is the starting point of new life. Given suitable water, oxygen and temperature, the fertilized egg divides in an orderly way many times, and the egg becomes a small tadpole. After 2 to 3 days, the tadpole first grows a pair of front limbs, and later grows the hind limbs. After 3 to 4 months, the larva completes its development and becomes a newt.
How to keep Chinese fire-bellied newts
1. Chinese fire-bellied newts can be kept in a large glass aquarium for easy observation of their activity. Spread some washed gravel and crushed stone on the bottom, add 30 cm of pond water or well water, and put in a small amount of aquatic plants such as hornwort, creating an ecological environment similar to where they were caught. The sand and stones help 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. For keeping Chinese fire-bellied newts, clean pond water is best, and well water is also 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. Changing the water is a routine management task. Keeping the water fresh and clean helps the newts live normally. In winter, change the water once every 2 to 3 weeks; in other seasons, change it once every 3 to 5 days.
3. Chinese fire-bellied newts like to eat live small animals. Aquatic worms are an ideal food and can be added in small amounts every other day. You can also wrap aquatic worms in a single layer of gauze, hang it in the water with a string, and the aquatic worms will stretch part of their bodies out through the gaps in the gauze, and the newts will swim over and pull them out to eat. In addition, mosquito larvae and water fleas are also favorite foods of newts. When live small animals are unavailable, lean pork can be cut into small pieces and fed to them. But be careful not to feed too much; it is best to leave no leftover food, to prevent the food from rotting and affecting water quality.