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Oriental Fire-Bellied Newt
Cynops orientalis
The classic pet newt — jet-black above, traffic-cone orange below, and calm, personable, and nearly indestructible in a cool tank.
3–4 in10–15 years
Habitat
Enclosure
10 gal minimum · mostly water
Temperature
58–72°F — cool
Humidity / Water
Aquatic · cool, clean water
Heating & lighting
No heater — they want it cool, 58–72°F. Mostly aquatic setup with gentle filtration and an easy land ramp; a cool room is the whole trick.
Diet
Feed these
- Frozen bloodworms
- Earthworms
- Sinking newt pellets
- Brine shrimp
Never feed
- Warm water above 72°F (they sicken)
- Handling (toxic skin — wash hands before and after)
- Any fish
- Fire-bellied toads — toxin clash
Feed every other day at the water's edge. When startled they flash their orange belly — the classic newt warning pose.
Cohabitation
Can live with
Other fire-bellied newts — groups
Never house with
Fire-bellied toads — toxin clash Any fish Tropical species kept too warm
Same-species groups do well in cool, planted paludariums. They spend most of their time in the water — build for swimming, not for land.
