All about Fire Belly Newts Breeding

Fire Belly Newts are amphibians that are classified as Pleurodelinae- a subfamily Salamandridae. Principally, this means newts are salamanders and spend most of their life under water. Newts can be either black or dark brown with a spotty orange or red underbelly. Thus, the name fire bellied newt is given to them. The life of fire bellied newts commences as an aquatic larva feeding on small life forms. When the fire bellied newt grows into an adult it can either go back under water to live permanently or lives partially on land, depending on their surroundings. As pets they are excellent and don’t demand much care but breeding them is not very easy. The following account tells you all about fire belly newts breeding.

Breeding Tank for Fire Belly Newts

The chances of breeding fire belly newts in captivity are very less. To provide enough conditions for breeding, it is preferable to have a large aquarium. Provide ample fish tank plants in the tank whether live or plastic as the female attaches its eggs to plants.

Breeding Fire Belly Newts

To breed fire bellied newts, at least one female and one male are required. It is an easy job to sex adult fire bellied newts. There are special glands in males at the base of their tail near the cloaca. These glands will become swollen when a male fire bellied newt reaches breeding age. It makes it easy to spot. Your newt pets can take many months to become comfortable enough in their new home before they begin breeding. Optimal mating conditions will be ensured if you avoid contact with your newts. This will help in reducing any stress. If mating is successful the female fire bellied newt will become noticeably swollen with eggs. Then she will lay eggs and affix them to the leaves of underwater plants. These eggs resemble clusters of clear balls having a black seed like dot at the center. Carefully place these eggs in a separate tank because when they begin hatching, the adults may gobble them up.

Caring Fire Belly Newt Tadpoles

When fire bellied newt tadpoles hatch, feed them brine shrimp. Brine shrimp is the ideal food for tadpoles because these small fish swim around the tank attracting attention of tadpoles. You may need an air pump for the tadpole tank to keep the water aerated. The reason is that these tadpoles have not developed internal lungs and are able to breathe only under water. Keep their tank clean and full of oxygen as it will help the tadpoles grow into healthy adult fire belly newts. As tadpoles build up limbs and commence their journey into their juvenile stage; you may begin feeding them with the same food that can be fed to adult fire bellied newts. Ensure accessibility of land to your juvenile newts because they will spend plenty of time out of water until adulthood. The amount of time taken by your newts to become adults may draw you into concern. They quickly grow but will take much longer to become full sized adult fire bellied newts.

Fire belly newts are carnivorous and eat brine shrimp, worms, small insects or tadpoles. These animals can quickly redevelop their lost limbs and even damaged organs like heart or intestines. These wonderful creatures though not convenient when it comes to breeding can be bred if the breeding program is laid on correct foundations and executed the accurate way. After knowing all about fire belly newts breeding, breed your pets and enjoy caring and playing with their tadpoles.